Reviews

Can't Take That Away by Steven Salvatore

lx_x28's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny inspiring lighthearted 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

4.75

wombat_88's review against another edition

emotional inspiring sad slow-paced

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

2.0

thereadingchallengechallenge's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring fast-paced

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

4.0

This hit hard. Carey reminded me so much of myself in high school - depressed, scared, feeling everything so deeply, and just trying to sing my way through it. So this was a hard read. But I absolutely loved it. There's so much heart in this novel and its message of not only tolerance but acceptance was wonderful. And I loved the #OwnVoices genderqueer representation - I've been looking for more genderqueer rep and this was a great one to start with!

Warnings: explorations of homophobia and transphobia, anxiety, grandparent loss, references to depression, gender dysphoria and suicidal ideation.

Small complaint: the audiobook's quality is not great. the level's change and the narrator doesn't ennunicate very well so speeding it up just garbles it. 

eli_b0204's review against another edition

3.0

3.5/5
Personally not my thing, but I still think it was objectively good, especially considering this is debut book
Would recommend

ellemilia's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring 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? It's complicated

4.75

caedocyon's review against another edition

3.0

Like a ballad by a pop diva: the highest highs, the lowest lows, everything turned up to 11. You're either in the mood for it or you aren't.

I spent half the book waiting for Joey to come out as transmasc. Oh well, there's always college!

jamelyn's review against another edition

1.0

there so much wrong but am i just supposed to believe that this random high school somehow acquired the rights to wicked?

althea's review against another edition

3.0

This is a really tough book to review because on the one hand I really love the genderqueer representation and the fact that Carey uses multiple pronouns throughout the book, it was a quick, fun read, and I think it has an important message for teens who may pick up this book and it's a great addition to any YA shelf. That being said, there were some things that didn't sit right with me. One of the least standout things was some of the language being used, and by that I mean, teenagers just don't use the same slang terms that millenials (aka the author) use and it feels clunky and plain wrong to read! Also a character saying "That was better than sex" about Carey singing...ummmm?? Slightly worse things include saying that a staff room's walls are "painted with STDs" (when are we going to stop the demonisation of people who have STDs and treat it like any other illness??) and Carey's best friend/sister who is in high school (a minor) dating someone in college (over 18). Slightly more insidious are the fact that the only two people of colour in the book are the ones doing all the work with the #LetCareySing campaign and yet receive very little to no positive outcome at the end of the book, and the fact that the police are shown in a positive light throughout. So, yeah, it's difficult for me to decide how I feel about this book. It's good representation but it's a just a start and I'm excited for more books with genderqueer main characters to hit the shelves which don't glorify the police among other things!

ainedougherty's review against another edition

2.0

corny but cute activist story

mirareadsalot's review against another edition

emotional 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

4.0