Scan barcode
A review by allthatissim
Sasha Masha by Agnes Borinsky
5.0
Trigger warning: transphobia, homophobic slurs
Note: I will be using he/him pronouns in this review, as that is what is used throughout the entire novel.
Oh Sasha Masha! Sasha Masha made a special place in my heart. I wish I could understand the way he felt trapped inside his body, for not knowing who truly he is and getting that frustration out on the world while trying to be a normal son, a normal friend, a normal boyfriend, and just a normal boy. I wish I could comfort him and hug him, for he deserves all the love.
Sasha Masha is a coming-of-age story of Alex, who is trying to figure out what he is. He is confused and couldn't quite place a finger on 'what's different about him'. He gets overwhelmed because of everyone's expectations of being a 'normal' boy. He is happy when Tracy becomes his girlfriend because he thinks that makes him a 'real boy'. But still, there is 'something' missing.
"But something was wrong. There was a high wall inside of me, and it made me angry, it made me stuck; there was a self on the other side—was this, now, the thing I’d failed to see? That in my heart of hearts I wasn’t a boy after all?"
At the beginning of the story, Mabel, Alex's best friend moves to different city and now they are communicating only via text and calls. While trying to figuring out himself, one moment with Mabel stuck to him where they had tried different dresses and makeup. Alex chose a name for himself at that time-Sasha Masha-and when someone in one of the queer events asks for his name, he tells them he is Sasha Masha. He felt more comfortable in this new name.
He finds Andre as a new friend and a whole bunch of queer people builds a support system around him and it was really heartwarming to see that. They accepted him for who he was and helped him in figuring out his identity. Sasha Masha's journey is quite powerful and moving. There is a lot of confusion going on in his head but it was amazing to follow him on the path of figuring himself out.
Borinsky has done an amazing job of including so many wonderful things in this little book and the audio narration by her is equally amazing. The ending of the book is something that took this book to another level. I wanted to know so much more, but I think it was good that she stopped the story there. I would totally recommend this to readers who are looking for a short, emotional and figuring-out-yourself story.
And the last thing, please read reviews by trans readers too, because no matter how much I loved it, I couldn't do justice to this book as much as an ownvoices trans reader can.
Thank you Libro.fm for the ALC.
Note: I will be using he/him pronouns in this review, as that is what is used throughout the entire novel.
Oh Sasha Masha! Sasha Masha made a special place in my heart. I wish I could understand the way he felt trapped inside his body, for not knowing who truly he is and getting that frustration out on the world while trying to be a normal son, a normal friend, a normal boyfriend, and just a normal boy. I wish I could comfort him and hug him, for he deserves all the love.
Sasha Masha is a coming-of-age story of Alex, who is trying to figure out what he is. He is confused and couldn't quite place a finger on 'what's different about him'. He gets overwhelmed because of everyone's expectations of being a 'normal' boy. He is happy when Tracy becomes his girlfriend because he thinks that makes him a 'real boy'. But still, there is 'something' missing.
"But something was wrong. There was a high wall inside of me, and it made me angry, it made me stuck; there was a self on the other side—was this, now, the thing I’d failed to see? That in my heart of hearts I wasn’t a boy after all?"
At the beginning of the story, Mabel, Alex's best friend moves to different city and now they are communicating only via text and calls. While trying to figuring out himself, one moment with Mabel stuck to him where they had tried different dresses and makeup. Alex chose a name for himself at that time-Sasha Masha-and when someone in one of the queer events asks for his name, he tells them he is Sasha Masha. He felt more comfortable in this new name.
He finds Andre as a new friend and a whole bunch of queer people builds a support system around him and it was really heartwarming to see that. They accepted him for who he was and helped him in figuring out his identity. Sasha Masha's journey is quite powerful and moving. There is a lot of confusion going on in his head but it was amazing to follow him on the path of figuring himself out.
Borinsky has done an amazing job of including so many wonderful things in this little book and the audio narration by her is equally amazing. The ending of the book is something that took this book to another level. I wanted to know so much more, but I think it was good that she stopped the story there. I would totally recommend this to readers who are looking for a short, emotional and figuring-out-yourself story.
And the last thing, please read reviews by trans readers too, because no matter how much I loved it, I couldn't do justice to this book as much as an ownvoices trans reader can.
Thank you Libro.fm for the ALC.