Scan barcode
quinniantheduck's review against another edition
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Hate crime, Homophobia, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Death
Minor: Sexual content
betweentheshelves's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Such an important story, capturing the AIDS crisis of the 80s and 90s. I think teens who are interested in learning more about that particular time period will appreciate this story because Shaw includes a lot of details to make that aspect of the book authentic.
That being said, Shaw also includes a lot of details about the 90s in general, so much so that it sometimes overtakes the rest of the story. Both Ben and Adam didn't have disntinct enough voices for me, so their narratives often blurred together and I forgot who was who.
All in all, know this is a pretty heavy book going in, but still such an important story to tell.
That being said, Shaw also includes a lot of details about the 90s in general, so much so that it sometimes overtakes the rest of the story. Both Ben and Adam didn't have disntinct enough voices for me, so their narratives often blurred together and I forgot who was who.
All in all, know this is a pretty heavy book going in, but still such an important story to tell.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Terminal illness, and Homophobia
Moderate: Bullying, Hate crime, and Medical content
Minor: Outing, Sexual content, and Alcohol
shamelesslyash's review
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I wanted to say this was a love letter to New York in the 90s, but it's not. It's something more, something deeper in meaning. We have two boys, Adam and Ben, experiencing a different world; a world many of us don't know today. 90s New York, the LGBTQIA community, was in the middle of a plague. People were dying every minute of every day from AIDS. There was nothing they could do but hope for the best. Adam's story is finding a partner, someone you love, who dies from AIDS. While Ben's story is about finding himself in the city and who he is. Their stories only overlap a handful of times in the book, but both are stories we need.
So many young queer people these days don't know their history. There is a whole generation gone that can't help them navigate the LGBTQIA world. Queer Elders are few and far between. We needed this book now, more then ever.
So many young queer people these days don't know their history. There is a whole generation gone that can't help them navigate the LGBTQIA world. Queer Elders are few and far between. We needed this book now, more then ever.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness and Chronic illness
Moderate: Bullying, Hate crime, Medical content, Outing, Death, and Homophobia
Minor: Sexual content, Alcohol, and Outing
More...