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A review by m_riaelle
If I Can Give You That by Michael Gray Bulla
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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? Yes
5.0
This book has a lot of great representations, but I recommend to those who will pick this up to be cautious.
CW: Depression, Suicidal Ideation, Insomnia, Anxiety, Mentions of Transphobia, Mentally Ill parent, Sexuality crisis of a Transgender person (search it up for more specifics or correct CW as mine is what I thought is triggering while I read it)
It was hard to keep reading it in one sitting because of its heavy topics, but the representations and writing of the author made it bearable to continue reading 'til the end.
Seeing how Gael is scared that his mother will revert to her silence and retreat into herself shows how painful it is to grow up with people like her mother to the point he knows his mother's habits when her mental health's declining. The father left Gael with his suicidal mother. A child doesn't deserve to be in that situation but grew up in one.
No. Every passing chapter, I'm worried for Gael and his mom. I'm scared of what their fate will be.
I'm so emotional about Gael's POV when he knows he doesn't feel good about who people assume him to be.
If I can Give You That by Michael Gray Bulla is a story about two children. One who's been in a situation where the child's parents are together, and it was toxic; the other who have to live where his parents are divorced and in a toxic environment. It turns out that Gael experienced both. It is also about fighting for your safe space (Plus - the LGBTQIA+ community the characters love with their whole heart).
This book started heartbreakingly. I didn't expect to cry because of how overwhelming it felt that I connected to Gael about parents, gender, sexuality, mental health, and more. I only realized how close If I can Give You That by Michael Gray Bulla crept to my heart when I finished it, and tears of joy started flowing down my face.
If I can Give You That by Michael Gray Bulla is one of those books that proves why REPRESENTATIONS matter.
CW: Depression, Suicidal Ideation, Insomnia, Anxiety, Mentions of Transphobia, Mentally Ill parent, Sexuality crisis of a Transgender person (search it up for more specifics or correct CW as mine is what I thought is triggering while I read it)
It was hard to keep reading it in one sitting because of its heavy topics, but the representations and writing of the author made it bearable to continue reading 'til the end.
Seeing how Gael is scared that his mother will revert to her silence and retreat into herself shows how painful it is to grow up with people like her mother to the point he knows his mother's habits when her mental health's declining. The father left Gael with his suicidal mother. A child doesn't deserve to be in that situation but grew up in one.
No. Every passing chapter, I'm worried for Gael and his mom. I'm scared of what their fate will be.
I'm so emotional about Gael's POV when he knows he doesn't feel good about who people assume him to be.
If I can Give You That by Michael Gray Bulla is a story about two children. One who's been in a situation where the child's parents are together, and it was toxic; the other who have to live where his parents are divorced and in a toxic environment. It turns out that Gael experienced both. It is also about fighting for your safe space (Plus - the LGBTQIA+ community the characters love with their whole heart).
This book started heartbreakingly. I didn't expect to cry because of how overwhelming it felt that I connected to Gael about parents, gender, sexuality, mental health, and more. I only realized how close If I can Give You That by Michael Gray Bulla crept to my heart when I finished it, and tears of joy started flowing down my face.
If I can Give You That by Michael Gray Bulla is one of those books that proves why REPRESENTATIONS matter.