tangleroot_eli's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
This is so beautifully drawn. Curato's black-and-white landscapes are stunning, and the occasional pops of red and orange are perfectly chosen and placed. I kind of want to go back through it and just look at the pictures, without reading the words.
Because the words are... they're rough, y'all. I'm not too much older than the characters here, and it was a terrible time to be a young queer person. Or a young person other people thought was queer. Or a young person who was just different in any way. And yet we all yearned for connection and belonging, no matter how many times other people broke our hearts. Curato looks at all of that with an unflinching honesty that made the book kind of difficult to get through. He tells a vitally important story, but not, perhaps, one you'll want to revisit, despite the hopeful ending.
Because the words are... they're rough, y'all. I'm not too much older than the characters here, and it was a terrible time to be a young queer person. Or a young person other people thought was queer. Or a young person who was just different in any way. And yet we all yearned for connection and belonging, no matter how many times other people broke our hearts. Curato looks at all of that with an unflinching honesty that made the book kind of difficult to get through. He tells a vitally important story, but not, perhaps, one you'll want to revisit, despite the hopeful ending.
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Bullying, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Suicide attempt, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Racism, Religious bigotry, Fatphobia, Body shaming, and Violence
Minor: Child abuse, Body horror, and Sexism
therainbowshelf's review
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
💭 My thoughts 💭: Aiden’s experiences with bullies making it hard to just be himself are unfortunately not uncommon. I liked the way this book tackles tough topics without flinching. We get to see Aiden’s personality really clearly in these pages and feel his pain. I felt like this book might make someone else going through similar things feel less lonely.
📚 The gist 📚: Aiden gets picked on regularly for being fat, unmanly, and Asian American. Summer camp with the Boy Scouts has always given him an escape from his problems. Except for this year. This year his problems have followed him to camp.
📒Representation📒: mlm mc, Philippino-American mc, overweight mc
💕 For readers looking for 💕: summer camp/Boy Scouts, journeys for self-acceptance, inner conflict, a queer story with strong religious themes, a story based on the author’s own experiences
📚 The gist 📚: Aiden gets picked on regularly for being fat, unmanly, and Asian American. Summer camp with the Boy Scouts has always given him an escape from his problems. Except for this year. This year his problems have followed him to camp.
📒Representation📒: mlm mc, Philippino-American mc, overweight mc
💕 For readers looking for 💕: summer camp/Boy Scouts, journeys for self-acceptance, inner conflict, a queer story with strong religious themes, a story based on the author’s own experiences
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Fatphobia, Body shaming, Racism, Homophobia, Bullying, Outing, Religious bigotry, and Sexism
Moderate: Sexual content
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