Reviews with content warning for Violence - The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School

Reviews tagging 'Violence'

The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School by Sonora Reyes

34 reviews

hannahgarstang's review

Glad I read this, it made me cry and laugh.

I really loved the discourse around coming out and how it should always be on your own terms and that we don't owe other people that info.

I also thought the conversations around cultural identity were handled really well.

This book touched on so many difficult issues around race, sexuality and mental health. It did this while also being funny and even quite fluffy at times. I wish I'd been able to read something like this as a young adult/teen.

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naisdayz's review against another edition

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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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elliereadsthings's review against another edition

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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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tangoscore's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny hopeful 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? Yes

4.75

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boop123's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring reflective 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? Yes

5.0

Straight up five stars. And yes I’m being biased solely because this was me back in junior high.

I loved the sentiments surrounding the timeline on coming out. No one should feel obligated to tell everyone they’re queer and I’m glad this book emphasized that because it is incredibly difficult to come out when the stakes are high, in this case, religious environments. I also loved how the author tackled the relationship between religion and sexual identity because how can one truly have a personal relationship with God (or any other religion) when the scriptures tell them they’re an abomination? I truly resonate with what Yamilet was going through. How she is already panning out her future if ever she was to come out, the money that she has to save if they don’t accept her, having to convince everyone else she’s straight, her sentiments around Catholicism and her sexuality, and how she can’t fully say the word “lesbian” without feeling squirmy like…. this was literally me 😭

Even though i knew that she was gonna come out and everything would work out because almost all YA queer books, especially ones taking place in high school, end that way, it was nice to read a book like this because she got her happy ending. And we all know there are still people like me who are still stuck in those circumstances knowing the risks.

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fareehareads's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny hopeful 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

Wowowow I loved this book so much. Yamilet & Ceasar have my whole heart !! This book gets so vulnerable and so real at times that i had to put it down (take off my headphones) and walk away several times. But I always got right back into it. The few things I can note here:
I felt all of the feelings as we learned about Yamilet's struggles, her determination to be self sufficient, her fears as she tries to hide her identitiy, her worries over her parents and her slowly opening up to new possibilities where she's not just surviving but actually living her life authentically. I loved all of the side characters soo much. The sibling dynamic was adorable & I was rooting for both of them all throughout

when Yami found out her brother was gay I quite literally gasped aloud. Gay siblings are always so fun

I just love this book so so much. While there is a sweet story & an even sweeter ending, its all based in their reality & struggles which just made the whole experience so special. This books touches on religious guilt, internalized homophobia, fears of not being accepted by parents, constant internal doubt & even thoughts of suicide. I dont know how a younger me would have felt reading this book, but I'd like to think it would have given her some more permission to at least explore & not feel so guilty all the time.

Agh it was just so good I cant form full complete thoughts about it just PLEASE PICK IT UP NOW.

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tinyjude's review

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emotional funny lighthearted sad fast-paced

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

4.75

One of my absolute highlights of this book was the relationship between Yamiret and Cesar. I love sibling relationships in books where they support each other.

Although some topics are triggering and hard to read, the book is so easy to follow and the lovable characters make the pain melt away a little. Bo is the absolute cutest and I love how much of a lesbian disaster both girls were, it was cute and lighthearted. It hurt to see Yamiret hide so much of herself, but I understand and I wish I had the courage Bo showed here when I was in my catholic school. As well as I understand the struggle to think about ways of earning money in case you get kicked out of home when you show yourself. Also Jamal and Cesar :( babies, I hope the best for them because they also seemed so cute.

It's always the art teacher or the English teacher and we love it audjsjs

The book also deals with topics such as cultural identity, police brutality (*cough* acab) and immigration/intolerance towards immigrants, sexuality, putting boundaries in relation with your adopted white family as a person of colour dettached from your culture and your people, mental health issues, homophobia, mentions of colonialism, racist encounters, colourism, stereotypes about latine people, especially women.

I think the author did a fantastic job, and definitely all the tears I shed on the last chapters at 3 am are proof of that. But most of all, what filled my heart with joy and broke me was Yamiret and Cesar's mom. I love her.

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americattt's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny hopeful 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? Yes

4.5

“Everyone mumbles the same prayer, some of them with eyes closed. Something about God’s love for us and our duty to serve him? It’s nice that so many people feel loved like that, but I can’t relate. If the God I grew up learning about is real, I seriously doubt he loves me. Why else would he make me gay and then send me to hell over it? I left that abusive relationship a long time ago.”

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hjevktx's review

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emotional hopeful 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

5.0

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martapsalvado's review

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emotional lighthearted sad slow-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

This book is beautiful inside and out 🩷💛 The pace was a little slow at times, but I really liked the story overall and how themes like being a queer kid in not very open environment, being a person of color in a predominantly white school, mental health, family issues and self-identity were handled.

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