Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by allthemisfits
Pedro & Daniel by Federico Erebia
4.0
Whew. This book is emotionally draining, much as I imagine it was for the author. I hope he experienced catharsis while writing what is essentially a memoir with fictional aspects.
Content warning is crucial before you read this achingly raw and layered book. The author provided: Domestic violence, child abuse, homophobia, colorism, racism, clergy abuse, suicidality, sex, and death. I would add AIDS in there as well for those that may have experienced the painful loss of loved ones and the memory of the 80s/90s.
I initially had a hard time getting into Pedro and Daniel because of the relentlessly cruel abuse at the hand of a parent. I also kept confusing the two main characters as the first person narration shifted quickly. So this book took me longer than usual.
This is a very important LGBTQ story and it’s actually a gift to provide such young children’s POV evolving through their adolescence, 20s, and finally 30s. We get to really know Pedro and Daniel as full characters. This novel is ultimately about their relationship as brothers and how they held close to each other through pain, growth, eventual sexuality reveal, and becoming true friends with much in common during their adult years. And no one truly understands your past like a sibling.
I had a much easier time reading as they got older and able to physically free themselves from the varied abuse that held them down through the years. Emotional freeing is a whole other issue. Do we ever really get over those traumatic childhood scars from our formative years?
I recommend this book very much, but please pay attention to the aforementioned content warning. Thank you to NetGalley, Levine Querido, and the author Federico Erebia for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Content warning is crucial before you read this achingly raw and layered book. The author provided: Domestic violence, child abuse, homophobia, colorism, racism, clergy abuse, suicidality, sex, and death. I would add AIDS in there as well for those that may have experienced the painful loss of loved ones and the memory of the 80s/90s.
I initially had a hard time getting into Pedro and Daniel because of the relentlessly cruel abuse at the hand of a parent. I also kept confusing the two main characters as the first person narration shifted quickly. So this book took me longer than usual.
This is a very important LGBTQ story and it’s actually a gift to provide such young children’s POV evolving through their adolescence, 20s, and finally 30s. We get to really know Pedro and Daniel as full characters. This novel is ultimately about their relationship as brothers and how they held close to each other through pain, growth, eventual sexuality reveal, and becoming true friends with much in common during their adult years. And no one truly understands your past like a sibling.
I had a much easier time reading as they got older and able to physically free themselves from the varied abuse that held them down through the years. Emotional freeing is a whole other issue. Do we ever really get over those traumatic childhood scars from our formative years?
I recommend this book very much, but please pay attention to the aforementioned content warning. Thank you to NetGalley, Levine Querido, and the author Federico Erebia for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.