theresidentbookworm's review
3.0
Reading Queer There and Everywhere was a complicated experience for me because I come to it as both as a lover of history and a person who identifies in the LGBTQIA+ spectrum. As an asexual person, I am so excited to read about people like me in history. It also comforts me to think that there is a legacy of people like me out there. I see the need for books for young people on queer history However, as a person who loves history, I have trouble with Queer There and Everywhere. I feel that it is difficult and problematic to assign labels to people when those labels may have not existed in those times. People were queer in history, but they also exist in the context of their times in which different things were accepted by the general culture. We cannot forget that when discussing queer history.
Books like Queer There and Everywhere need to impeccably researched, which this is not. It wasn't well-sourced, and I thought some of the sources could have been better. I understand the limitations of finding sources for a book on queer history, but I think Prager can do better than Buzzfeed articles.
I also question some of the selections of queer figures who changed the world. For instance, why pick Abraham Lincoln over James Buchanan, a U.S. president many historians believe could have been gay since he never married and lived with another bachelor for many years?
However, the entries themselves were well-written, and I liked the variety of figures selected. I also appreciated the glossary of queer terms that Prager included because I think it is incredibly useful.
Queer There and Everywhere is a good start to introduce young people to queer history, but we can't stop here. Queer history should be longer and more meticulously researched. We can do more, and we should. Still, I would recommend it.
Books like Queer There and Everywhere need to impeccably researched, which this is not. It wasn't well-sourced, and I thought some of the sources could have been better. I understand the limitations of finding sources for a book on queer history, but I think Prager can do better than Buzzfeed articles.
I also question some of the selections of queer figures who changed the world. For instance, why pick Abraham Lincoln over James Buchanan, a U.S. president many historians believe could have been gay since he never married and lived with another bachelor for many years?
However, the entries themselves were well-written, and I liked the variety of figures selected. I also appreciated the glossary of queer terms that Prager included because I think it is incredibly useful.
Queer There and Everywhere is a good start to introduce young people to queer history, but we can't stop here. Queer history should be longer and more meticulously researched. We can do more, and we should. Still, I would recommend it.
minervareads's review
4.0
4.5 stars
This was such a well-written and presented book. I didn’t know when I picked it up that it was YA, but the only difference of note was a more conversational tone to the writing, which I found helpful as someone with sadly little knowledge of queer history. I learned a lot reading this book, and I imagine I’ll re-read it several times to refresh my memory.
It’s a quick read; I blazed through it. The only thing I would have added is a discussion of the term “homophobia”. Prager discusses a lot of the terms used in the book, giving historical context and reasons why they were used as they were in this book. I think a thoughtful discussion of why we label such injustice and intolerance as a phobia would have been useful. Overall, though, I loved this book, and will definitely recommend to others.
This was such a well-written and presented book. I didn’t know when I picked it up that it was YA, but the only difference of note was a more conversational tone to the writing, which I found helpful as someone with sadly little knowledge of queer history. I learned a lot reading this book, and I imagine I’ll re-read it several times to refresh my memory.
It’s a quick read; I blazed through it. The only thing I would have added is a discussion of the term “homophobia”. Prager discusses a lot of the terms used in the book, giving historical context and reasons why they were used as they were in this book. I think a thoughtful discussion of why we label such injustice and intolerance as a phobia would have been useful. Overall, though, I loved this book, and will definitely recommend to others.
readingsoberann's review
4.0
I had picked this up for my 13 year old and decided to start reading it myself and couldn’t put it down.
shamelesslyash's review
4.0
Read this in one afternoon/evening. Easy to read and great little book to get you introduced to LGBT+ historical figures.
asenaa's review
5.0
this book.
i love anthologies, especially anthologies of women and lgbtq+ people in history.
but this made me cry a little harder.
just - wow.
Mychal Judge. Glenn Burke. Josef Kohout. Bayard Rustin. José Sarria. Harvey Milk.
thank you, for fighting for me. you will all have a special corner in my heart.
i love anthologies, especially anthologies of women and lgbtq+ people in history.
but this made me cry a little harder.
just - wow.
Mychal Judge. Glenn Burke. Josef Kohout. Bayard Rustin. José Sarria. Harvey Milk.
thank you, for fighting for me. you will all have a special corner in my heart.
lostinmylibrary's review
4.0
This was a great resource, and it had a good mix of people I knew were queer and wanted to know more about, people I'd heard of but didn't know were queer, and people I'd never heard of but really should have!
A couple of ways this book lost points from me:
1) I don't think including people like Joan of Arc was the best choice. I get that the historical definition of queer is a bit bigger because there's so much room for doubt, but from everything I've read about her, it sounds like she was cisgender, heterosexual, and heteroromantic.
2) in the glossary: "You may see...'A' (asexual or ally)" A IS NOT FOR ALLY. ALLIES ARE NOT QUEER. STOP.
A couple of ways this book lost points from me:
1) I don't think including people like Joan of Arc was the best choice. I get that the historical definition of queer is a bit bigger because there's so much room for doubt, but from everything I've read about her, it sounds like she was cisgender, heterosexual, and heteroromantic.
2) in the glossary: "You may see...'A' (asexual or ally)" A IS NOT FOR ALLY. ALLIES ARE NOT QUEER. STOP.
queer_reader's review
4.0
“If a bullet should enter my brain, let that bullet destroy every closet door.” - Harvey Milk
I LOVED this book! I really enjoyed the way the author wrote the book and narrated 23 different queer people in history. I feel like history is just so whitewashed today an this book did a good job trying to show so truth. She listed the amazing Elagabalus, the bisexual Frida Kahlo, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln, I bet you didn’t learn that about Lincoln. Also, Del Martin & Phyllis Lyon, Renée Richards, Mychal Judge, Harvey Milk, and many others.
I learned so much about queer history and who made that history in this book. I would recommend to anyone looking to learn more about queer history! ❤️
I LOVED this book! I really enjoyed the way the author wrote the book and narrated 23 different queer people in history. I feel like history is just so whitewashed today an this book did a good job trying to show so truth. She listed the amazing Elagabalus, the bisexual Frida Kahlo, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln, I bet you didn’t learn that about Lincoln. Also, Del Martin & Phyllis Lyon, Renée Richards, Mychal Judge, Harvey Milk, and many others.
I learned so much about queer history and who made that history in this book. I would recommend to anyone looking to learn more about queer history! ❤️
charliebookfanatic's review
3.0
Like:
- This was a fun little book about some queer people I've heard of and some I haven't heard of.
- Abraham Lincoln and Eleanor Roosevelt were queer?! These things should have been talked about in history lessons. It would be so much more interesting.
- The cover is very pretty.
- Super extensive bibliography.
- I love that the author took the time to explain what queer meant and even inserted a glossary of the most important terms in regards to sexuality and gender identity.
- Own voices! The author is married to another woman.
Dislike:
- The people in here were talked about very briefly. It was more of an overview.
- Some of the people in here didn't impress me. I don't feel like they necessarily 'changed the world'. It's obviously great that they were all way beyond their time periods, but I wouldn't say they changed anything.
- This was a fun little book about some queer people I've heard of and some I haven't heard of.
- Abraham Lincoln and Eleanor Roosevelt were queer?! These things should have been talked about in history lessons. It would be so much more interesting.
- The cover is very pretty.
- Super extensive bibliography.
- I love that the author took the time to explain what queer meant and even inserted a glossary of the most important terms in regards to sexuality and gender identity.
- Own voices! The author is married to another woman.
Dislike:
- The people in here were talked about very briefly. It was more of an overview.
- Some of the people in here didn't impress me. I don't feel like they necessarily 'changed the world'. It's obviously great that they were all way beyond their time periods, but I wouldn't say they changed anything.