Scan barcode
A review by pucksandpaperbacks
Dear Mothman by Robin Gow
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
CW: Grief; mention of a car accident and car accident death; death of a child; bullying; deadname (on-page)
Written in verse, Dear Mothman was a wonderful exploration of gender identity. I loved how Gow made cryptids and monsters into an allegory for transness. This book made me silently weep as Noah, our MC comes to terms with his gender identity; a trans boy. While he also grieves the death of his best friend, Lewis who was also a closeted trans boy. You'll come out this book wanting to hug the kids in your life and want to protect every trans kid. I did, at least.
Throughout the book, Noah becomes more open about being a boy but there's a journey to get there. In the meantime, he's dedicated to finding "Mothman", a cryptid Lewis was fixated on. When their class gets ready for the science fair, Noah decides Mothman will be his science fair project.
Noah is also autistic & Gow is an #ActuallyAutistic trans author.
"I am so happy they get it— Mothman’s not just a hobby or something— that being “Noah” is hard because I feel like I have to be a different version of myself in different places."
"A world of Mothmen? Maybe Mothman is lost. Sometimes I feel lost, like I ended up in the wrong time line. Maybe I’m from a realm of people all like me and Lewis— of all trans people. I guess I’m happy I’m trans then because that world sounds supercool."
Written in verse, Dear Mothman was a wonderful exploration of gender identity. I loved how Gow made cryptids and monsters into an allegory for transness. This book made me silently weep as Noah, our MC comes to terms with his gender identity; a trans boy. While he also grieves the death of his best friend, Lewis who was also a closeted trans boy. You'll come out this book wanting to hug the kids in your life and want to protect every trans kid. I did, at least.
Throughout the book, Noah becomes more open about being a boy but there's a journey to get there. In the meantime, he's dedicated to finding "Mothman", a cryptid Lewis was fixated on. When their class gets ready for the science fair, Noah decides Mothman will be his science fair project.
Noah is also autistic & Gow is an #ActuallyAutistic trans author.
"I am so happy they get it— Mothman’s not just a hobby or something— that being “Noah” is hard because I feel like I have to be a different version of myself in different places."
"A world of Mothmen? Maybe Mothman is lost. Sometimes I feel lost, like I ended up in the wrong time line. Maybe I’m from a realm of people all like me and Lewis— of all trans people. I guess I’m happy I’m trans then because that world sounds supercool."