Reviews with content warning for Medical content - All Boys Aren't Blue

Reviews tagging 'Medical content'

All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson

26 reviews

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).

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notartgarfunkel's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0

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grboph's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful informative reflective fast-paced

5.0

This was quite the book. George M. Johnson is an incredible person, and their story is a very important one for everyone to hear. The incredible thing about this story is that while most memoirs are about someone with a very unique or unusual story, Johnson's is very commonplace, it just has hardly ever been told before. On top of its importance to society, the book is also full of stories about Johnson's life that are heartwarming, sad, and everything in between. I'm so glad I got to experience this book, and I would recommend it to absolutely anyone.

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mme_carton's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.0

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reallife_kazbrekker's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring fast-paced

4.5

I enjoyed this book a lot! It was also a very fast read in my opinion, which is always a plus in my book. But I can't give it 5 stars just because of personal reasons. Nothing to do with the book or the way it was written, just me feeling sad about the fact that I'm never gonna be able to experience some of the things talked about in this book (like going to university for example).

So yeah, the book was great! Lots of good quotes that I annotated, but no 5 stars because of my personal issues... Still highly recommend it though!

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