Reviews with content warning for Racism - Full Disclosure

MILD SPOILERS AHEAD!

"My HIV isn't a threat to you, but your ignorance is a threat to me."

This book introduces Simone, a vibrant, deeply intertwined to Broadway and Drama, and an HIV positive teenager who strives to sustain meaningful experiences with herself, her family, friends and in love. To protect herself from another harassment and the effects of stigma, Simone keeps her condition confidential until she began receiving horrific notes of outing her situation if she refuses to disconnect and desert her crush and budding love interest Miles.

Tackling a significant and historic theme of HIV/AIDS awareness among youths supported and protected by trusted adults and peers, Garrett effectively portrayed skillful teenage humor while sustaining a wealth of information on her character's condition. Not only does it highlight realistic experiences on HIV/AIDS stigma, the novel also allowed to emphasize the roles of parents and schools in communicating appropriate knowledge and establishing cultures that are friendly, safe and non-discriminating to HIV positive individuals.

Along with magnifying a experience-drawn discourse on HIV/AIDS, the novel also illustrated the seemingly normalized and subtle maltreatment among racial differences that still takes place in present time. Vital and relatable points on sexuality were also included throughout the story.

All in all, this book is a literary package of knowledge, entertainment, and a strong movement towards de-stigmatizing HIV/AIDS and on acceptance of self.

A recommended young adult read!

Content Warnings

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emotional funny informative 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

4.25

It’s been a long time since I’ve read a YA book - I loved them as a teen and reading this reminded me why. Teenage melodrama just fills my soul, except here it’s not melodrama, it’s actually real. I managed to guess the blackmailer from the start, pretty proud of myself might I add, so I’d say the storyline is enjoyably predictable.
I loved the diversity of this book, it’s my first one where the narrator is bi - which is very exciting following my own sexual realisation this year. As someone who grew up when there was much less awareness of LGBT, I wonder if schools really are this sexually diverse and it makes me wonder what I’ve missed! It explores the stigma around bisexuality which I’ve felt myself and really related to - you can tell that Garrett really connected to her characters which in turn made us connect. I feel some side characters could have wider interests and we could learn more about friendships there but overall I’m just glad I connected so much with Simone.
The way Garrett wrote about HIV was amazing - it explores this so well, educating and challenging stereotypes throughout. Having read Detransition, Baby this wasn’t new info but reading it through the eyes of a teen receiving treatment was. I’m so glad I finally got to reading this. You can really see that Garrett was writing for her age group of the time - I’m shocked this was written by a 17 year old as a debut book!

Nb. I somehow got my hands on a proof edition of Full Disclosure from a 2nd hand book seller, so some of my comments may not reflect the final product!

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