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melist6's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Transphobia and Toxic friendship
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
devynreadsnovels's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: Bullying, Drug use, Homophobia, Racism, Transphobia, Lesbophobia, Cultural appropriation, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
ashlightgrayson's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Michael has a lot of internal dialogue that feels genuinely teenaged in nature. He was still very likeable throughout the story and I found his internal monologue endearing. It really made me sympathetic towards him whenever Michael got into not so ideal situations or made mistakes. His parents are incredibly supportive of him. It was refreshing to see their attitudes help Michael embrace both sides of his multi-ethnic culture.
Daisy, Michael's long time childhood friend, serves as a foil for Michael. Michael attempts to embrace his blackness and queerness and grows more comfortable with his identity as the book progresses. In contrast, Daisy becomes more openly queerphobic and anti-black. She goes out of her way to avoid parts of her black identity. She is more white passing than Michael and she at times weaponizes this and uses her privilege in ways that are harmful. Additionally, as her character continues to develop, she says more outright racist or homophobic things. Daisy is not the only person that enters Michael's life that reflects forms of queerphobia or ignorance when it comes to race. Each of these encounters and interactions allow Michael to grow and become more secure in his identity.
Everything comes wonderfully full circle by the end of the book and was incredibly satisfying for me. I found the story satisfying, uplifting, and hopeful. I am looking forward to more works written by this author. I definitely do recommend this coming-of-age story for teenagers, but especially queer teenagers. However, even as a queer adult, it made me happy that there are queer stories out there like this.
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Racism, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
lynxpardinus's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, and Racism
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Violence, Xenophobia, Religious bigotry, Lesbophobia, Cultural appropriation, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Animal cruelty, Racial slurs, Slavery, and Transphobia
jachnax's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Homophobia and Racism
Minor: Drug use, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
mayareadsxo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Minor: Bullying, Homophobia, Racism, Lesbophobia, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment
alisonannk's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Biphobia, Bullying, Drug use, Hate crime, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Transphobia, Lesbophobia, Outing, Cultural appropriation, Abandonment, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Toxic friendship
escapismforlife's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Bullying, Hate crime, Homophobia, Racism, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Alcohol
taylorsevalia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Homophobia and Abandonment
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug use, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, Religious bigotry, Lesbophobia, Cultural appropriation, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Animal cruelty, Sexual violence, and Slavery
brookey8888's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Drug use, Racism, Grief, Religious bigotry, Lesbophobia, Outing, Cultural appropriation, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Dysphoria