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mari1532's review against another edition
4.5
Brief Summary: A memoir that explores the experience of a Black, Queer person growing up. Johnson provides essays about their life that include experiences navigating racism, homophobia, sex, love, and joy.
Thoughts: This is a beautifully written book. Johnson has such a clear understanding of how growing up can be such a difficult process and how learning to love yourself is truly the first step to an enlightened understanding of the world.
I really loved every essay that included stories of Johnson's grandmother. The love and admiration that they have for each other was so touching to read. I also think that it is so important that Johnson highlighted how their grandmother and others in their family may not have had a perfect response to the queer members of the family, but that their love for each other always came first and that love allowed for growth and acceptance on all sides.
I also appreciate the way that Johson discusses their sexual experiences. I think that even in a young adult book it is important to discuss topics like these because making them taboo makes it difficult for people to feel comfortable discussing the topic and asking questions.
Even if you are not a young adult this is a great book to read. It is beautifully and thoughtfully written. I would highly recommend this book
Graphic: Sexual assault, Transphobia, Racial slurs, Medical trauma, Incest, Homophobia, Bullying, Racism, Violence, Rape, and Deadnaming
Minor: Drug use and Alcohol
havennnofjoyy's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Homophobia, Incest, Death, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Racial slurs, and Bullying
Moderate: Medical trauma, Drug use, and Medical content
strawberrytheauthor's review against another edition
5.0
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
yourbookishbff's review
5.0
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).
Graphic: Homophobia, Deadnaming, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Incest, and Sexual content
Moderate: Bullying, Medical trauma, Death, Outing, and Medical content
mme_carton's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Cursing, Deadnaming, Death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Grief, Homophobia, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Terminal illness, Chronic illness, Blood, Bullying, Cancer, and Transphobia
Moderate: Alcohol, Cultural appropriation, Outing, and Mental illness
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
deadeye's review
4.25
Graphic: Cursing, Deadnaming, Grief, Racial slurs, Transphobia, Hate crime, Incest, Racism, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Death, and Homophobia
Moderate: Dysphoria
Minor: Police brutality, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Outing, Alcohol, Drug use, and Medical content
anna_l's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Death, Grief, Hate crime, Homophobia, Incest, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Murder, Outing, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Transphobia
Moderate: Alcohol, Drug use, and Police brutality
arlangrey17's review
4.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Cancer, Deadnaming, Death, Grief, Homophobia, Incest, Medical trauma, Outing, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Transphobia, and Violence
berodatheelf's review
4.5
Moderate: Addiction, Bullying, Cancer, Deadnaming, Death, Drug use, Gore, Grief, Homophobia, Medical trauma, Outing, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
_malia_pt's review
4.75
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Incest, Medical trauma, Murder, Racism, and Sexual assault