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A review by laurareads87
World Running Down by Al Hess
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
3.5. <i>World Running Down</i>
What I appreciated: <i>World Running Down</i> includes real trans joy amidst a lot of struggle and a trans main character who is neither solely defined by his transness nor limited to a plot strictly about this -- a fully developed character with wants and dreams and desires, some of which relate to transition but not all. I appreciate the representation in this book and wish I had it available to me when I was younger than I am now.
What didn't quite work: some of the dialogue feels like the author speaking too directly to the reader (particularly when a point was being made ex. about supporting sex workers or about trans inclusion). Problems were too easily solved (like, "wow this thing we really needed just happens to be here!"). Characters weren't perfect, but they weren't morally ambiguous either. Read borderline YA.
<i>Content warnings:</i> queerphobia, transphobia, deadnaming, dysmorphia, sexual assault, physical abuse, sexual abuse, "human" trafficking, kidnapping, death of a non-human animal, classism.
What I appreciated: <i>World Running Down</i> includes real trans joy amidst a lot of struggle and a trans main character who is neither solely defined by his transness nor limited to a plot strictly about this -- a fully developed character with wants and dreams and desires, some of which relate to transition but not all. I appreciate the representation in this book and wish I had it available to me when I was younger than I am now.
What didn't quite work: some of the dialogue feels like the author speaking too directly to the reader (particularly when a point was being made ex. about supporting sex workers or about trans inclusion). Problems were too easily solved (like, "wow this thing we really needed just happens to be here!"). Characters weren't perfect, but they weren't morally ambiguous either. Read borderline YA.
<i>Content warnings:</i> queerphobia, transphobia, deadnaming, dysmorphia, sexual assault, physical abuse, sexual abuse, "human" trafficking, kidnapping, death of a non-human animal, classism.