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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
What a story!
Ziggy Stardust and Me is a book that makes you feel and feel deeply over many things and I was left contemplating many things about it namely; how are we facing the same awful abuse the protagonist Johnathan feels in 1973 now in 2022? This is an incredible debut by James Brandon and a book that will stay with you and one I think will find its way to many shelves of young adult LGBTQ+ readers (and older because whyever not?)
I do find that I need to say that although It may well be a LGBTQ+ book, this is one that should be read by anyone who is drawn to it because despite being fiction; there is so much to be learnt from it because Johnathan and Web's time in 1973. Whether that be how terrible it must have been to know that you are gay and yet, to be told that you (at very best) should be imprisoned and possibly face electro-shock treatment or be dead because how you are born; who you truly are is seen wrong in the eyes of the many. Or how inbred racism towards Indigenous Americans, (please forgive me if the term is incorrect - I googled what it the correct term but I'm aware it's not always accurate; please correct me if it's required) that Web and his family face which honestly made me take pause so that I made myself calm and remind myself that this book is set nearly 50 years ago.
Ziggy Stardust and Me is raw and it is profound, a book that lingers long after you have read the final word and I am so very glad that curiosity got the better of me. It's a book that made me laugh, and aww and how lovely Johnathan and Web are, it made me so very very angry at those whose roles are to guide and to support because it is just SO wrong how they do it. I loved Johnathan's best friend and how fiery she is and how you can feel the love they have for one another in their interactions. Everyone needs a friend who is a warrior in their corner and will always be there for them and Starla is so utterly wonderful I wish you could step into a book and know these fictional people and in the case of this amazing young woman; march alongside her as she fights for so many of the rights that are now in danger or are in law now within the US.
James Brandon wonderfully highlights a time in Americn history that is unlike any other, with the chaos Nixon brought to the nation, American soldiers fighting in Vietnam and coming home to a country that wasn't ready to see so many broken men and the damage war would do to their psyche (which is evident in the way Johnathan's father who is a vet, behaves both with his alcoholism and demands of his son to be more 'manly' - I did try not eye roll but I'm sorry it still happened.) among many other things that made America in the seventies both a hard time and one of great change for so many. From the perspective of a non-American it was extremely eye opening and Brandon successfully makes what you read feel like you are witnessing firsthand and it being real.
It is incredible. It is beautifully written and I strongly suggest you keep tissues on stand by because you will feel tears fall for these two boys and how their lives are so difficult to actually live.
Ziggy Stardust and Me is a book that makes you feel and feel deeply over many things and I was left contemplating many things about it namely; how are we facing the same awful abuse the protagonist Johnathan feels in 1973 now in 2022? This is an incredible debut by James Brandon and a book that will stay with you and one I think will find its way to many shelves of young adult LGBTQ+ readers (and older because whyever not?)
I do find that I need to say that although It may well be a LGBTQ+ book, this is one that should be read by anyone who is drawn to it because despite being fiction; there is so much to be learnt from it because Johnathan and Web's time in 1973. Whether that be how terrible it must have been to know that you are gay and yet, to be told that you (at very best) should be imprisoned and possibly face electro-shock treatment or be dead because how you are born; who you truly are is seen wrong in the eyes of the many. Or how inbred racism towards Indigenous Americans, (please forgive me if the term is incorrect - I googled what it the correct term but I'm aware it's not always accurate; please correct me if it's required) that Web and his family face which honestly made me take pause so that I made myself calm and remind myself that this book is set nearly 50 years ago.
Ziggy Stardust and Me is raw and it is profound, a book that lingers long after you have read the final word and I am so very glad that curiosity got the better of me. It's a book that made me laugh, and aww and how lovely Johnathan and Web are, it made me so very very angry at those whose roles are to guide and to support because it is just SO wrong how they do it. I loved Johnathan's best friend and how fiery she is and how you can feel the love they have for one another in their interactions. Everyone needs a friend who is a warrior in their corner and will always be there for them and Starla is so utterly wonderful I wish you could step into a book and know these fictional people and in the case of this amazing young woman; march alongside her as she fights for so many of the rights that are now in danger or are in law now within the US.
James Brandon wonderfully highlights a time in Americn history that is unlike any other, with the chaos Nixon brought to the nation, American soldiers fighting in Vietnam and coming home to a country that wasn't ready to see so many broken men and the damage war would do to their psyche (which is evident in the way Johnathan's father who is a vet, behaves both with his alcoholism and demands of his son to be more 'manly' - I did try not eye roll but I'm sorry it still happened.) among many other things that made America in the seventies both a hard time and one of great change for so many. From the perspective of a non-American it was extremely eye opening and Brandon successfully makes what you read feel like you are witnessing firsthand and it being real.
It is incredible. It is beautifully written and I strongly suggest you keep tissues on stand by because you will feel tears fall for these two boys and how their lives are so difficult to actually live.
OMG this book. Set half a year before the APA removed homosexuality from the DSM, Jonathan trying to avoid the bullies, deal with his alcoholic father, endure his psychological "treatment," (aversion therapy involving electric shock) in an attempt to "cure" himself of his "illness," and just survive high school. He has the help of his best friend, Starla, as well s his ability to escape to his safe haven, his imagination, where David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust and his dead mother's spirit guide him. And then HE shows up 3 weeks before the end of junior year. Web is Native American, who survived the massacre at Wounded Knee and years of oppression by the White Man, but whose family embraces and honors his 2 Spirit identity sees and loves Jonathan and helps Jonathan to do the same. The musical references really help bring the history alive (and must have cost the author a fortune in royalties).
This is YA, so no on-page sex. TW for homophobia, attempted SA, racial violence.
Single POV, first person.
This is YA, so no on-page sex. TW for homophobia, attempted SA, racial violence.
Single POV, first person.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
sad
medium-paced
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
1. they’re right david bowie is god
2. ouch
was this the most well-written, masterful book i have ever read? no-it read pretty much like fan fiction. but by god, it made me Feel Something. like crawl out of my skin eat my heart raw feel something.
2. ouch
was this the most well-written, masterful book i have ever read? no-it read pretty much like fan fiction. but by god, it made me Feel Something. like crawl out of my skin eat my heart raw feel something.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Racism
Moderate: Alcoholism
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, Sexual violence
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death of parent
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
james brandon I need a sequel yesterday whambamthankyouma'am. phenomenal. heavy emphasis on the content warnings
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Hate crime, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Alcoholism, Gaslighting, Colonisation, Classism