Review by sorenbluerose - You Weren't Meant to Be Human

sorenbluerose 's review for:

You Weren't Meant to Be Human by Andrew Joseph White

5.0

challenging dark informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

In short, I was absolutely captivated by this book. Perhaps as a disclaimer I should say I am the exact target audience for this book: A gay autistic trans man who cares deeply for the place trans men have in reproductive justice and care. And let me just say, this book delivered on everything that I wanted to the point that I think it should be required reading for anyone who can stomach it. It captures the deep isolation trans men have been subjected to in regards to this subject, with powerful depictions of how dysphoria and a lack of autonomy (in both a reproductive and identity sense) can be a cruel experience. There is so much praise I could give just about the themes alone, but there are other parts of this book to get to, namely the characters.

Each character was distinct and important to the story and what the story had to say. The relationship the main characters has to these people and to himself is especially what drives the book forward, and AJW does so in a way that is very captivating, especially at the end when SHTF and the emotional core of these connections breaks under the weight of the conflict. These connections are what make the ending so impactful, so powerful, and a testament to what everything has been building up to. The ending is so well earned, and so satisfying.

If there is one thing I would have liked to see more of, is a little more worldbuilding. I get the sense that exactly what these alien creatures are is not entirely important, and serves the allegory that they represent, especially with the location they seem to be centralized in. Their unknown motivations are part of the mystery that drives the book and the main character, Crane, along his journey. But I was still left a little confused about the more "logistical" worldbuilding surrounding them. Things the main character would know, and things we as the readers should know to raise the stakes. Things like

how well hives communicate between each other to catch deserters, and how far their reach is, exactly, for example. This question in particular plays into the idea of escape, and how possible it may be. At one point, and character does manage to leave, and I had to pause to re-evaluate things I had assumed about the hive's reach and ability. These logistical questions would have also done well to play into the realization later that these creatures are just that: creatures. Not some higher being or an obstacle to Crane's escape over his own mental blocks, which would have bled into the allegory.

But these questions I still have are minor compared to everything this book does exceptionally well.

I just got it. I just understood in a way I think only trans men can when reading some fucked up (/positive) transmasc art (which we desperately need more of these days). I hope non-trans men can connect with this story, and find some more sympathy towards our struggles as a result. Heed the trigger warnings. Some people may not be able to stomach it. It can be gruesome and graphic and triggering, and that's the point, and if you can get through that, it is so so so well worth it.

I love you, fucked up transmasc art and the transmascs who make it. I think Stagger was my favorite.

Content Warnings