Reviews tagging 'Medical content'

All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson

25 reviews

callidoralblack's review against another edition

reflective

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Bullying, Cancer, Cursing, Death, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, Racial slurs, Medical content, and Racism

havennnofjoyy's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective tense medium-paced

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Incest, Death, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Racial slurs, and Bullying

Moderate: Medical trauma, Drug use, and Medical content

thewordsdevourer's review against another edition

emotional reflective fast-paced

3.0

all boys aren't blue is def an important read, esp for bringing more awareness and visibility to queer ppl own their own terms, in their own voice, here thru the words of george m. johnson.

despite being for younger readers, the memoir deals w/ some heavy themes and subject matter - albeit realistic and necessary ones - and it's unsurprising why many scared and prejudiced adults are averse to the book and have been trying to ban it.

while there are certain impactful and memorable lines thruout, i find the writing juvenile at times, perhaps bc of its younger target audience. the overall book also seems a lil scattered, not as cohesive as it could be, and the ending too abrupt imo. nevertheless johnson's memoir is an important one that sheds light on the plight of a group of marginalized voices.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Sexual content, and Homophobia

Moderate: Violence, Medical content, and Child abuse

Minor: Death and Transphobia

jessspeake's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Homophobia, Racism, Bullying, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

Moderate: Death, Grief, Alcohol, Deadnaming, Medical content, Outing, Transphobia, and Violence

Minor: Blood

dannothedino's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Homophobia, Incest, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Mental illness, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Cursing, Racial slurs, Sexual content, and Violence

Moderate: Death, Drug use, Drug abuse, Alcohol, Cancer, Medical content, Outing, and Transphobia

Minor: Cultural appropriation, Colonisation, Slavery, and Police brutality

strawberrytheauthor's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

I read this for a college course and it was so good. I don’t know if I personally would categorize it as YA because the sexual and violent scenes were quite graphic. I identified with the book which surprised me because I am a cisgendered white woman. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Rape, Alcohol, Sexual content, Transphobia, Blood, Cursing, Deadnaming, Sexual assault, Death, Drug use, Grief, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Bullying, and Incest

Moderate: Gun violence, Medical trauma, and Medical content

Minor: Child death

amazelan's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

3.5

j'ai pas vraiment apprécié l'écriture et la façon dont les chapitres étaient organisés, avec une morale à chaque fois alors que tout le chapitre en était déjà une et que ça faisait du coup répétition.
mais ça c'est que la forme, parce que le fond est vraiment bien, il est important. on a besoin d'autobiographies de personnes LGBT+, de personnes LGBT+ racisé.es, on a besoin d'entendre les histoires des personnes qui nous ont précédées.
et je pense -j'espère- que c'est un de ses livres qui aidera les + jeunes d'entre nous à se sentir vu.es et moins seul.es.
il est rempli d'emotions, mais surtout d'espoir, et l'espoir est si important dans la communauté LGBT+.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, and Sexual content

Moderate: Homophobia, Racism, Bullying, Sexual assault, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Transphobia, Deadnaming, Cancer, and Medical content

Minor: Police brutality, Murder, and Slavery

peachani's review

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

A necessary book full of lessons and hope for Black queer youth. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Homophobia, Bullying, and Violence

Moderate: Death, Racism, Cancer, Cultural appropriation, Sexual content, Grief, and Mental illness

Minor: Alcohol, Cursing, Deadnaming, Blood, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Drug use, Medical content, Outing, and Racial slurs

alexisthecrow's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Deadnaming, Grief, Medical content, Racial slurs, Death, Drug use, Bullying, Cancer, Sexual content, Racism, and Outing

yourbookishbff's review

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

 Written for a YA audience, Johnson's reflections are striking in their vulnerability and transparency - they insist on honesty with themselves and with you, the reader, in an effort to create space for a generation of young LGBTQIAP+ people learning to own and protect their identities in an oppressive and often violent world. Broken into short essays, interspersed with letters and reflections written to, for and from family members, Johnson's stories are as much for themselves as they are for others, a chance to reconcile their Black and queer identities and communities. By the conclusion, it is clear that they see these identities as inextricably linked, essential parts of their whole, existing without conflict when they can exist authentically (outside the oppressive structures of a white cultural and political monolith).

I came away from this read in awe of the gift Johnson is giving young readers, the trust and respect afforded them. That this is one of the most banned books in the United States underscores exactly how rare this level of trust and respect is given young people, particularly young people who identify as LGBTQIAP+. Johnson so clearly navigated their own life without a roadmap and is committed to ensuring others like them don't feel similarly confused and alone.

It's important to note that this DOES entail on-page trauma. I do NOT think this limits its accessibility or appropriateness for young adult readers. I caution ANY reader to be sensitive to content warnings and give themselves grace in what they choose to read. It's appalling, though, that this book has been so frequently banned on these grounds, as though teens are incapable of reading about things they are *already experiencing.*

I would recommend this to any reader, but feel it's particularly powerful for those who work with young people (or are parents to teens). 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Deadnaming, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Incest, and Sexual content

Moderate: Bullying, Medical trauma, Death, Outing, and Medical content