Scan barcode
garbutch's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
I lack spoons for a review rn but want to give heads up that there is SA and suicide described on page, and suicidal impulse, hate crimes (a few), violent child abuse and transphobic murder of children, and generally other stuff that trans teenagers go through.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Child abuse, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Hate crime, Emotional abuse, Dysphoria, Self harm, Mental illness, Grief, Violence, Stalking, Rape, Transphobia, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Outing, Child death, Sexual assault, Homophobia, Bullying, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
thepetitepunk's review
4.0
This is an important book. It is not often that you will find a story with a genderfluid main character, especially one this informative. Through the eyes of Riley, we get a great perspective of what it is like to be genderfluid and how gender identity is perceived in society.
Riley and their friends are unique characters with enjoyable personalities, and the writing was good.
This book is important for people of all genders; underrepresentation of less commonly known genders (such as gender fluidity) and sexuality in media and literature can often lead to misunderstandings and stereotypes. It is imperative to have accurate and sufficient representation of minorities, whether that be related to gender, sexuality, race, religion, etc., in order to develop a society of not only tolerance, but of compassion and understanding.
I also appreciated the fact that Riley's biological sex was never mentioned. It emphasizes that Riley isn't "actually a boy" or "actually a girl." They are genderfluid, and their biological sex is not something that we need to know in order to respect them for who they are.
Although I loved the characters and the insightful information about gender identity, the plot could have been improved. It wasn't very complex and didn't completely interest me, but I kept pushing through since it was well-written nonetheless.
Side note: There's a lot of music mentioned throughout this book, most of it being music I happen to love (props to Jeff Garvin for mentioning my absolute favorite band, Against Me!). Actually, while I was reading, I realized that I had made a Spotify playlist awhile ago that has some of the exact same songs mentioned. Enjoy - https://open.spotify.com/user/fathomlessfear/playlist/1mXhiMzC8LLmUprSR8uroJ
Riley and their friends are unique characters with enjoyable personalities, and the writing was good.
This book is important for people of all genders; underrepresentation of less commonly known genders (such as gender fluidity) and sexuality in media and literature can often lead to misunderstandings and stereotypes. It is imperative to have accurate and sufficient representation of minorities, whether that be related to gender, sexuality, race, religion, etc., in order to develop a society of not only tolerance, but of compassion and understanding.
I also appreciated the fact that Riley's biological sex was never mentioned. It emphasizes that Riley isn't "actually a boy" or "actually a girl." They are genderfluid, and their biological sex is not something that we need to know in order to respect them for who they are.
Although I loved the characters and the insightful information about gender identity, the plot could have been improved. It wasn't very complex and didn't completely interest me, but I kept pushing through since it was well-written nonetheless.
Side note: There's a lot of music mentioned throughout this book, most of it being music I happen to love (props to Jeff Garvin for mentioning my absolute favorite band, Against Me!). Actually, while I was reading, I realized that I had made a Spotify playlist awhile ago that has some of the exact same songs mentioned. Enjoy - https://open.spotify.com/user/fathomlessfear/playlist/1mXhiMzC8LLmUprSR8uroJ
leafblade's review
4.0
4.5/5
The only bad thing it has: it should've discussed pronouns someway.
Anyway I think this book is important and we shouldn't sleep on it but we also should read or buy or promo or whatever more books by lgbt+ authors.
Huge huge HUGE warning for people outing riley when she didn't want to. It gave me anxiety for a million reasons and I feel like I would've wanted to know about it beforehand.
I'm glad there was a cishet boy involved in this????? It watered my crops honestly, we don't see them much as friends in lgbt+ books (nor in real life honestly I'd rather be dead than come out to one), they're often just the bully or the parent slash sibling slash relative that's only acceptive because he lived with the main character. And Solo wasn't!!!!!! He's a huge dork!!!!!! Adorable friend!!!!! Strong friend!!!!!!!!! Star wars fan friend even though I like Star trek more!!!!!!!!!!!
As soon as I'm done writing this I'll go and marry Bec. That's it. Bye and thanks for reading come to our wedding
The only bad thing it has: it should've discussed pronouns someway.
Anyway I think this book is important and we shouldn't sleep on it but we also should read or buy or promo or whatever more books by lgbt+ authors.
Huge huge HUGE warning for people outing riley when she didn't want to. It gave me anxiety for a million reasons and I feel like I would've wanted to know about it beforehand.
I'm glad there was a cishet boy involved in this????? It watered my crops honestly, we don't see them much as friends in lgbt+ books (nor in real life honestly I'd rather be dead than come out to one), they're often just the bully or the parent slash sibling slash relative that's only acceptive because he lived with the main character. And Solo wasn't!!!!!! He's a huge dork!!!!!! Adorable friend!!!!! Strong friend!!!!!!!!! Star wars fan friend even though I like Star trek more!!!!!!!!!!!
As soon as I'm done writing this I'll go and marry Bec. That's it. Bye and thanks for reading come to our wedding
graveyardpansy's review
4.0
I have SO MANY mixed thoughts. I have an incredibly long notes document on this book that I’ll be using to create a video review at some point but oh boy, what a ride.
allygatr's review
5.0
not an all-time favorite, but will remain to be one of the most influential. i really learned a lot from this and the biggest takeaway is: you do not need x, y, z, to view a human as valid.
inkwell_god's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I loved this book. Riley shares the same taste in books, music, and people as I do, as well as gender identity.
ambeesbookishpages's review
5.0
The full review could be found at THE BOOK BRATZ closer to its release date!
This was the first 2016 book I read in 2015, and it really set the bar. Symptoms of Being Human really has the ability to change lives. It definitely changed the way I thought about some things and opened my eyes to others. Jeff Garvin broke my heart into a million pieces and put it back together again.
Riley is gender fluid. Some days she identifies as a girl and other days her internal compass points all the way to boy. Her mother and congressman father have no clue of their child's identity, and constantly push her towards being a girl. Under the advice of a Therapist Riley beings anonymous blog to let out her feelings, soon it becomes a huge hit and her no follower blogs climbs to over 30,000 followers.
Initially Garvin gave us no hints of Riley's birth gender, it was subtle hints dropped through out Symptoms of Being Human that you go the impression that Riley was born a girl. Riley describes her decision of dressing or behaving more like another gender by a compass. Sometimes it points more towards the feminine side and other times the masculine side. Riley doesn't like being forced into a gender category and it tends to give her anxiety. It was interesting to see that something as simple as changing the way Riley would walk in the hallway would relieve that pent up pressure and anxiousness.
My heart really went out to the way Riley was treated. Being run out of her old high school because she was being harassed by the other students. Riley hopes that her new public school would be better, but sadly it isn't. The football players make her their target, constantly calling her names, verbally attacking her, and even going as far to attack her in a alley way. It was friends like Solo and Bec that really made me happy for Riley. She deserved so much more then what people gave her, and Bec and Solo were able to see right through it all.
Symptoms of Being Human is a book that will stick out in your mind long after you read the last page.
This was the first 2016 book I read in 2015, and it really set the bar. Symptoms of Being Human really has the ability to change lives. It definitely changed the way I thought about some things and opened my eyes to others. Jeff Garvin broke my heart into a million pieces and put it back together again.
Riley is gender fluid. Some days she identifies as a girl and other days her internal compass points all the way to boy. Her mother and congressman father have no clue of their child's identity, and constantly push her towards being a girl. Under the advice of a Therapist Riley beings anonymous blog to let out her feelings, soon it becomes a huge hit and her no follower blogs climbs to over 30,000 followers.
Initially Garvin gave us no hints of Riley's birth gender, it was subtle hints dropped through out Symptoms of Being Human that you go the impression that Riley was born a girl. Riley describes her decision of dressing or behaving more like another gender by a compass. Sometimes it points more towards the feminine side and other times the masculine side. Riley doesn't like being forced into a gender category and it tends to give her anxiety. It was interesting to see that something as simple as changing the way Riley would walk in the hallway would relieve that pent up pressure and anxiousness.
My heart really went out to the way Riley was treated. Being run out of her old high school because she was being harassed by the other students. Riley hopes that her new public school would be better, but sadly it isn't. The football players make her their target, constantly calling her names, verbally attacking her, and even going as far to attack her in a alley way. It was friends like Solo and Bec that really made me happy for Riley. She deserved so much more then what people gave her, and Bec and Solo were able to see right through it all.
Symptoms of Being Human is a book that will stick out in your mind long after you read the last page.
barnesbookshelf's review against another edition
4.0
I greatly enjoyed the book. I found Riley to not be the most likable protagonist at the start, but I recognized that a large part of that was where they started and that they would grow, which they did, exceptionally. The one thing I wish I had had some warning about was . Overall, I feel that the book gives some great insight into some aspects of life that genderfluid people encounter.