The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
mjoyner's review against another edition
3.0
Leans more on the side of "essay with pictures" than "graphic novel." Simple enough to be an easy read for a grade schooler, even though it's about a seventh grader. The art style is a bit of an acquired taste. The time skips make it stand out; otherwise it probably would have dragged quite a bit.
bambiibamm's review against another edition
5.0
This was wonderful!! I wish I could truly put my feelings into words. But, words don't really come easy to me. I loved this so much. I cried.
fionak's review against another edition
3.0
The story flows well and deals with important issues in a relatable way so this would lend itself to bibliotherapy for youngsters navigating gender expectations and sexuality. The artwork is a big letdown for me; the author wantd it to be reminiscent of the cartoons he grew up watching but frankly said cartoons had pretty shitty production values and I don't think recreating them was a good call.
sjclay122's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Death of parent, and Homophobia
heatherbermingham's review against another edition
4.0
I've been reading a lot of LGBTQ middle grade books recently, and this was the toughest read just because of the heaviness. It was a real heartbreaker, especially knowing that it's based on the writer/illustrators life. The level of bullying is more severe compared to other books I've read for this age group, but I have no doubt that it's honest and that a lot of kids in similar situations to Alexander - whether it's because of sexual orientation, different family circumstances, poverty - will recognize themselves here. I loved how it started in 7th grade and slowly went back and highlighted the experiences that brought him to that point. I think the ending felt a tiny bit rushed, but I'm glad it ended on a more optimistic note, and I'm sure that'll make an impact on some young readers.