Reviews with content warning for Rape - All Boys Aren't Blue

First of all I wanna say I didn't like the writing, but that might just be because it was written with a younger audience in mind. I got used to it after a while though.

My biggest issue is that I felt like the author didn't want to do more research than absolutely necessary on trans people. His cousin is deadnamed and misgendered at points where it definitely isn't necessary, even if you want to argue that at some points it makes sense because that's how the author acted at that time. Many passages could've been better if he just talked to a trans person about how to phrase things the best.

I think I just expected something completely different and was very disappointed by what I got. Probably a better book if you're younger and also not trans

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strawberrytheauthor's review

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challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

I read this for a college course and it was so good. I don’t know if I personally would categorize it as YA because the sexual and violent scenes were quite graphic. I identified with the book which surprised me because I am a cisgendered white woman.

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same_ol_gia's review

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

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atuin's review against another edition

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hopeful informative reflective fast-paced

3.0

A collection of essays in growing up black and queer. These stories are best suited for the young adult target audience

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kaynova's review against another edition

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emotional informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

"You sometimes don't know you exist until you realize someone like you existed before." - George M. Johnson, All Boys Aren't Blue.

I had the liberty to read this book by audio version and reading along with the e-book version that kindle unlimited has, and I am so grateful for it because every other paragraph, I had to pause the audiobook to write down the amazing quotes from George. His words are simplistic but holds so much meaning that I found myself crying a few times within the passage, because I get him, I see him. As a black queer person myself, it's easy to identify with him and understand his experiences though me and him are a generation apart from each other. The upbringings of a black child is so universal and cultural between us that in some parts I was like "is he talking about me and my family" or how much we devalue our queerness because of societal norms that I felt seen or I didn't have the language for quite yet.

Though I know this book is banned, I hope any young audience finds this and have place for it their homes because everyone wants to be seen by someone just like them, and George M. Johnson makes sure he reminds everyone you can find a friend in him.

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thebabybookworm's review against another edition

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emotional informative sad fast-paced

5.0

This was an incredible memoir. It was raw and vulnerable, bold and informative. This is a good book for everyone.

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bessadams's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

3.75

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