Reviews

Small Town Pride by Phil Stamper

louismunozjr's review

4.0

I'm rating this book as four stars, although it's really a 3-star book for me. Why? Because even though the book didn't really set off any fireworks for me, I think it's a fairly well-written book, it's great to see an awesome writer like Phil Stamper break into the middle-school field, and most of all, because I think this will be, this IS, a very important book for many kids, parents, teachers, and communities (especially smaller and/or more rural ones). I wish this kind of book had been around for me and other LGBTQ and/or questioning preteens and teens and not just for me, but also for potential and actual allies, younger and older. Thanks, Phil Stamper!

For myself, because all the characters read as "white," I feel that an important opportunity for even more inclusion and diversity was missed. Some of you will say, "But it's a small, rural town in Ohio, what do you expect?" Um, hello, there ARE people of color in small, rural towns. On another note, I read a fair amount of YA these days, but middle school books not so much, so admittedly, I'm not the best judge or audience. So, again, not a great read for me, but I would want to see this book in a lot of libraries, bookstores, and especially, in a lot of people's hands!

P.S. Note to publishers: Why do you let so many typos get by? For example, p. 195; p. 198; and p. 218, among others.

sarah2004's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

stuarts_stories88's review

funny

3.0

mgann1's review

hopeful inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

purechaos's review

challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted relaxing sad fast-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Lesbophobia, Hate crime, Homophobia, Transphobia, Biphobia, Bullying, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Death of parent

lauraryan98's review

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? No

4.5

antimonium's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring medium-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

5.0

lizmarkus's review against another edition

hopeful 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? No

3.75

hotmesswellness's review

emotional funny hopeful inspiring fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

becky_levine's review

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Moments of heartbreak and anger, but with a strong protagonist who brings hope to the story, to himself, and to his community.