woolfinbooks's review
5.0
This is probably the most diverse middle grade book I've ever read! Each short story focuses on a kid with a different identity and experience. There's nonbinary, neopronouns, gay, lesbian, bi, trans, squishes (first time ever seeing that representation in a book!) and more!
I wrote a much longer review detailing the content warnings and representations of each story, but Goodreads didn't save my draft and I had to return it to the library. Grrr! Check out other reviews for those.
5/5 stars. I adore this and wish I had this when I was a kid :)
I wrote a much longer review detailing the content warnings and representations of each story, but Goodreads didn't save my draft and I had to return it to the library. Grrr! Check out other reviews for those.
5/5 stars. I adore this and wish I had this when I was a kid :)
mimela78's review
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
easemily's review
4.0
This was a really cute book. It has a nice array of stories centered around queerness but also stories about queer kids without that being the focus
bethreadsandnaps's review
4.0
I thoroughly enjoyed most of the stories in this collection. They had that middle school awkwardness combined with figuring out gender identity and sexuality.
There were two exceptions that I didn’t really enjoy: the dragon story (not into fantasy) and one of the graphic stories. I just didn’t get it. It seemed more anime.
This was great to buddy read for Pride Month!
There were two exceptions that I didn’t really enjoy: the dragon story (not into fantasy) and one of the graphic stories. I just didn’t get it. It seemed more anime.
This was great to buddy read for Pride Month!
mygallaget's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
macmower's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
jenny_librarian's review
4.0
Like all anthologies, there are some very good and some okay stories. Contrarily to some other queer anthologies, though, this one had a very good balance across the rainbow. There were many trans and nonbinary characters, and even ace rep (which is still pretty rare).
I especially loved Paper Planes and Balancing Acts. However I wasn't a fan of Stacy's Mom and Sylvie & Jenna.
I would've appreciated the rep in each story highlighted in the beginning, or just after the title.
I especially loved Paper Planes and Balancing Acts. However I wasn't a fan of Stacy's Mom and Sylvie & Jenna.
I would've appreciated the rep in each story highlighted in the beginning, or just after the title.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Transphobia and Sexism
Minor: Acephobia/Arophobia
sydthereader's review
I’m bothered that I didn’t like this and only got 3 or 4 stories in. I love middle grade and was super excited to see stories of young queer kids and maybe do myself a little inner child healing. However, for me, it was just too juvenile (which, i understand is the whole point. this book is for literal children. and i am 22 years old. so it’s not a diss to the book at all, it’s a diss at myself lol).
I will say, though, the 2nd story, which i am forgetting the name of now, is absolutely terrible. The main character literally stalks and deceives this girl she wants to befriend and she doesn’t get any real repercussions for those super creepy actions. Even at the age of the characters, i would have known that was inappropriate. It sends a message that you can betray, stalk, and lie to people just because you want to know more information about their personal lives than they are willing to give you in that moment. the MC admits it was wrong by the end, but i don’t think the very mild reaction the other character had when she finds out she was doing this is enough to show that her actions were highly inappropriate and not okay. it just put a really bad taste in my mouth.
I will say, though, the 2nd story, which i am forgetting the name of now, is absolutely terrible. The main character literally stalks and deceives this girl she wants to befriend and she doesn’t get any real repercussions for those super creepy actions. Even at the age of the characters, i would have known that was inappropriate. It sends a message that you can betray, stalk, and lie to people just because you want to know more information about their personal lives than they are willing to give you in that moment. the MC admits it was wrong by the end, but i don’t think the very mild reaction the other character had when she finds out she was doing this is enough to show that her actions were highly inappropriate and not okay. it just put a really bad taste in my mouth.
emeelee's review
3.0
I'm so glad that This Is Our Rainbow exists for middle grade readers to see a variety . That alone deserves five stars. In terms of my own personal enjoyment, this was a solid 3 stars. Anthologies are always a mixed bag, and I trend toward the ambivalent side when it comes to short stories unless something really wows me. But at the same time, I really love picking up anthologies and I keep doing it even when I inevitably rate them 3 stars. Oh, well. Something I really appreciated about this anthology was the even mix of contemporary stories for readers to relate to versus fantastical ones for readers to escape into. I would have appreciated seeing some specified ace and m-spec rep, and for all the sapphic rep I don't recall the word "lesbian" ever actually being used. Also I'm just realizing that there wasn't much mlm rep-- only one story has a boy main character. My favorite story of the bunch was Balancing Acts by A.J. Sass.
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