Reviews tagging 'Racism'

Flamer by Mike Curato

53 reviews

johnbat's review

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Bullying, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Racism

Moderate: Religious bigotry and Suicide attempt

twinsinparadise's review

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.5

I really enjoyed the first half.

And then the main character sexually assaults, or at the very least, assaults his best friend (kisses him unexpectedly without his consent.) his friend has an ENTIRELY reasonable reaction, but the book is written like i'm supposed to feel bad for the main character. he goes up to a chapel and tries to cut himself and i'm supposed to feel bad for him. and then this lady made of flames comes down to him and tells him to not self harm and that his family and friends love him? it's stupid asf.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia

Moderate: Racism and Sexual assault

Minor: Self harm and Suicidal thoughts

leguinstan's review

emotional hopeful sad fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia

Moderate: Racism, Suicide attempt, Fatphobia, and Bullying

Minor: Violence

homophobia: homophobic characters, internalized homophobia, homophobic slurs racism: antiasian racism fatphobia: internalized fatphobia, fatphobic bullying

robinks's review

adventurous challenging hopeful reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.25

I flew through this book, though as a fellow QT AAPI person, it was really challenging to read through the bullying and Aiden’s palpable feelings. I didn’t really like the art style, and the flame metaphor was a bit of a stretch, but overall this is a powerful, hopefully story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fatphobia, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Bullying, and Misogyny

Moderate: Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Blood, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence

Minor: Domestic abuse, Outing, and Sexual content

livcbrown's review

challenging emotional funny 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Outing, Racism, Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, Religious bigotry, Fatphobia, Body shaming, Homophobia, and Bullying

an_everyday_penguin's review

challenging emotional 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Suicide attempt, Bullying, Homophobia, and Fatphobia

Minor: Domestic abuse

spookieboogie's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fatphobia, Homophobia, and Racism

Moderate: Body shaming, Religious bigotry, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, and Racial slurs

Minor: Blood, Cursing, Self harm, Outing, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence

davidbythebay's review

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

This was very nice and encompasses some different perspectives than a lot of the mainstream LGBTQ material out there. First, the main character is a questioning Asian-American male. This is definitely an underrepresented demographic. Second, he knows he's gay but can't really admit to it. This is so incredibly relatable. Additionally, we have the Christian angle where our MC is struggling with his faith. This scout camp being homophobic is also another perspective we don't always get. Finally, we have the lovely aspect of mental health wherein our MC is struggling but doesn't appear to be diagnosed with anything outright. How his faith and inner self help him through is a big portion of this book. 

This is a story with no ending and a number of dangling threads that still feels complete. That makes this a wonderful story to foster discussion and introspection - some of my favorite kinds of LGBTQ+ material do this. Overall, this was delightful and provides a unique point of view on coming to terms with being gay, but not coming out. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Violence, Bullying, Homophobia, Cursing, Racism, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt

temporarilyhuman's review

emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying and Homophobia

Moderate: Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Suicidal thoughts, Racism, Outing, and Fatphobia

Minor: Injury/Injury detail

zoes_human's review

dark emotional hopeful sad fast-paced

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

4.0

Between home stresses, racism, and bullying, Aidan is already in a state of chaos as he attends Boy Scout camp in the summer between middle and high school. In addition to now facing a change in schools, his sexuality is starting to emerge in an unanticipated manner and he faces a crisis of hope. Heartbreaking but hopeful.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Bullying, and Homophobia

Moderate: Religious bigotry, Racial slurs, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Racism, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Fatphobia and Sexual content