Reviews tagging 'Colonisation'

The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School by Sonora Reyes

13 reviews

casually_booking's review

challenging 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

4.25

The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School was so good. The cast of characters was dynamic and the setting of catholic school really brought to the forefront discussions on race, class, immigration status, religion, sexuality, and sexual orientation. Very intersectional. As someone who transferred to Catholic school for a few years, many of Yamilet’s experience rang true for me as a Person of Color. I absolutely loved Bo, and as a transracial adoptee, I see myself reflected in her. The conversations she had about embracing her culture on her terms really resonated and the author wrote these sections very well. My only critique of the book was that it felt a little long, but it had a big pay off in the end. I found myself laughing and crying throughout the book.  There was some gutting parts. Yami, Bo, and Cesar’s experiences as queer teens of Color truly demonstrated the uniqueness of everyone’s journey. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Suicide, Xenophobia, Grief, Lesbophobia, Outing, Cultural appropriation, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Classism

studiouspoppy's review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad 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? No

4.5

I loved it! My expectations were high and somehow this book exceeded them. The way Yami talks about her roots and her culture, the fear and the homophobia in the latinx community, the sexist culture that favores the boys and gives responsibility without trust to girls… somehow while having a very different experience, i felt really seen. I would have liked if there were at least one latinx character with light skin since somehow we still are kind of invisible to the rest of the world, but i’ll forgive it since the topic of colorism was considered and that’s huge in the latin community. 
enjoyed so much the way their indigenous culture was so beautifully written into the plot, the way Yami talks about colonization so casually, and she seed the impact of colonization in everyday things, I try to do that and I think people should do it more too.

I loved the plot, the gay panic, I loved the bi representation through a boy, because it feels like bisexuality is mostly female in mainstream culture. I also loved that there were queer siblings, like that’s common, why is it so rare in books?
Finally, that ending had me tearing up. I loved Bo so much. The whole fake girlfriend thing was kind of predictable and hilarious, also the gay panicking and overthinking everything? so relatable! made me go back to my baby gay memories

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Racial slurs, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Outing, Toxic friendship, and Classism

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, and Colonisation

purplepenning's review

dark emotional funny hopeful slow-paced

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

4.25

Some pacing issues, but it didn't keep the brilliant emotional integrity from shining through. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Biphobia, Homophobia, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Lesbophobia, Outing, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Cursing, Self harm, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, and Alcohol

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

Also includes deportation, fear of being kicked out/disowned, interracial adoption, underage drinking