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monalyisha's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
All Boys Aren’t Blue is both a memoir and a manifesto, intended for a young adult audience. Its tone is both academic and intensely personal. It’s a lot of things all at once — which makes total sense, given the subject matter (and the nature of humanity)! Specifically, it’s about growing up queer and black in America — as an upper-middle-class person with a loving and supportive family (not a narrative we hear often enough).
Though it feels crummy to say, I didn’t think I was going to like the book at first. The writing, when it’s not erudite in tone, is conversational and it needs sharper editing (the word “though” is vastly overused, for instance). Johnson’s vocal performance is also a bit stumbling. I settled in, however, and I think their goal is accomplished: providing a (sometimes embarrassing) warm, honest, and candid account of life for people who are often ignored. Johnson’s goal is to be a mirror and they shine.
The chapter “Losing My Virginity Twice,” which includes an impassioned call for better — and inclusive!!!— sexual education in America, is vital. Johnson carefully highlights the very real damage that can be (and IS) done by leaving kids ignorant and concurrently teaching them shame. They provide concrete examples from their own life. It’s sometimes difficult to hear but it’s also nigh-impossible to ignore. There’s so much hurt (physical and mental) that doesn’t need to happen, and Johnson leaves us feeling that we can all do better - and that it’s reasonable to work for change, and to hope.
Though it feels crummy to say, I didn’t think I was going to like the book at first. The writing, when it’s not erudite in tone, is conversational and it needs sharper editing (the word “though” is vastly overused, for instance). Johnson’s vocal performance is also a bit stumbling. I settled in, however, and I think their goal is accomplished: providing a (sometimes embarrassing) warm, honest, and candid account of life for people who are often ignored. Johnson’s goal is to be a mirror and they shine.
The chapter “Losing My Virginity Twice,” which includes an impassioned call for better — and inclusive!!!— sexual education in America, is vital. Johnson carefully highlights the very real damage that can be (and IS) done by leaving kids ignorant and concurrently teaching them shame. They provide concrete examples from their own life. It’s sometimes difficult to hear but it’s also nigh-impossible to ignore. There’s so much hurt (physical and mental) that doesn’t need to happen, and Johnson leaves us feeling that we can all do better - and that it’s reasonable to work for change, and to hope.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Outing, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Racism, Sexual violence, Transphobia, and Terminal illness
starlessnights's review against another edition
slow-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming, Death of parent, Sexual violence, Homophobia, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Transphobia, Child death, Grief, Hate crime, Suicidal thoughts, and Sexual content
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