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A review by samusc
All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
This memoir from George M. Johnson is a must read for Black teens or young adults that are questioning their sexual orientation or gender identity.
I appreciated the Authors' Note included at the beginning, for providing some context on language used as well as some heavier topics that this book discusses. I think it's incredibly important that George M. Johnson didn't shy away from details regarding sexual experiences, because fellow survivors of sexual assault are reassured that we are not alone. Including a table of contents also allows a reader to skip over these sections, should they be too triggering.
Matthew's experiences are ones that you can't help but empathize with. I was crying when Hope passed away from AIDS and loved how supportive of a family figure Nanny was.
The highlight of this text, to me, is the voice George M. Johnson uses when reassuring the reader that he won't lie to us (in regards to history). Knowing one's communities' history is one of the more empowering things that marginalized folks can do.
I appreciated the Authors' Note included at the beginning, for providing some context on language used as well as some heavier topics that this book discusses. I think it's incredibly important that George M. Johnson didn't shy away from details regarding sexual experiences, because fellow survivors of sexual assault are reassured that we are not alone. Including a table of contents also allows a reader to skip over these sections, should they be too triggering.
Matthew's experiences are ones that you can't help but empathize with. I was crying when Hope passed away from AIDS and loved how supportive of a family figure Nanny was.
The highlight of this text, to me, is the voice George M. Johnson uses when reassuring the reader that he won't lie to us (in regards to history). Knowing one's communities' history is one of the more empowering things that marginalized folks can do.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Sexual assault
Moderate: Death, Drug use, and Terminal illness
Minor: Deadnaming