alexisagit18's review against another edition
5.0
This was amazing, and so representative.
I absolutely loved it.
I absolutely loved it.
popthebutterfly's review
5.0
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: This Is Our Rainbow: 16 Stories of Her, Him, Them, and Us
Author: Eric Bell, Lisa Jenn Bigelow, Ashley Herring Blake, Lisa Bunker, Alex Gino, Justina Ireland, Shing Yin Khor, Katherine Locke, Mariama J. Lockington, Nicole Melleby, Marieke Nijkamp, Claribel A. Ortega, Mark Oshiro, Molly Knox Ostertag, Aisa Salazar, and AJ Sass
Book Series: Standalone
Diversity: Non binary MCs
Ace MC
Trans MC
Latinx lesbian MCs
Gay drag queen side character
Trans side characters
Black MC
Black Lesbian MCs
F/f romance
Mixed relationship
Neopronouns
Gay celiac MC
Black queer MC
Latinx side characters
MC with 2 moms
Side character with 2 dads
Bisexual side character
Lesbian MC
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, contemporary, fantasy, sci-fi, poetry, anthology
Genre: Middle Grade anthology
Publication Date: October 19, 2021
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Pages: 288
Recommended Age: 10+ (Animal Death mentioned, Pronouns not respected, Grief, Domestic violence mentioned, Forced gendered notions, Homophobia, Slavery, Torture mentioned, Mentions of death by hanging, Bullying, Racism, Heartbreak, Religion mentioned, Parent death mentioned, Cancer mentioned)
Explanation of CWs: Animal death is the focus of one story, as is grief. Heartbreak is in a couple of stories. Slavery is shown and torture is mentioned. Bullying is shown in a few stories. Racism is shown in a couple of stories. Religion is mentioned and one church service is shown.
Synopsis: A boyband fandom becomes a conduit to coming out. A former bully becomes a first-kiss prospect. One nonbinary kid searches for an inclusive athletic community after quitting gymnastics. Another nonbinary kid, who happens to be a pirate, makes a wish that comes true--but not how they thought it would. A tween girl navigates a crush on her friend's mom. A young witch turns herself into a puppy to win over a new neighbor. A trans girl empowers her online bestie to come out.
From wind-breathing dragons to first crushes, This Is Our Rainbow features story after story of joyful, proud LGBTQIA+ representation. You will fall in love with this insightful, poignant anthology of queer fantasy, historical, and contemporary stories from authors including: Eric Bell, Lisa Jenn Bigelow, Ashley Herring Blake, Lisa Bunker, Alex Gino, Justina Ireland, Shing Yin Khor, Katherine Locke, Mariama J. Lockington, Nicole Melleby, Marieke Nijkamp, Claribel A. Ortega, Mark Oshiro, Molly Knox Ostertag, Aisa Salazar, and AJ Sass.
Review: Overall I really enjoyed this anthology! It included a lot of cute short stories and I loved the different stories and genres that prominently featured queer characters. The character development was amazing across the stories. The world's were all well developed and immersive. The book was also a lot of fun to read!
The only issue I had is that I wish some of the stories were grouped together in a cohesive manner and I wished there was more main characters that were gay or outright pansexual. I also think one or two main characters were ace but there was nothing concrete, which I think could have been better stated and written.
Verdict: it was great!
Book: This Is Our Rainbow: 16 Stories of Her, Him, Them, and Us
Author: Eric Bell, Lisa Jenn Bigelow, Ashley Herring Blake, Lisa Bunker, Alex Gino, Justina Ireland, Shing Yin Khor, Katherine Locke, Mariama J. Lockington, Nicole Melleby, Marieke Nijkamp, Claribel A. Ortega, Mark Oshiro, Molly Knox Ostertag, Aisa Salazar, and AJ Sass
Book Series: Standalone
Diversity: Non binary MCs
Ace MC
Trans MC
Latinx lesbian MCs
Gay drag queen side character
Trans side characters
Black MC
Black Lesbian MCs
F/f romance
Mixed relationship
Neopronouns
Gay celiac MC
Black queer MC
Latinx side characters
MC with 2 moms
Side character with 2 dads
Bisexual side character
Lesbian MC
Rating: 5/5
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, contemporary, fantasy, sci-fi, poetry, anthology
Genre: Middle Grade anthology
Publication Date: October 19, 2021
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Pages: 288
Recommended Age: 10+ (Animal Death mentioned, Pronouns not respected, Grief, Domestic violence mentioned, Forced gendered notions, Homophobia, Slavery, Torture mentioned, Mentions of death by hanging, Bullying, Racism, Heartbreak, Religion mentioned, Parent death mentioned, Cancer mentioned)
Explanation of CWs: Animal death is the focus of one story, as is grief. Heartbreak is in a couple of stories. Slavery is shown and torture is mentioned. Bullying is shown in a few stories. Racism is shown in a couple of stories. Religion is mentioned and one church service is shown.
Synopsis: A boyband fandom becomes a conduit to coming out. A former bully becomes a first-kiss prospect. One nonbinary kid searches for an inclusive athletic community after quitting gymnastics. Another nonbinary kid, who happens to be a pirate, makes a wish that comes true--but not how they thought it would. A tween girl navigates a crush on her friend's mom. A young witch turns herself into a puppy to win over a new neighbor. A trans girl empowers her online bestie to come out.
From wind-breathing dragons to first crushes, This Is Our Rainbow features story after story of joyful, proud LGBTQIA+ representation. You will fall in love with this insightful, poignant anthology of queer fantasy, historical, and contemporary stories from authors including: Eric Bell, Lisa Jenn Bigelow, Ashley Herring Blake, Lisa Bunker, Alex Gino, Justina Ireland, Shing Yin Khor, Katherine Locke, Mariama J. Lockington, Nicole Melleby, Marieke Nijkamp, Claribel A. Ortega, Mark Oshiro, Molly Knox Ostertag, Aisa Salazar, and AJ Sass.
Review: Overall I really enjoyed this anthology! It included a lot of cute short stories and I loved the different stories and genres that prominently featured queer characters. The character development was amazing across the stories. The world's were all well developed and immersive. The book was also a lot of fun to read!
The only issue I had is that I wish some of the stories were grouped together in a cohesive manner and I wished there was more main characters that were gay or outright pansexual. I also think one or two main characters were ace but there was nothing concrete, which I think could have been better stated and written.
Verdict: it was great!
eloise_g's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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
stressejesse's review against another edition
4.0
- The Purr-cle of Life by Alex Gino - 4.25★
- Girls Best Friend by Lisa Jenn Bigelow - 4★
- The Makeover by Shing Yin Khor - 3★
- Paper Planes by Claribel A Ortega - 4.25★
- Petra & Pearl by Lisa Bunker - 4.75★
- I Know the Way by Justina Ireland - 3.25★
- Balancing Acts by A. J. Sass - 4.75★
- Come Out, Come Out Whenever You Are by Eric Bell - 5★
- Devoyn's Pod by Mariama J Lockington - 4.25★
- Guess What's Coming to Dinner by Mark Oshiro - 4.75★
- The Golem and the Mapmaker by Molly Knox Ostertag - 3.75★
- The Wish & the Wind Dragon by Katherine Locke - 3.25★
- Splinter and Ash by Marieke Nijkamp - 2.75★
- Menudo Fan Club by Aida Salazar - 3.75★
- Stacy's Mom by Nicole Melleby - 4★
- Sylvie & Jenna by Ashley Herring Blake - 5★
delaney253's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
itsmichelle's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-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? Yes
4.0
shelvesofstarlight's review against another edition
5.0
Oh, this book was just absolutely incredible! I loved every second that I was reading this book and just didn't want to put it down because I wanted to read more and more of it.
All of the main characters in this book were absolutely blooming brilliant and all so unique. I just adored reading all of their stories and seeing such a wide amount of representation for the LGBTQ+ spectrum aimed at children. I honestly don't think I could choose a favourite because they were all so good! On a more serious note, it was just amazing to see the representation in these characters for children because for LGBTQ+ kids this book is going to be so important. Plus, it's all framed within some wonderful worlds and stories.
The plots of all of the stories were just brilliant and heartwarming and I just finished each story with a warm fuzzy feeling in my chest because they were all so good and sweet and perfect. They were all so amazing and I liked how we got a mix of fantasy and contemporary and even a tad of historical fiction in there. It was just so great seeing all of the representation fitting so well into these stories because they were absolutely incredible and so well written.
Speaking of the writing, all of the stories were so well written and I just think that all of the authors included in this book deserve as much praise as they are going to get for this brilliant anthology. I cannot wait for kids to read this book!!
All of the main characters in this book were absolutely blooming brilliant and all so unique. I just adored reading all of their stories and seeing such a wide amount of representation for the LGBTQ+ spectrum aimed at children. I honestly don't think I could choose a favourite because they were all so good! On a more serious note, it was just amazing to see the representation in these characters for children because for LGBTQ+ kids this book is going to be so important. Plus, it's all framed within some wonderful worlds and stories.
The plots of all of the stories were just brilliant and heartwarming and I just finished each story with a warm fuzzy feeling in my chest because they were all so good and sweet and perfect. They were all so amazing and I liked how we got a mix of fantasy and contemporary and even a tad of historical fiction in there. It was just so great seeing all of the representation fitting so well into these stories because they were absolutely incredible and so well written.
Speaking of the writing, all of the stories were so well written and I just think that all of the authors included in this book deserve as much praise as they are going to get for this brilliant anthology. I cannot wait for kids to read this book!!
macklin's review against another edition
Ahhh so cute!! I loved it. Definitely liked the fantasy ones more but really all of them were gems.
lovelife1008's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-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? Yes
4.0