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moonyreadsbystarlight's reviews
576 reviews
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
This was a cute middle grade that touches on quite a few LGBTQ topics (primarily, what it can be like to be ace or aro) as well as hard lessons about friendship that don't get discussed very frequently. It also touches on grief and change on several fronts, but it's not super heavy emotionally. This is set in the same world as their first book, Melissa, so we get to see her a bit as well! Overall, it was a cute well-done middle grade.
It definitely gave me lots of feelings. I love that some kids get to have this sort of experience and access to community (that was necer in the realm of possibilityfor me growing up), but it's upsetting to know that this is a limited experience, especially with recent legislation in many states. Just one more reason to stay aware of these bills being seen throughout the country that focus on queer kids.
Graphic: Homophobia, Transphobia, and Acephobia/Arophobia
Moderate: Grief
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Transphobia and Dysphoria
Moderate: Deadnaming
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Every layer of the story shows us a toxic relationship, what it's like to be so close to connection while merely being empty consumers instead. It's haunting and devastating, an all too realistic horror that was brilliantly done. It was the perfect length for what it was trying to do and it is definitely going to stick with me.
Graphic: Animal death and Medical content
Moderate: Vomit
Minor: Racism
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
The story starts when Wendy goes back to her Mennonite grandparents' small town to go to her grandmother's funeral. While there, she gets a call from a family friend who can no longer keep her late grandfather's secret queerness to herself. The speculation of the details of this secret and the nature of his queerness stays in the background as Wendy's life continues. Through the mundane details of her life, we see Wendy navigate alcoholism as she encounters several big life events. Some things are resolved eventually and others aren't, but I think this tension (or lack thereof in some cases) makes it feel more real.
As we see these events unravel, there is so much going on thematically. Many issues that lots of trans women face are brought up in the plot but even beyond that, there is discussion of transness, community, queer time, religion, family, and so much more. The most compelling thing to me, aside from the realness and vulnerability of the story, are the thematic elements (hence why today's experiment with picture editing features a theme word cloud). This is one that I think I could read multiple times and piece together more of what it has to say each time.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Drug use, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Transphobia
Moderate: Deadnaming
5.0
It catalogs parts of trans history, but it's about so much more than that. Feinberg talks about early trans history through Indigenous conceptions of gender and early European spiritual leaders that defied current concepts of gender, to figures like Joan of Arc and cross-dressed pesant resistance from the 1600s-1800s, and more. They explore the relationship of transphobia and misogyny, class-based oppression, and colonialism historically.
As they're talking about this history, they also talk about their own journey with gender and politics, how they learned and what impact this history had on them personally. They contextualize themself both in terms of where the writing is coming from and putting themself in this history. They also make clear that this history contextualizes the present and future. This can inform how we can act and demonstrates the necessity of trans liberation -- and how any liberation is not possible without liberation for all marginalized people.
I also love that even though the narrative only touched on so many parts of history, they included art and photographs with captions about so many different people and parts of trans history. It gives you places to look afterwards, but it also is just a small piece of the hugeness of transgender history.
I have so many more thoughts about this, but I'll leave it at that for now. This was incredible and if you haven't read any Leslie Feinberg, now is the time!!
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Transphobia, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Sexual violence
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Domestic abuse, and Sexual assault
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
4.75
I will say, there are some things I wondered about in regards to Theo's character (it seems like he has more unpacking to do and only some of that was really laid out in the text).
But overall, I was really impressed and I loved it.
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Racism, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, and Death of parent
4.0
Graphic: Ableism
4.25
Moderate: Cancer, Death, Racism, and Abandonment
3.25
Graphic: Fatphobia, Homophobia, Racism, Transphobia, Medical trauma, and Sexual harassment