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kajoreads's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Not my personal favourite, but I’m glad it exists.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Outing
Moderate: Hate crime, Sexism, Religious bigotry, and Classism
Minor: Addiction, Racism, Rape, Sexual content, Alcohol, and Colonisation
the_true_monroe's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I have had this book on my to read list for 10 years. This was filled with so much more hope, love and acceptance and happiness than I thought it would have been which is why I think I held off a decade on reading it. The extreme challenges of being gay in the early 1980’s and prior decades are very clear but what also is clear are how the times were changing and what that looked like for these girls who were exploring and recognizing their true selves.
I listened to the 2008 audiobook which includes a wonderful interview of the author and is so eye opening to listen to as 25 years had passed since the book was published at that point and now an additional 16 years have gone by and I wonder how Nancy’s answers would have been today especially since she mentioned in that interview hoping for more transgender representation which we indeed do have today, although an increase in attacks on the trans and LGBTQIA+ community including queer youth- another group she focused on in the interview.
I listened to the 2008 audiobook which includes a wonderful interview of the author and is so eye opening to listen to as 25 years had passed since the book was published at that point and now an additional 16 years have gone by and I wonder how Nancy’s answers would have been today especially since she mentioned in that interview hoping for more transgender representation which we indeed do have today, although an increase in attacks on the trans and LGBTQIA+ community including queer youth- another group she focused on in the interview.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, Religious bigotry, Lesbophobia, Outing, and Classism
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Toxic friendship
Minor: Cursing, Mental illness, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Pregnancy
bisexualwentworth's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is a cute lesbian coming-of-age novel that is absolutely the blueprint for so many of the queer high school books that have come after. The Henna Wars especially is a recent sapphic book that has a very similar plot. And it's a super effective formula!
This book is really historically significant, and I appreciate it so much for being one of the first YA books to portray queer characters, especially lesbians, in a positive light and with a happy ending.
The story didn't make a particular impact on me, but the historical context did. I would definitely recommend it.
This book is really historically significant, and I appreciate it so much for being one of the first YA books to portray queer characters, especially lesbians, in a positive light and with a happy ending.
The story didn't make a particular impact on me, but the historical context did. I would definitely recommend it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Classism