1.29k reviews for:

Woodworking

Emily St. James

4.5 AVERAGE

medium-paced
emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
emotional reflective 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
emotional funny hopeful informative lighthearted reflective relaxing sad tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

A pretty predictable book. I am in the LGBTQ community, so this book was not as eye opening to me as to some. I found it informative, a coming of age story. But, not everyone, especially in SD, is trans or closeted trans. That's unrealistic. And in that way, it's a dream. Good summer read, in-between intense books.
challenging emotional funny informative 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: Yes
emotional funny hopeful 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

I have always really liked Emily St. James’s culture writing, and I really loved this. 

Upon reflection, I decided I needed to write a review for this book! There’s something really special about the fact that the author chose to NEVER utter Erica’s deadname, not once, in this book. It being bleeped out, like the curse word it feels like to us trans folks, is something that has forever changed how I feel about trans literature. Now when I read a book with a trans character that DOES use their deadname, I feel a sense of disappointment that they didn’t also think of that. It was a great choice in my eyes and I feel lucky I came across this book.

"She imagined, for the first time, that her body was not a tomb to die in but a foundation to build upon."

I can't talk about this book. I am too emotional. Just read it. If you know or love a transgender person, read this book.
emotional hopeful 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
emotional funny hopeful reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This is a funny and emotional novel with characters whose deft, complex, and compassionate portrayals eclipse the statistical unlikelihood of them all existing at the same time in one small town. The story is certainly a vehicle for showing a variety of lives and perspectives of trans individuals, but it's also an enjoyable and touching story in itself. I didn't read anything about it before I started, so it was a total, delightful surprise.