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moonyreadsbystarlight's reviews
576 reviews
The Heartbreak Bakery by A.R. Capetta
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I really loved a lot of things that this book did! There was so much cool stuff going on with theme and character development, as well as discussion of gender and even nonmonogomy. It's such a unique and effective way to discuss breaking up but also different kinds of love in a way that is more nuanced and mature than most YA or adult romance books. The discussion of queer community and queer spaces was also really neat.
While some of the plot didn't feel as high stakes to me (or I wasn't as invested in it as I was in these other elements), it was still a really good read and I think one that would be really important for a lot of people to pick up.
While some of the plot didn't feel as high stakes to me (or I wasn't as invested in it as I was in these other elements), it was still a really good read and I think one that would be really important for a lot of people to pick up.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Biphobia, Transphobia, and Dysphoria
Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity by Devon Price
informative
reflective
5.0
This was such an incredible book! Written by an autistic trans social psychologist, this focused on high masking autistic experiences. He begins by talking about who is more likely to mask/less likely to be diagnosed as a child, what traits get overlooked, issues with how autism is "treated". Then, he goes into what masking can look like, how we might decide to unmask, and ending with what we need to do as a society to make it a safe place for people to live unmasked. I really loved that he talks so much about the social - not just ableism and stigma, but also aspects of racism, impact of poverty, and transphobia, among other things.
This can be useful for anyone looking to understand the autistic experience, but it's written more specifically for neurodivergent people (especially for autistics, but but he talks about the fact that other ND folks can experience masking as well). I've looked a lot into autism over the years - especially the experiences of those diagnosed as an adult. Even still, there were so many things that he described and connected that made so much more sense. It's another book that I wish I'd had years ago, but am very grateful to have have it now.
This can be useful for anyone looking to understand the autistic experience, but it's written more specifically for neurodivergent people (especially for autistics, but but he talks about the fact that other ND folks can experience masking as well). I've looked a lot into autism over the years - especially the experiences of those diagnosed as an adult. Even still, there were so many things that he described and connected that made so much more sense. It's another book that I wish I'd had years ago, but am very grateful to have have it now.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Alcoholism, Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Racism
Moderate: Child abuse, Eating disorder, Police brutality, and Classism
Minor: Fatphobia and Transphobia
A Million Quiet Revolutions by Robin Gow
emotional
hopeful
reflective
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
This speaks beautifully about trans love and the importance of being able to see yourself in history.
Told through poems, this YA romance focuses on two teens, Aaron and Oliver, who are long time best friends and secretly dating. Both are coming to understand their trans identities and by digging further into Revolutionary War history, may have found trans soldiers who had fallen in love. They are thrown for another loop when Aaron moves away, and they decide to exchange letters instead of texts in honor of their revolutionary namesakes.
This is about first love, growing up, and contending with identity and history. I was a little concerned that this might dip into the ahistorical patriotic fevor that so often surrounds the founding of this country, but I was pleasantly suprised that there was some nuance and discussion about some of the issues (particularly through the Puerto Rican MC, Aaron).
There were some small parts that I could, perhaps, critique but over all, I really loved this. The descriptions of the love and tenderness in this story absolutely made me cry in the best way. And there were so many details about transness (some of which were different for each character) that I think were well done and important.
Told through poems, this YA romance focuses on two teens, Aaron and Oliver, who are long time best friends and secretly dating. Both are coming to understand their trans identities and by digging further into Revolutionary War history, may have found trans soldiers who had fallen in love. They are thrown for another loop when Aaron moves away, and they decide to exchange letters instead of texts in honor of their revolutionary namesakes.
This is about first love, growing up, and contending with identity and history. I was a little concerned that this might dip into the ahistorical patriotic fevor that so often surrounds the founding of this country, but I was pleasantly suprised that there was some nuance and discussion about some of the issues (particularly through the Puerto Rican MC, Aaron).
There were some small parts that I could, perhaps, critique but over all, I really loved this. The descriptions of the love and tenderness in this story absolutely made me cry in the best way. And there were so many details about transness (some of which were different for each character) that I think were well done and important.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Transphobia, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Dysphoria, and War
How We Get Free: Black Feminism and the Combahee River Collective by Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor
informative
5.0
A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
There was so much sweetness and yearning, so many lines that made me have to stop and scream because I had too many feelings. I shall never recover, I fear.
I have criticism of part of the B plot towards the end, but I still adored it.
I have criticism of part of the B plot towards the end, but I still adored it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism and Mental illness
Moderate: Transphobia
Minor: War
Love, Violet by Charlotte Sullivan Wild
5.0
I don't usually rate kid's picture books but I adored this one. Yes, I absolutely cried in the bookstore.
My Immortal by Tara Gilesbie
dark
emotional
funny
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