Reviews tagging 'Classism'

The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School by Sonora Reyes

39 reviews

filipa_maia's review

challenging emotional sad slow-paced

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

2.0

I had high hopes for this book, but it disappointed me. Don't take me the wrong way: this is a very important book about a very important topic. How many teenagers (and adults) suffer in silence, trying to hyde who they are? When the rejection comes from your own house, what can you expect form everyone else?

I felt sorry for Yammi many times throughout this book: trying to be straight, feeling the catholic guilt... The part where she starts saving money waiting to be kicked out of her house broke my heart.

Now let's get to the negative points: this is the slowest of slow paced if I've ever read - we spend half the book just getting to know Yammi and then everything is rushed towards the end; the lack of communications between that family just was a deal breaker for me; her mother constantly showing love and affection towards Cesar and never Yammi; the mother being a complete homophobic and then, by the end, everything is reversed; the father (I don't need to say more); the way things turn out to be at the end... was just 'meh'...

Anyway, maybe this book was written for a different target audience, maybe I'm just not the right age. Despite all this, I think this book can help someone.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Abandonment, Biphobia, Bullying, Classism, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Outing, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Deportation

Minor: Alcohol and Police brutality

naisdayz's review against another edition

dark emotional funny 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

5.0

The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School is a very important book. It touches on a variety of topics, from coming out (in an immigrant household specifically), being outed involuntarily, religious guilt and shame, as well as racism and homophobia generally.

It took me a bit to get into the book, but once I did, I devoured it. 

Since the book tries to do a lot, it obviously doesn't cut very deep on all topics - but I think it's a great base for doing further research or reading other books about related issues. Therefore, I don't necessarily view it as a weakness.

The mom's switch-up toward the end seemed a little sudden to me, as well. I wonder if she would have reacted the same if Cesar hadnt attempted suicide.

I loved Yami as a character and a narrator. I often found myself smiling or even laughing at her sarcastic remarks. I really wanted to give her a hug.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Blood, Racism, Cursing, Religious bigotry, and Homophobia

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Deportation, Classism, and Toxic friendship

mamacalidad's review

emotional funny 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, and Deportation

Moderate: Cultural appropriation, Abandonment, Alcohol, Bullying, and Classism

elliereadsthings's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful sad medium-paced

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

4.0

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

"Mijo, if the Bible tells me I shouldn't love my kids, then the Bible is wrong."

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Homophobia, Grief, Hate crime, Lesbophobia, Mental illness, Racism, Violence, and Deportation

Moderate: Blood, Bullying, Toxic friendship, Vomit, Alcohol, Police brutality, Abandonment, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail, Biphobia, Emotional abuse, Outing, and Cultural appropriation

Minor: Abortion, Forced institutionalization, Classism, and Medical content

mari1532's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

I checked this audiobook out of my library because I had heard great things about it on Instagram.

Brief Summary: After being outed by her ex-best friend, Yamilet follows her little brother to the local Catholic school. As Yamilet attempts to make sure her brother stays out of trouble and that she meets her mother's expectations for her, Yamilet is also trying to present as straight. However, pretending becomes difficult when she meets and develops feelings for her openly queer classmate Bo.

Thoughts: I loved this book. Writing a book that deals with so many distinct emotions, while making them feel real about how emotions are experienced must be incredibly difficult as a writer because I have not seen many do as exceptionally well as Reyes. The author's ability to convey the complicated emotions of both loving and hating someone at the same time, the confusion of falling in love, and the conflict of cultural/religious views with feelings of familial loyalty made every single person in this book feel like a real person. As the book progressed it was clear the growth that everyone went through from their experiences. Yamilet in particular was such a dynamic and lovable character. If you read this book prepare to laugh and cry right along with her.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Deportation, Self harm, Classism, Mental illness, Outing, Bullying, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Suicide attempt, and Emotional abuse

kelsiepixler's review

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective 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? No

5.0

Once I started this book, I could not put it down. Devoured it in half a day. The character development was just 🤌🏻💋

When her mom ended up supporting her, I bawled. Hysterically. Full on sobs at 1 in the afternoon

The way the author draws you into the narrator’s life leaves you feeling so connected to the events that happen to her and her family members. Hands down one of the best YA novels I’ve read in a long time. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Lesbophobia, Outing, Racism, Religious bigotry, Homophobia, Toxic friendship, Deportation, and Hate crime

Moderate: Bullying, Police brutality, Sexism, Misogyny, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Classism, Abortion, Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, and Injury/Injury detail

kateyhb's review

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted tense 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

It’s been a while since I’ve loved a YA book this much. It is a peeve of mine when YA books present content in a way that is outside of the maturity level of the intended audience. Reyes tackles so many important themes in such a tactful way that is accessible to young adults. She does not infantilize the reader by shying away from heavy topics, but rather addresses these topics in a way that feels relateable to the perspectives of young adults. Nuanced portrayals of racism, class disparity, adoption, bullying, suicidal ideation, and homophobia, all brilliantly written into one book. I wish I had this queer little book during my adolescence.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Classism, Homophobia, Racism, Sexism, and Suicide attempt

mle11's review

emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Outing, Bullying, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, and Deportation

Moderate: Cultural appropriation, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Self harm, Toxic friendship, Religious bigotry, Classism, and Blood

Minor: Police brutality, Forced institutionalization, and Racism

belle123reads's review

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

Overall a very good book

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Biphobia, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Outing, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic friendship, Cursing, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Racism, Classism, and Deportation

levitatingnumeral'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? Yes

4.75

The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School manages to touch on some really tough topics with grace and seriousness while being a light and pleasant read.
It’s truly lovely, I didn’t want to put it down and the characters are so well fleshed out. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Religious bigotry, Deportation, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Outing, and Racism

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Abandonment, Suicidal thoughts, Police brutality, Cultural appropriation, Forced institutionalization, Toxic friendship, Classism, and Xenophobia

Minor: Biphobia