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A review by shelfawareness
Something Like Gravity by Amber Smith
5.0
RATING: 5/5 STARS
I am so excited about the young adult genre embracing diversity in many upcoming releases. Books like SOMETHING LIKE GRAVITY are important because they speak to people, let them know they're not alone in what they're going through. And for those of us who haven't had a similar experience to Chris and Maia's in this book, it helps us understand and treat others with empathy.
This book was beautifully written. It's a story about Chris, a transgender boy, falling in love. It's also about processing past trauma, being accepted by family, preserving friendships, and coming to terms with one's identity. The writing is gorgeous and vulnerable. The main characters have had to deal with a lot for being so young, and the way they are portrayed is mature yet realistic, flawed, and human. Amber Smith's style is pensive and lyrical. Chris and Maia's emotions come alive on the page. Elements of astronomy and photography are also threaded throughout, giving the book an additional creative touch.
An aspect of the novel that really resonated with me was Chris realizing how being alone with Maia when it was getting dark outside held a completely different meaning to him as a man than as a woman. When he vowed he would never be a man who made "harmless" but threatening actions towards women, it was such a powerful and profound moment. I applaud Amber Smith for that.
Chris and Maia's relationship was stunning. Her acceptance of him, and his body, was so tender and heartwarming. They had a deep connection that wasn't characterized by insta-love or petty sources of conflict. I enjoyed following their development and emerging comfort in their own skin and in each other throughout this narrative.
Please do yourself a favor and read this book if you are a fan of the YA genre, romance, LGBT characters, and just stories about the human experience in general. This is a powerful read by already-established author Amber Smith (who is not trans, but is lesbian and a supporter of the LGBT community). I also highly recommend this to readers who liked IF I WAS YOUR GIRL by Meredith Russo.
A sincere thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for providing an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Social: @_shelf.awareness on Instagram
I am so excited about the young adult genre embracing diversity in many upcoming releases. Books like SOMETHING LIKE GRAVITY are important because they speak to people, let them know they're not alone in what they're going through. And for those of us who haven't had a similar experience to Chris and Maia's in this book, it helps us understand and treat others with empathy.
This book was beautifully written. It's a story about Chris, a transgender boy, falling in love. It's also about processing past trauma, being accepted by family, preserving friendships, and coming to terms with one's identity. The writing is gorgeous and vulnerable. The main characters have had to deal with a lot for being so young, and the way they are portrayed is mature yet realistic, flawed, and human. Amber Smith's style is pensive and lyrical. Chris and Maia's emotions come alive on the page. Elements of astronomy and photography are also threaded throughout, giving the book an additional creative touch.
An aspect of the novel that really resonated with me was Chris realizing how being alone with Maia when it was getting dark outside held a completely different meaning to him as a man than as a woman. When he vowed he would never be a man who made "harmless" but threatening actions towards women, it was such a powerful and profound moment. I applaud Amber Smith for that.
Chris and Maia's relationship was stunning. Her acceptance of him, and his body, was so tender and heartwarming. They had a deep connection that wasn't characterized by insta-love or petty sources of conflict. I enjoyed following their development and emerging comfort in their own skin and in each other throughout this narrative.
Please do yourself a favor and read this book if you are a fan of the YA genre, romance, LGBT characters, and just stories about the human experience in general. This is a powerful read by already-established author Amber Smith (who is not trans, but is lesbian and a supporter of the LGBT community). I also highly recommend this to readers who liked IF I WAS YOUR GIRL by Meredith Russo.
A sincere thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for providing an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Social: @_shelf.awareness on Instagram