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A review by _fallinglight_
All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.5
Banned Books Week 2023
Florida keeps embarrassing me once again. There is absolutely no sane reason for even thinking of challenging or banning this book. Even though I don't share any of George M. Johnson's identities, I still found myself laughing along at the things we did have in common like being pushed into a pool and almost drowning (it's funny in a dark, omg-that's-fcuked-but-I-survived way not haha funny, you know?) or having a complicated relationship with smiling in pictures bc of our teeth and trauma associated with them. If even me, at my big age of 33, felt something warm inside my chest when I saw some experiences I've been through myself through the eyes of another, imagine what a Black queer teen reading this will feel when they read this book at one of their most sensitive stages of their life. This book is heartfelt and funny, a beautiful exploration of identity, highlighting throughout the plight of racism and anti-Blackness in education and life, and a depiction of what an affirming and loving family should be. Yes, there are charged moments in this book in regards to sexual assault and sexual content but they are important and necessary not only to GMJ's memoir and his expression but also as a reflection for kids who don't have the opportunity of talking about these things openly with their parents, educators, or peers and who may have experienced something similar and to learn how to start processing it, or know what to do if they’re even in that position. It's obviously malignant that those who claim to want to protect kids are the first to oppose those same kids from having tools available to them that will help them navigate relationships and pick out signs of when things are wrong. But I guess, thank you book banners regardless bc if not for your unwinnable crusade I wouldn't have picked up this amazing book. 😘
Florida keeps embarrassing me once again. There is absolutely no sane reason for even thinking of challenging or banning this book. Even though I don't share any of George M. Johnson's identities, I still found myself laughing along at the things we did have in common like being pushed into a pool and almost drowning (it's funny in a dark, omg-that's-fcuked-but-I-survived way not haha funny, you know?) or having a complicated relationship with smiling in pictures bc of our teeth and trauma associated with them. If even me, at my big age of 33, felt something warm inside my chest when I saw some experiences I've been through myself through the eyes of another, imagine what a Black queer teen reading this will feel when they read this book at one of their most sensitive stages of their life. This book is heartfelt and funny, a beautiful exploration of identity, highlighting throughout the plight of racism and anti-Blackness in education and life, and a depiction of what an affirming and loving family should be. Yes, there are charged moments in this book in regards to sexual assault and sexual content but they are important and necessary not only to GMJ's memoir and his expression but also as a reflection for kids who don't have the opportunity of talking about these things openly with their parents, educators, or peers and who may have experienced something similar and to learn how to start processing it, or know what to do if they’re even in that position. It's obviously malignant that those who claim to want to protect kids are the first to oppose those same kids from having tools available to them that will help them navigate relationships and pick out signs of when things are wrong. But I guess, thank you book banners regardless bc if not for your unwinnable crusade I wouldn't have picked up this amazing book. 😘