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maferlooca 's review for:
Gay the Pray Away
by Natalie Naudus
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I love how the idea of this book came to the author. I love that the book our MC finds in the library is a book that the author actually narrated in audiobook herself and which is also in my TBR, but I'm waiting for December because something I know about the book tells me I need to read it in December and my brain is weird like that.
Now, there are many things in this story that can sound funny at times, but it's so heartbreaking at the same time because you know that a lot of what Valerie is going through actually happens to so many teens and young people out there in the 'real world.'
It saddens me to think of how many people are living in households where it's considered a sin to love the way they love, but what I enjoyed the most about this book is the way that it shows that it is possible to get out–it's not easy, but it is possible.
It was heartwarming to know that people like Mira's grandparents are also out there, choosing their loved ones over the teachings they've lived with for most of their lives, people who will become safe havens as much as they can for others, not just their own.
This book left me with the hope that more people are making themselves part of a community to protect diversity even if they don't identified as diversed on their own.
Now, there are many things in this story that can sound funny at times, but it's so heartbreaking at the same time because you know that a lot of what Valerie is going through actually happens to so many teens and young people out there in the 'real world.'
It saddens me to think of how many people are living in households where it's considered a sin to love the way they love, but what I enjoyed the most about this book is the way that it shows that it is possible to get out–it's not easy, but it is possible.
It was heartwarming to know that people like Mira's grandparents are also out there, choosing their loved ones over the teachings they've lived with for most of their lives, people who will become safe havens as much as they can for others, not just their own.
This book left me with the hope that more people are making themselves part of a community to protect diversity even if they don't identified as diversed on their own.