gobooksgo's Reviews (310)

Crosshairs

Catherine Hernandez

4.0

dark emotional reflective tense 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: No

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for the free advance copy of Crosshairs by Catherine Hernandez. All opinions are my own.

Wow, this book is a wild ride! I spent half of this dystopian novel thinking how unimaginable it is and the other half thinking that it feels way too real. Set in the near-future, climate change and flooding wreak enough havoc to give authoritarian leaders the opportunity to swoop in and detain BIPOC, disabled, and queer folks in labor camps. Crosshairs tells the story of Kay, a Black drag queen, across two timelines: before the new regime comes into power and as he becomes central to the revolution.

I really enjoyed Kay’s story pre-regime and loved to read about his journey and life in the world of drag. I loved how the author explored the intersection of race and queerness in a way that fit so well in the story. Also, I really appreciated the exploration of identity. Honestly this book should be a must-read for white, cis, able-bodied folks. It definitely caused discomfort but in a good way - forcing me to examine my privilege and come to terms with my actions or lack thereof.