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2busyreading's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Terminal illness and Death of parent
nedge's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Minor: Death of parent
gillianengelbrecht's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Death
Minor: Death of parent
goodthingsread's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I enjoyed this book a lot and connected to Bug even though nothing in the book is similar to my own experiences. I was a little thrown by the ghostly/supernatural element, not sure at first if this was intended to be really real or a trick of the mind, a desire to see more than what was there. I will say that it is real and I think you have to buy into that to enjoy the book. Easy for me to do.
I checked the reviews of others before I wrote my own and I noted that some doubted that Bug could be so blind to his own gender identity or fear reprisals so deeply when he was a part of such an open and supportive family. Bug is eleven. <i>Eleven</i>. People grow and change and understand themselves differently at every age. It doesn't matter how liberal, free, and loving the environment. We all come to our own conclusions in our own time. And I thought Bug's reasoning was sound, honestly, for an eleven year old trying to figure things out. Gender is a spectrum, but Bug thought he had to be absolutely, positively certain that he was a <i>he</i> to identify as trans. You don't. And once he got that, he understood what he needed to about himself. I don't think it's outrageous for anyone at any age to need time to change their understanding, but especially not an eleven year old.
Graphic: Death of parent
body dysmorphiaqueerafictionado's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Terminal illness
Minor: Homophobia, Transphobia, Blood, and Death of parent
scmiller's review
3.75
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Terminal illness
Minor: Body horror, Bullying, Cancer, Homophobia, Transphobia, and Death of parent
haileyhardcover's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Moderate: Death and Terminal illness
Minor: Death of parent
hexa's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Grief and Dysphoria
Moderate: Death, Terminal illness, and Death of parent
emily_mh's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This book is so emotional and sad, centred on the incredibly moving concept of someone trying their hardest to reassure and encourage somebody they love. But it is also filled with trans joy and hope, which I adored. Instead of being focussed on transphobia (which is obviously still important to do, just not in ALL trans stories), the story is about love, self-discovery, self-acceptance, and self-celebration.
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Terminal illness
Minor: Ableism, Bullying, Confinement, Homophobia, Transphobia, Blood, Kidnapping, Car accident, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Major: loss of a loved one Minor: pandemic, menstruationcareinthelibrary's review
4.0
Interesting perspective of parenting a trans kid and gender role enforcement of role models. I also love the re of kids who don't always know what's going on with their gender (not everyone knows from the moment they're conscious that they're trans/queer, sometimes it takes soul searching and education).
I really liked the narrator of this so I especially recommend it in that format if you like audiobooks.
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Bullying, Cancer, Deadnaming, Terminal illness, Transphobia, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
Minor: Homophobia, Blood, and Car accident