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A review by avidales
Boy Meets Maria by PEYO
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.5
Reviewer is Trans and Nonbinary
Deeply disappointed and disturbed by this book.
I was excited for this book and it's reported Trans/Gender nonconforming representation, however the the GRAPHIC assault of a child and the fact that this story is not about a transgender character made it unreadable to me.
The character Arima/Maria is AMAB (assigned male at birth) and forced to dress and live as a girl by his mother. He clearly from a young age did not want to dress or present as a girl and is obviously distressed by not living as a boy (his assigned gender). This is disturbing child abuse, not a trans or queer story. This "plot device" is utilized in many stories that confuse and misinform the audience about trans/gender nonconforming/nonbinary people, their lives, and why they are who they are.
This is famously the same premise as the 1983 slasher horror "Sleep Away Camp" which has a AMAB child forced to live as a girl by his aunt which drives the child "mad" and goes on a killing spree. These type of narratives reinforce the myth that LGBTQ+ people are queer due to child abuse/assault. This is harmful as it implies that LGBTQ+ folks are broken/disturbed and takes away from their actual gender exploration and identity.
Very unfortunate especially because I enjoyed roughly the first 3rd of the book as the characters are likeable and Taiga's (the love interest of Arima) attempts to understand and show affection regardless of Arima's gender sweet despite his fumbling and naivete.
Deeply disappointed and disturbed by this book.
I was excited for this book and it's reported Trans/Gender nonconforming representation, however the the GRAPHIC assault of a child and the fact that this story is not about a transgender character made it unreadable to me.
The character Arima/Maria is AMAB (assigned male at birth) and forced to dress and live as a girl by his mother. He clearly from a young age did not want to dress or present as a girl and is obviously distressed by not living as a boy (his assigned gender). This is disturbing child abuse, not a trans or queer story. This "plot device" is utilized in many stories that confuse and misinform the audience about trans/gender nonconforming/nonbinary people, their lives, and why they are who they are.
This is famously the same premise as the 1983 slasher horror "Sleep Away Camp" which has a AMAB child forced to live as a girl by his aunt which drives the child "mad" and goes on a killing spree. These type of narratives reinforce the myth that LGBTQ+ people are queer due to child abuse/assault. This is harmful as it implies that LGBTQ+ folks are broken/disturbed and takes away from their actual gender exploration and identity.
Very unfortunate especially because I enjoyed roughly the first 3rd of the book as the characters are likeable and Taiga's (the love interest of Arima) attempts to understand and show affection regardless of Arima's gender sweet despite his fumbling and naivete.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Pedophilia, Transphobia, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Rape
Moderate: Deadnaming, Death of parent, Homophobia, Domestic abuse, and Terminal illness
*Graphic* depiction of an elementary school child being sexually assaulted by their adult teacher. The teacher also brandishes a knife and threatens to mutilate the child's genitals.
This story is not about a transgender character, the character Maria/Arima is AMAB (assigned male at birth) and forced to dress and live as a girl by his mother. He clearly from a young age did not want to dress or present as a girl and is obviously distressed by not living as a boy (his assigned gender).