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sillygoose925's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racism, Transphobia, Blood, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, Outing, Cultural appropriation, Abandonment, Dysphoria, and Classism
bookdragon217's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
The Truth Is by Nonieqa Ramos took me on a roller coaster ride. There was so much cultural authenticity in this one that there were moments that just felt too real. It brought back memories I didn't want to think about but it is also made me see that not much has changed as far as diversity, equity and inclusion.
Verdad, whose name translates to truth, was accurate to her moniker. Verdad's character was a great depiction of Puerto Rican teenager trying to overcome so much in life while navigating a world that wants to negate their existence. This story is overflowing with tough social issues but Ramos does a great job with the character development of Verdad and allows us to see their struggles with mental health and PTSD, their exploration of gender and sexuality, dealing with daily microaggressions and trying to pave their own road for the future. I really appreciated that Verdad made lots of mistakes and was allowed to take accountability and change.
This book is so important because it addresses so many relevant issues that affect teens. It gives voice to unique experiences that are often silenced. This book also offers so much representation that the recent onslaught of banning it is disheartening. This book includes:
✍ LGBTQIA+ rep
✍ Puerto Rican rep
✍ mental health & trichotillomania & PTSD
✍ school shootings, deaths & aftermath
✍ trans & homophobia
✍ exploration of sexuality & gender
✍ culture clash
✍ racism
✍divorce
✍ found family
Please support this author and the book. Buy it, share it and have the conversations it evokes. Diverse voices should be amplified not cancelled. This book is one that will definitely save a life and make someone feel seen.
Minor: Gun violence, Homophobia, Racism, Transphobia, and Lesbophobia
nibs'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
I didn't know what to expect, but this book blew any expectations out of the water. I thought I had aged out of YA as a genre, but this book pulled me back in. Its characters and themes are real and complex, and are relatable as parts of a wider world, not just for teenagers.
I would say this book is at the level of my other queer & trans YA fave, Felix Ever After. The characters are very flawed but relatable, trying to figure themselves out and work out how to get through the world. It is also such a queer book - touching on identity & found family, but also hard things like isolation & homelessness, while offering hope for the way things can be better.
Also intersectionality is a core aspect of this book. Race, class and queerness and so other areas play a role in the character's lives.
The Truth Is I am going to be reccing this book a lot, it was amazing.
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Transphobia, and Mass/school shootings
Moderate: Homophobia, Mental illness, Racism, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Animal death, Self harm, and Sexual assault
sixcrowsbooks's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Homophobia, Transphobia, Police brutality, and Mass/school shootings
Moderate: Racism, Xenophobia, and Vomit
cleo_wylde's review
- 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: Gun violence, Racism, and Mass/school shootings
Moderate: Gore, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, and Transphobia
Minor: Child abuse, Deadnaming, Death, and Emotional abuse
myhomextheroad's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Grief, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Transphobia, and Mass/school shootings
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal death, Deadnaming, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Blood
cheye13'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
"The truth is, loving myself is not a given. It's hard work sometimes."
15yo Verdad is struggling with her best friend's death, navigating a complicated family life, and exploring who she is. This journey leads her to a group of queer teens, and through helping her new friends heal, she begins her own healing process.
The first thing that caught me was the realism; how genuinely young the narrator sounds, how tumultous and intense high school is, how nebulous questioning one's identity gets. I've never read a more authentic depiction of intersectionality in action.
The second thing that caught my attention, buried a little behind Verdad's abrasively honest youth, was the beauty of the writing. There is poetry on every page and a thread of magical realism throughout and the stream of consciousness style seamlessly immerses readers in Verdad's mind.
This book was a hidden gem that I would've been too scared to pick up had I known what heavy subject matter it addresses. For those afraid for the same reasons, I think it's important to know that the end
Graphic: Child death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Transphobia, Grief, and Mass/school shootings
Moderate: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Self harm, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Animal death, Cursing, Deadnaming, Drug abuse, Pedophilia, Sexism, Violence, Forced institutionalization, and Blood
The story focuses mostly on healing in the aftermath of the characters' traumas, so a lot of these topics are discussed as past events rather than directly depicted.enchantedtoreadyou's review
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This book probably had the most rep of any book I've ever read - sexualities, nationalities, different languages. That being said, there was A LOT going on - sexual assault, fun violence, racism, transphobia, teen homelessness. I'm not even sure I remembered it all. Though there was a lot going on, the story flowed seamlessly. The characters were likable and real. It's a great read if you're looking for a lot of diversity!
Graphic: Racism and Transphobia
Minor: Sexual assault