Reviews tagging 'Deportation'

The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School by Sonora Reyes

228 reviews

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

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

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

limsy_'s review

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Biphobia, Cursing, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Lesbophobia, and Deportation

literatehedgehog's review against another edition

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

4.0

Ah, YA, with your lovably flawed teens figuring out themselves and their relationships. I loved Yamilet through her mistakes, her anger, her protectiveness, her difficulty trusting people with her true self, and I especially loved her relationship with her brother. The love (and teasing) radiated off the page. Though the culture, queer identities and immigration issues may be a novel combination, they are mapped on a familiar arc.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia and Deportation

Moderate: Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Police brutality, and Religious bigotry

bookjonez's review

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? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia, Self harm, Suicide attempt, and Deportation

wormiebrains's review

emotional reflective medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia, Self harm, Suicide, and Deportation

queerafictionado's review

emotional funny inspiring lighthearted 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Homophobia, Mental illness, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Deportation

theworldisyourlibrary's review against another edition

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

5.0

The narration was excelleeeent! Listen to the audiobook, you will not regret it. 

This was not a typical YA book, it deals with mature topics but the author does it so well; the flow of the story, the characters development, the difficult topics, all was chef kiss. 

Yami, Bo & Cesar I love them and want to give them a hug. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, and Outing

Minor: Grief and Deportation

morganvw's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful reflective 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? Yes

5.0

as part of 2024 bingo for my book club, i’ve marked this read for the spot “made me cry” (even though it could’ve also taken the spot for “diverse cast” “fake dating” or “gay longing”). this was a beautiful YA that does not tread lightly on what it means to be a teen girl. then there are added layers of what it means to be a *brown, queer,* teen girl (who is also the eldest child of immigrated parents) who gets moved to a predominantly white catholic school. and what inspires? lots of crushes, a realistic sibling relationship, parental pressure, and the internal gay turmoil of being in the closet.

i resonated closely with all the main characters in one sense or another: yamilet’s experience of being the eldest sister, figuring out how to tell people (family) i’m queer, and navigating a private school that doesn’t always align with my beliefs; bo’s experience of being an outspoken queer chinese adoptee; cesar’s struggle with mental health issues.

this had both hardship that can be a bit heavy for a YA book, but also lots of fun fluffy moments. i genuinely enjoyed this and definitely recommend it to anyone!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Religious bigotry

Minor: Bullying, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Police brutality, Outing, Toxic friendship, and Deportation

thenextbookdilemma's review against another edition

dark 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? No

5.0

Y’all, I sometimes think maybe I’ve moved on from YA only to get sucked back in—because I am a sucker for coming of age stories. Something everyone can relate to is the absolute agony and euphoria of being a teenager—all your feelings are SO BIG and so many important discoveries about ourselves are made during this time. I just love being brought back into those feelings, to feel angsty and unsure and read inner (and outer) monologues of kids who haven’t fully learned to filter themselves. It’s always just so refreshing for me. And I almost always cry. 

I loved A Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School. The voice of Yamilet was so strong, her turbulent teenage feelings and identity just dripped off the page (or my headphones, as I listed to the audiobook and it was spectacular). She deals with so much in this book, from hiding her queerness from family and friends, betrayals from people she trusts most, the deportation of a parent, and finally, to having an agonizing crush. 

She grapples with not knowing how the people in her life will react to her queerness, and whether she will lose everything important to her if she…comes out. This was devastating to experience with Yamilet because unfortunately, not everyone in this book is *a good human being* and….

While Yami struggles with keeping herself closeted, she is also forced to deal with her fractured family, and the classism, homophobia, and racism that run rampant at her new private catholic school. All in all, it’s a lot. 

This book forces the reader to consider the reality of possible homelessness in the face of coming out to your parents, an ongoing fear for Yamilet throughout the book. We know this is a reality for far too many queer teens and I held so much anger and fear for Yamilet and she worked to provide herself with a plan if she were to be kicked out of her home. 

This book isn’t all turmoil and at the center is a sweet budding crush and Yamilet’s internal monologues made me laugh out loud, she is funny y’all. And I would be remiss if I didn’t mention how much I loved her relationship with her brother. 

If you like YA then I could not recommend this more. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Abandonment

Moderate: Child abuse, Mental illness, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Police brutality and Deportation

gracedunne's review

emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Lesbophobia, Outing, Toxic friendship, and Deportation

Minor: Cursing, Racism, and Alcohol