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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
Nima Kumara-Clark is a queer, bi-racial teenager struggling to figure out her place in life. Lacking in self-confidence and learning how to move forward after a complicated familial loss, Nima makes questionable decisions along her road to self-discovery. She eventually finds herself immersed in the world of drag kings, queens and in-betweens, leading her to discover love not just for others, but for herself as well.
This debut novel by Tanya Boteju was an absolute joy to read! It was refreshing to find myself immersed in a story teeming with diverse characters, and although there were some loose ends by the end of it, I felt that it only added to the realistic nature of their lives. This book was meant to portray very real, raw and flawed lives much like our own, and I believe that it accomplished just that. The dialogue was spot on and Boteju’s character descriptions brought each one to life in full, vibrant colour. It isn’t often that a book will have me expressing myself out loud, but there was a particular moment that literally had me gasping and covering my mouth in horror. I knew at that point that this was a book worth reading. I often found myself chuckling along with Nima’s inner voice and her creative expletives, while the character of Deirdre was so well written that I couldn’t help but wish we all had a Dee Dee in our lives.
Through these characters, Boteju breaks down perceived norms and stereotypes while intentionally withholding certain labels. Given that the title of the book is all-encompassing, I found the lack of using certain labels such as “trans/transgender” to speak to that very intent. The story is interspersed with numerous teachable moments that enlighten and offer a different perspective, such as when Nima discovers that drag queens can date girls, or when she informs Gordon that his statement about two girls together being hot, while two guys is sick, places him in the same category as people who would judge him for his own complicated identity.
Within the first two chapters, there were several occasions where the language between past and present didn’t quite flow and I found myself a bit confused as to where Nima was narrating from; however, this was an issue that seemed to improve as the book moved along. As mentioned, there were a number of unresolved plot lines that might leave a reader frustrated, but it is my hope that Boteju intends to produce a follow-up book or two that will explore the lives of some of the secondary characters, such as Gordon and Deirdre.
All in all, I really enjoyed reading this novel, and I look forward to future publications by this up and coming author. Thank you Tanya Boteju for your talent, and thank you to Net Galley and Simon & Schuster Canada for the opportunity to review this advance reader copy.
This debut novel by Tanya Boteju was an absolute joy to read! It was refreshing to find myself immersed in a story teeming with diverse characters, and although there were some loose ends by the end of it, I felt that it only added to the realistic nature of their lives. This book was meant to portray very real, raw and flawed lives much like our own, and I believe that it accomplished just that. The dialogue was spot on and Boteju’s character descriptions brought each one to life in full, vibrant colour. It isn’t often that a book will have me expressing myself out loud, but there was a particular moment that literally had me gasping and covering my mouth in horror. I knew at that point that this was a book worth reading. I often found myself chuckling along with Nima’s inner voice and her creative expletives, while the character of Deirdre was so well written that I couldn’t help but wish we all had a Dee Dee in our lives.
Through these characters, Boteju breaks down perceived norms and stereotypes while intentionally withholding certain labels. Given that the title of the book is all-encompassing, I found the lack of using certain labels such as “trans/transgender” to speak to that very intent. The story is interspersed with numerous teachable moments that enlighten and offer a different perspective, such as when Nima discovers that drag queens can date girls, or when she informs Gordon that his statement about two girls together being hot, while two guys is sick, places him in the same category as people who would judge him for his own complicated identity.
Within the first two chapters, there were several occasions where the language between past and present didn’t quite flow and I found myself a bit confused as to where Nima was narrating from; however, this was an issue that seemed to improve as the book moved along. As mentioned, there were a number of unresolved plot lines that might leave a reader frustrated, but it is my hope that Boteju intends to produce a follow-up book or two that will explore the lives of some of the secondary characters, such as Gordon and Deirdre.
All in all, I really enjoyed reading this novel, and I look forward to future publications by this up and coming author. Thank you Tanya Boteju for your talent, and thank you to Net Galley and Simon & Schuster Canada for the opportunity to review this advance reader copy.
emotional
funny
This book is messy, but that's what makes it real and so very marvelous.
You can see Boteju's own experiences as a teen in the Drag scene in these pages, which was a welcomed education for me.
You can see Boteju's own experiences as a teen in the Drag scene in these pages, which was a welcomed education for me.
I expected to really love this book, instead I can say it was good. This is mostly because I found the main character to be exceedingly underdeveloped. The supporting characters are fantastic and honestly I would rather have read stories about several of them over Nima. The events in the story are very compelling, particularly in the second half of the book. I did REALLY feel for her emotional Ginny rollercoaster, falling in love with a straight girl can be a real bitch. lol
Are writers allergic to the denouement? What is going on?
That is only my immediate first reaction because I just finished the book and it ended mid-action and I'm not overly fond of that
HOWEVER!
There was a lot of good stuff in this book. Drag kings definitely need more of a spotlight. I liked the complicated relationships we saw throughout the book and I really liked that they were allowed to be messy and embarassing.
That being said: the book was too long.
It was too long! There are a good fifty pages in the middle that could be completely taken out and it literally would not change anything. The kiss with Ginny can be cut - we got our resolution with her at the very beginning. The Pool House Party could be cut down dramatically. Almost all the shit with Nima's mom could have been cut completely. I don't know why I have to keep begging writers to streamline their writing but it KEEPS HAPPENING. Narrow down to a couple plotlines - Nima and Winnow, Nima's drag career with Winnow, Gordon - and just CUT THE REST. We don't need that much Ginny. We don't need that much mom. We can keep some Jill but ONLY SOME.
Aside from a couple dragging chapters in the middle, I did find the book engaging and sweet. I might wish for a different execution but the premise and characters were good,
Yay drag!
That is only my immediate first reaction because I just finished the book and it ended mid-action and I'm not overly fond of that
HOWEVER!
There was a lot of good stuff in this book. Drag kings definitely need more of a spotlight. I liked the complicated relationships we saw throughout the book and I really liked that they were allowed to be messy and embarassing.
That being said: the book was too long.
It was too long! There are a good fifty pages in the middle that could be completely taken out and it literally would not change anything. The kiss with Ginny can be cut - we got our resolution with her at the very beginning. The Pool House Party could be cut down dramatically. Almost all the shit with Nima's mom could have been cut completely. I don't know why I have to keep begging writers to streamline their writing but it KEEPS HAPPENING. Narrow down to a couple plotlines - Nima and Winnow, Nima's drag career with Winnow, Gordon - and just CUT THE REST. We don't need that much Ginny. We don't need that much mom. We can keep some Jill but ONLY SOME.
Aside from a couple dragging chapters in the middle, I did find the book engaging and sweet. I might wish for a different execution but the premise and characters were good,
Yay drag!
I absolutely loved, loved this book. It had everything queer and more. My girl Nima still has a lot of trials to go through in life but now she’s got amazing friends, a potential love interest and her dad to get her through it. I loved the celebration of any and all people in this and the lack of judgement. We’re just tiny humans on a spinning rock which is orbiting through space so what if men wear fake boobs, make-up and heels, so what if girls kiss other girls, so what if some people use a little surgery to become who they truly are. Let’s have fun, no one makes it out alive anyway
It’s cute! I would’ve loved this when I was younger, but I’m just so impatient to read other books on my TBR list at this time. I might revisit in the future.
Nina feels trapped in her small town. She attempted to confess her love to her crush, only to have her dreams crushed as that girl said "let's just stay friends." She isn't sure what she wants to do with herself after school is over. During a summer festival, she finds herself drawn to a tent featuring a drag show. Soon Nina is sucked into the life of drag kings and queens. She crushes on a drag king she sees perform, finds herself a fairy dragmother, and begins to consider performing as well.
This story is very readable and relatable, particularly for readers who have lived in small towns. Nina has an amazingly supportive family, which is wonderful, but a side character has a more typically unsupportive family, and he lashes out at everyone around him because of the family stress he faces. Nina isn't a perfect character, but she does grow. This is a great book to give to readers looking to escape their small-town existence and imagine something bigger.
Read-Alikes: Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit by Jaye Robin Brown, Run by Kody Keplinger, Dumplin' by Julie Murphy.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley for review purposes.
This story is very readable and relatable, particularly for readers who have lived in small towns. Nina has an amazingly supportive family, which is wonderful, but a side character has a more typically unsupportive family, and he lashes out at everyone around him because of the family stress he faces. Nina isn't a perfect character, but she does grow. This is a great book to give to readers looking to escape their small-town existence and imagine something bigger.
Read-Alikes: Georgia Peaches and Other Forbidden Fruit by Jaye Robin Brown, Run by Kody Keplinger, Dumplin' by Julie Murphy.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley for review purposes.
This book is quite rough to read if you have anxiety or dealing with super awkward situations. While I found it entertaining and kept wishing it was over already.