Reviews tagging 'Drug use'

Music from Another World by Robin Talley

5 reviews

melissafelicia's review against another edition

emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

This was a great queer coming-of-age story, but what made it more interesting was the time it was situated in and how music, especially punk music, played a big role in helping the main characters in some way (like to express their anger, rebel against their parents' rules/beliefs, meet other queer people and even realize they might be queer). I sometimes paused the audiobook to listen to some of the artists that were mentioned and I would recommend that, as it enhanced my reading experience a lot! 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Biphobia, Lesbophobia, Religious bigotry, and Outing

Minor: Drug use, Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, and Alcohol

toofondofbooks_'s review

adventurous emotional hopeful reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

First of all, can we talk about this cover? WOW.

Okay, now we can talk about the book.

This book is a YA historical fiction about two girls in the late 70s who are assigned pen pals by their schools. Tammy is gay in an incredibly fundamentalist Christian family and Sharon is in a similar household and has a gay brother. They get to know one another as the political landscape becomes more and more volatile toward the LGBT+ community even as Harvey Milk becomes the first openly gay elected official in California.

I thought this book was good, but it took a little while to get good - at least 80 pages. I don't know if that was because I couldn't stop thinking about my last read or if it was the book's fault, though. Still, there wasn't really anything special about the writing in general.

I think the story is great and impactful, especially for young readers. I liked the two main characters and thought their individual journeys and their journey together were compelling and tied together in a sweet way. I do think, however, the book as a whole could've been more diverse. There were poc in the book, but they were in the background and not really developed at all. I also think that since transgender women of color were very key players in the early days of the LGBT rights movement, and it would've been nice to see that represented. Overall a decent read.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Outing, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Drug use, Alcohol, Sexual assault, and Violence

Minor: Vomit and Sexual content

1nvisiblestring's review against another edition

emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

i absolutely adored it! i loved the characters and how it was written as letters. the ending made me so happy even though it wasn't super happy and i will never not recommend it :)

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia

Minor: Drug use

set in 1970s america where there is a lot of homophobia, mentions of sending gay teens to therapy or electro-shocking them to 'fix' them

stegosaurus_babe's review

adventurous emotional inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Biphobia, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Cursing

Minor: Drug use

xoodlebooks's review

slow-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Religious bigotry, and Biphobia

Moderate: Cursing

Minor: Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Hate crime, Drug use, Confinement, Bullying, and Blood