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eliasaurus's review against another edition
4.5
There are a few sections that jump around in time and get a little confusing, but the author always circles back to clear up the chronology.
Please note that many portions of this book are incredibly graphic. Note well the content tags and proceed at your own risk.
Graphic: Sexual assault, Mass/school shootings, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Death of parent, Racism, Rape, and Blood
Moderate: Alcohol and Police brutality
Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic and Panic attacks/disorders
ashocap's review against another edition
5.0
Moderate: Rape and Mass/school shootings
idesofjaim's review against another edition
4.5
Hearing about Brandon’s younger years was just as painful, yet all too familiar. Being ostracized from the family and community you were given, being othered, finding yourself in horrible situations only because you sought to be desired and accepted, so many unfortunately common things among the queer community. Add to that the layers of additional identifies, Brandon himself being Black. This book hits home about the profound impact of found family, and that makes a tragedy like Pulse that much more devastating.
Looking at this purely as a book, I find Brandon to be a great writer. I highly recommend listening to the audiobook, narrated by him, as it is an enjoyable experience. There were some points that gave me a bit of whiplash as the timeline shifted back and forth, or where it was unclear whether we’d now moved to a more present state or still back in the past. Overall, though, I think everything tied together nicely, and I commend Brandon on not only writing this all down but the further bravery of reading it on recording for the world. I can imagine for someone in his position you get sick of hearing about bravery and how strong you are, but it is still very brave to put yourself in a position to recount all of this time and time again.
Graphic: Gun violence, Murder, Rape, Racial slurs, Mass/school shootings, Homophobia, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Hate crime
spayette's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Rape, Violence, Sexual violence, and Murder
courtneym93's review against another edition
4.0
Moderate: Mass/school shootings, Sexual violence, Rape, Racism, and Homophobia
Minor: Cancer, Death of parent, Grief, Hate crime, Mental illness, and Police brutality
antidietleah's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Bullying, Grief, Homophobia, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Mass/school shootings, Gun violence, Hate crime, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Death of parent and Violence
candicanepdx's review
5.0
I knew Brandon in high school, but we were just acquaintances. He was a year younger than me and we were both in plays and drama class. We both quit the play Footloose in 2003, most likely for different reasons.
Reading about his experience in our shared high school, it was gut-wrenching, but I can now say that it is not surprising to me at all. Years ago it would’ve been, but ever since I started learning about how Black people are treated in America; the police brutality and subsequent protests in Ferguson (and many more places since), I’m no longer shocked by how he was treated. I’m more shocked that I’ll lived in Canby, Oregon for so long without noticing how racist everyone was/is.
Moderate: Gun violence, Racism, Death of parent, Rape, Grief, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Mass/school shootings, and Homophobia
cjdawn236's review
3.5
Graphic: Sexual assault, Mass/school shootings, Hate crime, Rape, Gun violence, Racism, and Homophobia
emmagrace's review against another edition
2.25
Graphic: Rape, Gun violence, Hate crime, and Homophobia