Reviews tagging 'Deportation'

The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School by Sonora Reyes

182 reviews

unhingedbookbitch's review

emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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? It's complicated

5.0

This audiobook just left me soooo happy. Like I loved the beginning and momentarily lost interest around 25% but then 30% it did a 180 for me and I GOT SUCKED IN. Like it took me 10 to listen to the first 25% then I finished the remaining 75% in one sitting. I got so into it that I downloaded the ebook of it from my library so I could finish the last 2 chapters while watching a movie. The writing felt so authentic and just easy to read and the characters were all likeable yet flawed (like they felt like real people) and the just seeing my Latine heritage celebrated in a book (especially involving a Catholic school which traumatized my high school years) was UGHH SOOOO DELICIOUS. 

Just like 10s across the board - good story, lovable characters, diverse representation, and all the emotions. Just call her Inside Out 3: My Gay Awakening. 

Another thing I think the author did sooo well was portray multiple life lessons and reflective situations without it being preachy or overwhelming or messy. I feel like coming of age novels try to do so much sometimes and pack a million situations that teach lessons into one book but lose the point along the way. This book was able to tackle like difficult and deep shit like religion, r@cism (especially deportation and police brutality towards POC), social classes, hømophobia, and more. It can be hard to juggle all the messages you want to send in a book without it becoming jumbled up and I just think this author did that so well with that while still making a great story. 

So I can’t speak on the lesbian representation accuracy, but I can say (as a Latina myself) that the Latine rep was so accurate. Especially as an eldest daughter in a Latine family cause like that’s a whole other level my dude. I know Reyes (the author) is latine but idk if they’re an eldest child cause so much of what was placed upon Yami from her family (and expectations and responsibilities she placed on herself) and thoughts and feels she had as an eldest Latina daughter hit the nail on the head for me. 

The romance UGHHHH I WAS TEEHEE GIGGLING!!! I WAS HOLDING MY BREATH!!! I WAS CRYING!!!! Such a sweet and genuine blossoming romance with a love that helped a little Latina girl stand up for herself GOD SO GOOD😫 

This has easily become one of my fave reads this year. So much heart and thoughtfulness throughout this story GET ME A SPECIAL EDITON HARDCOVER VERSION TO PUT ON MY SHELF NOW!!!!

Ok this last part is a bit spoilery & discusses sųicide so proceed with caution or don’t proceed at all:

So I had a feeling someone was going to be sųicidal before I read this book based on what some people told me. I always get a little hesitant to read anything relating to sųicide cause I was sųicidal not that long ago. I’m not going to get into it but just understand that I’m healing and I could feel fine one day then the next I’m very depressed so I just tend to stay away from the subject just in case. Honestly that could’ve been why I hit a momentary lull 25% in, because I could see Cesar start displaying signs. But I continued reading this anyway and I’m glad I did. The book was able to tackle this heavy subject with grace and honesty. It actually made a small portion of the book but left an impact in a positive way. I think Reyes especially handled the aftermath of hospitalization and the start of the healing journey sooo well. It’s a bit awkward but (with the right kind of support) it slowly starts. And some days are dark days even if the day started out well. I just really appreciated the honesty, rawness, and compassion toward the subject. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Deportation, Suicidal thoughts, Lesbophobia, Cultural appropriation, Mental illness, Homophobia, Religious bigotry, Racism, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Outing, Biphobia, and Forced institutionalization

ruthiedr89's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Lesbophobia, Biphobia, Mental illness, Homophobia, Deportation, Outing, Racism, Classism, Emotional abuse, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Misogyny and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Violence and Hate crime

trashpossum's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Religious bigotry, Homophobia, and Racism

Minor: Violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Deportation

frizzbiscuit's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Racism, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Deportation

addythebookbat's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Deportation, Biphobia, Bullying, Homophobia, and Lesbophobia

lemoni's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Suicide attempt, Racial slurs, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Biphobia, Alcohol, Medical trauma, Self harm, Cultural appropriation, Deportation, Lesbophobia, Xenophobia, Medical content, Toxic friendship, and Police brutality

Minor: Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Biphobia, Blood, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Grief

mxmaxreads's review against another edition

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

4.5

Very cute and delightful. It has some dark and difficult moments too. I really enjoyed this as a queer person who was raised Catholic—could relate to some of it. Yami and Bo are such badasses!

I have to admit, though, that I couldn’t stand Yami and Cesar’s mom for most of the book. She was terrible to both of them, but especially Yamilet. And it irks me that it took

her son wanting to take his own life

before she got her act together. Despite my feelings about her, this was a realistic and heartwarming story that I’m sure is going to positively impact so many young (and old) queer people. This representation is so important. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia and Racism

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Bullying, and Deportation

Minor: Mental illness

gracepizza40's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful informative 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

4.75

This book is perfect. I highly recommend it. The character's voice is so likable and well-established. The only main thing that kept me from rating in 5 stars was the pacing in some parts of the second half.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Cursing, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Xenophobia, Blood, Alcohol, Violence, Toxic friendship, Religious bigotry, and Deportation

Moderate: Deportation, Suicidal thoughts, Racial slurs, Biphobia, and Police brutality

jourdanicus's review

emotional hopeful 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? No

4.5

So cute and sweet and fun, without being overly saccharine. YA at its best - yes the characters are teens with "teen" problems, but their problems are relatable and there's definitely something in this book for adults too. Almost a perfect 5⭐ read for me, but some of the conflicts were resolved in a heavy-handed and kind of corny way, which I can forgive because I do think that kind of resolution can be appropriate for teen readers.

A lot happened in this story but it didn't feel rushed or laid on too thick, more like enough to keep me engaged and motivated to keep reading. I'd definitely recommend for anyone who enjoys LGBTQ+ fiction, or who likes YA selectively because they sometimes get annoyed by immature characters.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Religious bigotry, Outing, Injury/Injury detail, Bullying, Alcohol, Deportation, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Self harm

Minor: Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Cultural appropriation, and Racism

nia_readsalot's review against another edition

fast-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia, Biphobia, Bullying, Outing, Suicidal thoughts, Lesbophobia, and Deportation

Minor: Sexism, Panic attacks/disorders, Religious bigotry, and Toxic friendship