lawbooks600's review against another edition
2.0
Representation: Side Asian character
Trigger warnings: Anxiety, bullying
4/10, at the time I read this it was a new arrival at one of the libraries I go to and considering that this is a debut author and this also had a high rating I went in with lofty expectations however this book subverted them and I couldn't comprehend how frustrating it was to read this since I found so many issues so where do I even begin? For starters, it was very preachy (this book mentions every single issue under the sun) and it was very slow-paced. The main character wasn't someone I could root for, because once he was class president, he only listened to himself and didn't realise it, really? Why is he so narcissistic, like some characters said? At least the main character was complex enough, and at least he learns from his mistakes eventually, but what was that ending? He just becomes class president and that's it? Go read any other book other than this one.
P.S. "Mindbogglingly good?" More like "Mind-numbingly boring!"
Trigger warnings: Anxiety, bullying
4/10, at the time I read this it was a new arrival at one of the libraries I go to and considering that this is a debut author and this also had a high rating I went in with lofty expectations however this book subverted them and I couldn't comprehend how frustrating it was to read this since I found so many issues so where do I even begin? For starters, it was very preachy (this book mentions every single issue under the sun) and it was very slow-paced. The main character wasn't someone I could root for, because once he was class president, he only listened to himself and didn't realise it, really? Why is he so narcissistic, like some characters said? At least the main character was complex enough, and at least he learns from his mistakes eventually, but what was that ending? He just becomes class president and that's it? Go read any other book other than this one.
P.S. "Mindbogglingly good?" More like "Mind-numbingly boring!"
blok_sera_szwajcarskiego's review
5.0
Okay, guys, I know what you're thinking, please put the pitchforks down, tomatoes goes to hell, not to be thrown at me, no, I'm not a hypocrite... most of the time.
If to rate this book as a book, a construct of plot, writing, resolutions and a lot more technical stuff you can tell about book, it is a solid 3,5⭐.
But if to rate this book as a story, emotions it wakes and getting along with characters – @/goodreads where is my 6⭐ button.
Yes, I know, I say a lot I don't like YA built over the idea of progressive thinking, fighting over important agendas and romance, and here I am, giving one of them full five stars. But, guys, listen, this book is everything.
It has my endless, unconditional love. Like I said, there are things in construction that could be developed, some side plots could have been improved as being longer than they are, Mark could have been shown as a better friend, et cetera et cetera. I'm not ignoring it, it's actually the opposite – acknowledging them, I see what purpose they served for the rest of history. And from that perspective they're not really side plots, they're clues with what you/the MC will have to deal with, and they're a bit extreme because they role is to acknowledge the problems. Sure, it doesn't give straight answers, it also ends extremely positively, but this is what gives hope.
I didn't need hope, and yet I received it with tears of joy. This story is so cozy, and good to follow, with characters really goodly written, even if their role isn't going to be the biggest part of Mark's perspective. Gods bless existence of Ralph and Pablo, as I adore them with all my broken heart. Same with Nadia and Rachel.
The MC himself is I believe the greatest surprise, as he actually learns from his mistakes and develops! He knows when he does bad, and he knows what consequences will wait for him, instead of blindly believing "oh sure, I can manage to lie my way from it". Good food finally!!
"The (Un)Popular Vote" hadn't started as a book I thought I would love, but the deeper I sank into it, the more political debates I experienced next to Mark and his team, the more problems they discovered, the more lost in love I was. Amazing, wonderful, extremely lovable.
cw // homophobia, transphobia, a bit of violence, mention of family's member death, misgendering and deadnaming, anxiety attack, usage of slurs
If to rate this book as a book, a construct of plot, writing, resolutions and a lot more technical stuff you can tell about book, it is a solid 3,5⭐.
But if to rate this book as a story, emotions it wakes and getting along with characters – @/goodreads where is my 6⭐ button.
Yes, I know, I say a lot I don't like YA built over the idea of progressive thinking, fighting over important agendas and romance, and here I am, giving one of them full five stars. But, guys, listen, this book is everything.
It has my endless, unconditional love. Like I said, there are things in construction that could be developed, some side plots could have been improved as being longer than they are, Mark could have been shown as a better friend, et cetera et cetera. I'm not ignoring it, it's actually the opposite – acknowledging them, I see what purpose they served for the rest of history. And from that perspective they're not really side plots, they're clues with what you/the MC will have to deal with, and they're a bit extreme because they role is to acknowledge the problems. Sure, it doesn't give straight answers, it also ends extremely positively, but this is what gives hope.
I didn't need hope, and yet I received it with tears of joy. This story is so cozy, and good to follow, with characters really goodly written, even if their role isn't going to be the biggest part of Mark's perspective. Gods bless existence of Ralph and Pablo, as I adore them with all my broken heart. Same with Nadia and Rachel.
The MC himself is I believe the greatest surprise, as he actually learns from his mistakes and develops! He knows when he does bad, and he knows what consequences will wait for him, instead of blindly believing "oh sure, I can manage to lie my way from it". Good food finally!!
"The (Un)Popular Vote" hadn't started as a book I thought I would love, but the deeper I sank into it, the more political debates I experienced next to Mark and his team, the more problems they discovered, the more lost in love I was. Amazing, wonderful, extremely lovable.
cw // homophobia, transphobia, a bit of violence, mention of family's member death, misgendering and deadnaming, anxiety attack, usage of slurs
telltalelakej's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
i honestly didn’t think i’d like this book this much when i first started it but something about all the hope and trans joy that filled this book made me feel all warm and fuzzy and i will definitely be rereading this in the future
sarful's review
2.0
2.5
I really wanted to like this. I mean a YA West Wing? Yes! Only it was this sanctimonious soap box that took 400 pages to do what it could have in half the time. I’m also just not a fan of long books. While I loved the queer awareness and respect theme, it felt heavy handed. And I’m thinking that was the point, but that way of lecturing isn’t my cup of tea.
300 pages were spent setting up for the school election. And a whole scene where the main character gives a Bartlett like speech in a Catholic Church? Really?
It started out fine. Mark is part of a queer friend group that meet under a supposed French Club banner. They all support each other and are open to their various queerness. Until a gay kid is bullied and punches his bullier, in front of Mark. At this point he gets it in his head he’s going to run for office, to fight for queer respect. And a lot of the election bit was fun. But it was entirely too long and just became a bit tedious because we already know what’s going to happen.
And Mark’s journey felt forced. He’s gung ho, nope he’s a fraud, what? His bestie is for him then mad, but he’s such an honest guy. Like it felt forced, like we were meant to get a message from it all. All I got was tired of it. Although I do appreciate that Mark was able to leave his father, and stop carrying a torch for a man not worth it.
I won’t question the reactions of Mark’s father because parents of trans kids can be entirely irrational, which his was. I enjoyed his mom.
Meh.
I really wanted to like this. I mean a YA West Wing? Yes! Only it was this sanctimonious soap box that took 400 pages to do what it could have in half the time. I’m also just not a fan of long books. While I loved the queer awareness and respect theme, it felt heavy handed. And I’m thinking that was the point, but that way of lecturing isn’t my cup of tea.
300 pages were spent setting up for the school election. And a whole scene where the main character gives a Bartlett like speech in a Catholic Church? Really?
It started out fine. Mark is part of a queer friend group that meet under a supposed French Club banner. They all support each other and are open to their various queerness. Until a gay kid is bullied and punches his bullier, in front of Mark. At this point he gets it in his head he’s going to run for office, to fight for queer respect. And a lot of the election bit was fun. But it was entirely too long and just became a bit tedious because we already know what’s going to happen.
And Mark’s journey felt forced. He’s gung ho, nope he’s a fraud, what? His bestie is for him then mad, but he’s such an honest guy. Like it felt forced, like we were meant to get a message from it all. All I got was tired of it. Although I do appreciate that Mark was able to leave his father, and stop carrying a torch for a man not worth it.
I won’t question the reactions of Mark’s father because parents of trans kids can be entirely irrational, which his was. I enjoyed his mom.
Meh.
sky899's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
isabelmirandakidwell's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
leepetterson0's review
3.0
3.5 stars!
i was on my edge of the seat near the end!
finally understand when they say "queer books written for queer kids" :')
i was on my edge of the seat near the end!
finally understand when they say "queer books written for queer kids" :')
lx_x28's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
4.25