elyssam's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
A book of three stories that intertwine in a wonderful way. Challenging book banning and creating a safe space for LGBTQIA+ youth.
andrearbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Talk about a timely read! This is an exploration of a book banning from a number of perspectives. First, there is the story of Donovan who is experiencing the banning as a student. Then, there is the story being told in the book. Finally, there is the author's story. This story is especially strong in the parts about Donovan as he tries to understand why this book is being judged and grapples with his own feelings about why this is problematic. I think this is such an important topic for kids to see and explore through books talking to them, and this is so very much that. The multiple storylines were sometimes a bit hard for me to follow and connect with, however reading the author's note at the end, I appreciated why he chose to tell this story in this way! Thanks to NetGalley for the early look at this May 2022 read!
librandian's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-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
5.0
thegreenship's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
itsmytuberculosis's review against another edition
5.0
this book was recommended to my by the one, the only, brian dudley who has never steered me wrong and managed to get 300 theatre arts majors to graduate on time in a pandemic. I would trust his judgement for anything so when I saw him hyping this book up on his Instagram story i legit got in my car, drove to the library, checked it out, and then came back and read it immediately in one go.
because i read this book point blank I had no idea what it was about or who the characters were. It was interesting to go into a book where I hadn't even read the flap at the front.
BECAUSE of this however, I thought that Donovan and Gideon were the same person for a couple of chapters. I thought that Leviathan was using the POV switching from first to third as a literary and metaphorical devise. Something to say about third person being used in order to have this sense of "out of body-ness" and strangeness when one is queer as a child.
Nope- they are just two different story lines!
I thought this book was definitely written in a way where anyone of any age can enjoy it. I loved how we stayed with Donovan the whole time during the book ban and never heard or saw any of the adult discussion of the book. We received only the vague answers that he got, and while as an adult we can interpret what is happening, I imagine a child reading this book who doesn't know how these things work, is taken through a similar route of not understanding the absurdity of being mad at a perfectly good book. Donovan also seemed to be a really healthy and emotionally well rounded child for having parents that seem to be emotionally stunted so - congrats to that.
As for Rick and Oliver, I was so invested in their jumping the shark (or should i say alligator) adventures and most importantly give a shout out to my past self who wrote huck finn/tom sawyer fanfiction when i was forced to read the books in school. those two WERE gay. rip to melody/becky you deserve better.
Adding Curtis as a gay student to the class I felt like brought about a lot of realism to the whole debate as well. How do you tell a child not to talk about their sexuality? You can't? They are going to figure it out weather or not you want them too.
I did have a bit of difficulty understanding WHEN this book was taking place. SPOILERS AHEAD: the reveal at the end with Mr. Howe being Gideon made some of the things make more sense, since he would have to be raised in the 90s and thus his story line makes more sense. But even for Donovan it wasn't until he mentioned TikTok that I knew it was in the modern age.
Overall, I think this book beautifully handled and discussed this issue of books in classrooms and being gay as a kid without minimizing the hurt or over emphasizing homophobia.
because i read this book point blank I had no idea what it was about or who the characters were. It was interesting to go into a book where I hadn't even read the flap at the front.
BECAUSE of this however, I thought that Donovan and Gideon were the same person for a couple of chapters. I thought that Leviathan was using the POV switching from first to third as a literary and metaphorical devise. Something to say about third person being used in order to have this sense of "out of body-ness" and strangeness when one is queer as a child.
Nope- they are just two different story lines!
I thought this book was definitely written in a way where anyone of any age can enjoy it. I loved how we stayed with Donovan the whole time during the book ban and never heard or saw any of the adult discussion of the book. We received only the vague answers that he got, and while as an adult we can interpret what is happening, I imagine a child reading this book who doesn't know how these things work, is taken through a similar route of not understanding the absurdity of being mad at a perfectly good book. Donovan also seemed to be a really healthy and emotionally well rounded child for having parents that seem to be emotionally stunted so - congrats to that.
As for Rick and Oliver, I was so invested in their jumping the shark (or should i say alligator) adventures and most importantly give a shout out to my past self who wrote huck finn/tom sawyer fanfiction when i was forced to read the books in school. those two WERE gay. rip to melody/becky you deserve better.
Adding Curtis as a gay student to the class I felt like brought about a lot of realism to the whole debate as well. How do you tell a child not to talk about their sexuality? You can't? They are going to figure it out weather or not you want them too.
I did have a bit of difficulty understanding WHEN this book was taking place. SPOILERS AHEAD: the reveal at the end with Mr. Howe being Gideon made some of the things make more sense, since he would have to be raised in the 90s and thus his story line makes more sense. But even for Donovan it wasn't until he mentioned TikTok that I knew it was in the modern age.
Overall, I think this book beautifully handled and discussed this issue of books in classrooms and being gay as a kid without minimizing the hurt or over emphasizing homophobia.
rach_wings's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
spring_lilac's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
An unique take on book banning, told in three story lines, including pages from the book being challenged. Having read this after reading Finally Seen, I was able to draw parallels between the two novels, with this being geared a little more for older readers.
stiino19's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.75
f3nne's review against another edition
4.0
Super cute but with a strong message. Mr howe u have my heart