Reviews tagging 'Cultural appropriation'

All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson

16 reviews

bookwormcat's review

challenging emotional hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual content, Homophobia, and Bullying

Moderate: Blood, Outing, Cultural appropriation, Deadnaming, Cursing, Drug use, Racial slurs, and Injury/Injury detail

jenniferbbookdragon's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

4.5

A powerful memoir about growing up Black and queer, this book has been targeted by those who believe banning books about controversial topics is necessary to protect children. Johnson directly addresses racism,  homophobia,  bullying, and sexual abuse, all of which impact teens in their daily lives. He argues that they need books like this to know they aren't alone and to empathize with peers facing these issues.  I agree.
Johnson describes his introduction to sex in college as difficult due to the lack of sex education for queer youth. 
Their struggles with identity and sexuality are addressed in the  context of a supportive family,  something many young people lack. Johnson's story is one of strength and hope. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Sexual content, Homophobia, Racism, Alcohol, and Dysphoria

Moderate: Incest, Cultural appropriation, Deadnaming, and Drug use

Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Transphobia, Outing, Violence, and Blood

dannothedino's review against another edition

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

4.5

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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

peytonktracy's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful informative fast-paced

5.0

This is one of those books I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to read. Or more accurately, listen to. Definitely crappies with some heavy topics but is a book I wish I had access to when I was growing up. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexual content

Moderate: Bullying, Death, Cultural appropriation, Homophobia, Outing, and Racial slurs

Author has a disclaimer/content warning at the beginning explaining word usage and topics. Read it!

dragon_s_hoard's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Homophobia, Incest, Outing, Cultural appropriation, Drug use, Terminal illness, Racism, Chronic illness, Slavery, Alcohol, Racial slurs, Bullying, and Grief

kirstenf's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Sexual content, Racism, and Homophobia

Moderate: Transphobia, Death, Sexual assault, Violence, Gun violence, Cancer, Outing, Grief, and Police brutality

Minor: Hate crime, Cultural appropriation, Deadnaming, and Incest

leweylibrary's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

5.0

Such an important book, and it's an important book for YOUNG ADULTS. For some reason, my library, a college library, doesn't have it with all the rest of the YA books, and that really irks me. Yes, there are a few sexually explicit moments, but I really wish people would stop pretending like teenagers don't know about or aren't having sex or at least thinking about it. Like the author said, because he didn't know, didn't have the resources or support to find out, he took a lot of unnecessary and dangerous risks sexually, not to mention how much harder his teen years were not knowing this information. Information is power, especially in areas of sexual and gender identities, and that's the only reason this book has been banned and challenged so much. 

Anywho, this book was very explicitly written for young adults, and the writing style does reflect that. That is not to say that there aren't some really great and powerful moments prose-wise. It was also just a really enjoyable read. I'm glad a book club finally forced me to read it sooner than I might have otherwise. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Racism, Outing, Bullying, Sexual content, Homophobia, Grief, and Death

Moderate: Terminal illness and Cultural appropriation

Minor: Drug use

corabookworm's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective

4.0

This book was incredible. As George Johnson narrates  experiences in his childhood and young adult life that helped shape his identity, he shares advice for Black kids and queer kids, explaining what he’s learned and what he wish he’d known. He also comments on some flaws in American society, specifically the exclusion of Black history and queer sex education from most curriculums. All in all, I found this book entertaining, emotional, inspiring, and informative.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Sexual assault

Moderate: Drug use, Grief, Homophobia, Death, Outing, Racism, Transphobia, and Violence

Minor: Cultural appropriation, Deadnaming, and Incest

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. 

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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

mattyb's review against another edition

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Racism, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Bullying

Minor: Alcohol, Cultural appropriation, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Outing