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scarlettskyes's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Alcohol, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Deadnaming, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Transphobia
leni_cant's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Transphobia
Moderate: Hate crime, Outing, Cursing, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Bullying, Child abuse, Deadnaming, and Drug use
Minor: Sexual content, Suicide, Violence, Racism, Medical content, Lesbophobia, Alcohol, Biphobia, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, and Stalking
falchionm's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
Moderate: Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and Transphobia
Minor: Child abuse and Deadnaming
massivepizzacrust's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Transphobia and Bullying
Moderate: Cursing, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Sexism, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Child abuse, Deadnaming, Drug use, Grief, Hate crime, and Racism
The main character is outed and deadnamed in a terrible public way very early in the book. We are never told the deadname. During the course of the book he is told terrible things about his gender and identity that could be very triggering.lorithereadingfairy's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
“I was hurt this summer, hurt more than I thought I ever could be. It could’ve been easy to say I was hurt because I’m trans, because someone singled me out for my identity, but there’s something weird about that—something off, about suggesting that my identity is the thing that brought me any sort of pain. It’s the opposite. Being trans brings me love. It brings me happiness. It gives me power.” Ezra’s biting his lip as he grins at me. I shrug a little. “It makes me feel like I’m a god. I wouldn’t change myself for anything.”
He shrugs with a smile. “I honestly don’t care that much about labels. I mean, I know they’re important to a lot of people, and I can see why—I’m not knocking them. It’s just . . . I kind of wish we could exist without having to worry about putting ourselves into categories. If there were no straight people, no violence or abuse or homophobia or anything, would we even need labels, or would we just be? Sometimes I wonder if labels can get in the way. Like, if I was adamant that I’m straight, does that force me into only liking girls? What if that’d stopped me from falling in love with a guy? I don’t know,” he says again. “I get that labels can be important.”
“They connect us. They help create community,” Leah says. “I can see what you’re saying. If the world was perfect, maybe we wouldn’t need labels. But the world isn’t perfect, and labels can really be a source of pride—especially when we’ve got to deal with so much crap. I’m really freaking proud to be a lesbian.”
😭😭😭😭 This is my first time seeing something like this be on page, and have a discussion. These type of discussion in queer always makes it awesome-and how just being labeled as ‘queer’ is okay.
Graphic: Transphobia, Homophobia, Drug use, Alcoholism, and Ableism
Moderate: Racism and Child abuse
oliverthegame's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I didn’t sleep at all because I was reading this book. I don’t know if I gave it a higher or lower rating because of this...
I loved Ezra so much. And while I didn’t find Felix to be too likable of a character, I definitely related a lot and could sympathize. I only started liking Felix at 61% of the way done.
There are some pretty profound lines, but I often found myself wanting the author to give us readers some credit and stop explaining or reiterating things so much.
Overall, I thought it was a very solid work. Also cute.
[EDIT 10-5-2020]
Okay, I’ve never done this before, but I keep thinking about this book today... I’m going to give it the full five stars because it just gives me such good vibes. Also, planning a reread of it.
[EDIT 12-11-2020, FIRST REREAD]
Ugh, okay, so I now realize why I didn’t like Felix that much the first time. I relate to him too much. This time around, though, he’s my favorite. I still love Ezra, but Felix—I mean, come on. He feels so <i>real</i>. Like, if I went to Brooklyn, I wouldn’t be surprised to bump into him and Ezra on their way to school, or see them in a Pride Parade. He’s selfish, and sometimes annoying, but that just adds to who he is. He’s a kid trying to figure himself out. And that’s amazing.
Graphic: Transphobia, Homophobia, Bullying, and Deadnaming
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Drug use