1.18k reviews for:

Woodworking

Emily St. James

4.51 AVERAGE

kp_writ's review against another edition

5.0

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Really captures the murky relationship/solidarity btwn the only out student/ closeted teacher. 

The variety of trans/queer experiences and voices (and POV styles!) captured in this book was really fascinating and moving. I loved the endings.

cmfruin2012's review against another edition

4.75

emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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

janie's review against another edition

4.5

challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring 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: No

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The flaws of society are a main focus. "He doesn't need subtext because text is built to encompass him." Three trans women share their journeys in that "text," showing their personal challenges at accepting themselves. Abigail's fire, snark, compassion and humor absolutely delighted me. 

gchiumento's review against another edition

4.75

emotional reflective 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: Complicated

megangude's review against another edition

2.5

fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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A story of acceptance and found family. Parts of this were painful to slog through — Erika’s internal monologues are a lot. But Abigail is a trip, and it was nice to read a story about the love and acceptance that these characters find while navigating gender identity in a small midwestern town. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Deadnaming

britt_brooke's review against another edition

4.5

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced

mel_mckinley's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful 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: Complicated

awebofstories's review against another edition

5.0

emotional funny inspiring medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

annabenda's review against another edition

5.0

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective 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

theskeiniac's review against another edition

5.0

emotional funny hopeful inspiring medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

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I really enjoyed this beautiful story. The author wrote Abigail and Erica so well, it was impossible not to love  both of them. The friendship between them bothered me at times, but that discomfort was written into the narrative and acknowledged, and I could also see how that friendship would’ve formed in that setting, so it wasn’t a dealbreaker for me. In fact, I think it was an important part of the narrative for Erica - a component of her story that really captured the loneliness she was experiencing at that time in her life. There was a twist toward the end that wasn’t entirely believable to me, but it didn’t outweigh everything else I loved about the story, so I decided it didn’t ultimately impact my rating of the book. Loved it and think it’s an important piece of literature.