1.24k reviews for:

Woodworking

Emily St. James

4.5 AVERAGE

brookealdridge's review against another edition

4.75

challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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Beautiful, multi-generational portrait of the trans woman experience. I cried, laughed, and learned a lot from this novel. 

nonnalee's review against another edition

4.5

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I loved it. The multiple perspectives were so distinct. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia

Moderate: Child abuse

suchafunpaige's review against another edition

4.0

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

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“But a person’s life is their own. Few sins are greater than trying to squeeze someone else into the shape you require them to be.”

Everyone should read this book to try to understand an ounce of what trans people experience in their lifetime. 

Set during the 2016 election, Woodworking follows Abigail and Erica in their small town of Mitchell, South Dakota (a place I have surprisingly been to, only to see  The World's Only Corn Palace). Abigail is seventeen years old & Erica is her teacher. Both of our main characters are trans people who lean on each other as they try to figure out who they really are in this world. I almost DNF’d 70 pages in because the relationship between teacher & student was a bit much at first, but I’m glad I didn’t. I promise it’s not as weird as it sounds. Emily St. James’ writing style in Woodworking is different than anything I’ve ever read. It’s told in parallel timelines from Abigail and Erica’s POVs. However, sometimes it’s narrated by their old selves. A bit confusing, but I liked it.

Don’t skip the author’s note or acknowledgments. 

emilyctrigg's review against another edition

4.5

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

tharumi's review against another edition

3.0

emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

babby_bokchoy's review against another edition

5.0

emotional funny inspiring sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

mitchellhb's review against another edition

4.5

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

mhoffrob's review against another edition

4.0

challenging

smellerbee93's review against another edition

3.75

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Woodworking follows Erica, a closeted trans high school teacher in a small town in South Dakota, and Abigail, Erica’s student and the only out trans person in this small town. Erica comes out to Abigail and they develop a precarious and slightly inappropriate friendship. Both of these characters are extremely well crafted, deeply flawed, make terrible decisions, but still lovable because they feel so real. Both start the book isolated and basically friendless, and throughout the course of the story they build a full fledged community of friends and chosen family. The heartwarming elements of this book are enough to outweigh its flaws.

itsthejam's review against another edition

5.0

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: No