Reviews tagging 'Cursing'

The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School by Sonora Reyes

39 reviews

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

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

quietmarki's review

dark emotional funny hopeful 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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Bullying, Cursing, Outing, Racism, Deportation, Lesbophobia, Racial slurs, Homophobia, and Biphobia

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

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

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

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

Minor: Alcohol, Cursing, and Racism

caseythereader's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Medical content, Lesbophobia, Racism, Religious bigotry, Outing, Alcohol, Homophobia, and Bullying

Moderate: Deportation

yourbookishbff's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful 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? No

4.5

I thoroughly enjoyed this coming-of-age story and am grateful, again, that stories like this exist for today's teens. The short chapters and first-person narration make this a fast-paced read, and I enjoyed the irreverent, sincere and self-deprecating voice of our main character, Yamilet. Reyes explores the complex intersections in identity for Yamilet, who comes out as a lesbian, and her younger brother, Cesar, who comes out as bisexual, within their deeply Catholic, Mexican-American household. We can see the layered obstacles for this family as they fight to stay afloat independently years after the deportation of their father (leaving their mother as the family's sole source of income) and thrive in a world that feels fractured along too many religious, cultural and familial fault lines. 

Most compelling in this story is Reyes' look at mental health crises for queer teens. We know statistically that queer teens face disproportionately high rates of bullying and harassment, physical and sexual abuse, depression, and suicidal ideation, and we see these themes explicitly played out in Yamilet and Cesar's storylines. Readers who like to see on-page discussions of mental health care and intervention (akin to Heartstopper) will appreciate how these conflicts are managed by Reyes - particularly how they evidence the ways in which racism and classism within healthcare further complicate crisis care and long-term support for marginalized youth.

I found myself more drawn to the family dynamics and interpersonal relationships (outside of the romances) in this story (the sibling dynamic between Yami + Cesar meant the world to me), so I was only disappointed that the final 20% centered romance to the degree that it did for Yamilet - that said, this was just personal preference. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Abandonment, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Racism, Biphobia, Outing, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Medical content, Medical trauma, Alcohol, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Blood and Cursing

beaky's review

dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective 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? Yes

5.0

this book is beautiful. I would recommend it to every queer kid (especially those who struggle with mental health). it's funny and heartbreaking and oh so sweet. Yami is such a reina and I love her. the side characters are fab too and the plot moves quickly in just the right way.  TLGTCS is so deep and yet keeps it light and funny. PLEASE READ IT

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Racism, Xenophobia, Lesbophobia, Biphobia, Bullying, and Outing

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