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4.5 AVERAGE
4.5 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Overall a heartwarming and hopeful story about generational (and individual) differences within trans experiences, trans community and inclusion. I hadn't heard of the concept of "woodworking" in this context before, and the ongoing decisions of the characters about when/how/whether to share parts of their identity gave me a lot to think about.
I didn't love the writing style for the most part - I felt the novel was marketed as literary but the prose did a lot of 'telling rather than showing' which made the writing feel a bit too YA. The relationships were quite one-dimensional/convenient, and I would have liked to dive further into the nuances of. However I did enjoy the exploration of identity and sense of self through the use of first, second and third person narration at different points for different characters, and found the Brooke chapters to be especially beautifully written.
I didn't love the writing style for the most part - I felt the novel was marketed as literary but the prose did a lot of 'telling rather than showing' which made the writing feel a bit too YA. The relationships were quite one-dimensional/convenient, and I would have liked to dive further into the nuances of. However I did enjoy the exploration of identity and sense of self through the use of first, second and third person narration at different points for different characters, and found the Brooke chapters to be especially beautifully written.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a coming of age story at several levels. There are teens as the main focus who are searching for their identities as well as adults who are "coming of age" with their own gender identity. I found the characters funny and delightful to read about and although Mitchell isn't a liberal place there were many places of allyship in this town that was hopeful but I felt maybe not realistic. Overall a great read.
emotional
reflective
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
An excellent debut. A coming of age or more like a coming of self for 2 trans women, one a 17 year old high school student and the other her teacher.
I couldn’t stand Abby and the narrative switching. Erica was fine but she also grated on me. The characters were very flawed, which normally I enjoy, but it felt like there wasn’t a lot of growth accompanying the flaws.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
spironolactone mention 🔥🔥
the way this is written is so smart, like greying out the deadnames and having Erica be in third person until it finally switches to first, Abigail being in first the whole time, and Brooke’s whole chapter,,,, so much of it is so cool. and everyone gets a happy ending but it’s also realistic,,, I liked it a lot
the way this is written is so smart, like greying out the deadnames and having Erica be in third person until it finally switches to first, Abigail being in first the whole time, and Brooke’s whole chapter,,,, so much of it is so cool. and everyone gets a happy ending but it’s also realistic,,, I liked it a lot
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes