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sillygoose925's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
slow-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
4.0
Content Warnings
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
theorojas's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I was really into the back of the book but I found the mc very unlikable from the start. The author tried to make this book about so many different identities and intersectionality but with the books length nothing was fleshed out (contrary to what it says in the acknowledgements). The mc was supposed to discover her queer identity and get past any racist, homophobic, and transphobic ideas she has but the pacing of this book is too fast for it to feel realistic. The friendships formed with no real chemistry and it just felt overall like they just decided to mash a bunch of topics together and thought that would make a good book. I really didn’t see a plot for the book and just felt like the author had to wrap everything up and it just felt like they realized they had nowhere to go so just kinda ended it? Honestly an overall disappointment but wasn’t the worst book I read this year at least.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Transphobia
Moderate: Gun violence
bookdragon217's review
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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
"Hate stands in it's own category. Its own genus. Hate is not an inverse of love. It's an absence."
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Minor: Gun violence, Homophobia, Racism, Transphobia, and Lesbophobia
nibs's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
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
5.0
I found out about this book via Storygraph - tbh I don't know how else I would have found it, I don't read much YA. I put it on hold at my local library and here we are.
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.
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.
Content Warnings
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
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- 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
I loved the MC! She was so messy in her thinking, but she really grew throughout the book, and it was amazing to see that growth. The writing took some getting used to, but after I got used to it, I thought it worked really well with the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Transphobia, Police brutality, and Mass/school shootings
Moderate: Racism, Xenophobia, and Vomit
cleo_wylde's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
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
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
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
4.5
Content Warnings
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
challenging
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
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
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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!
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!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Transphobia
Minor: Sexual assault