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anneknut's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Transphobia
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, and Outing
Minor: Sexual violence
loverofeels's review against another edition
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Rape, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Homophobia and Abortion
lindsayhotrod's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
Graphic: Bullying, Hate crime, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Transphobia, Violence, Suicide attempt, Outing, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Deadnaming and Homophobia
Minor: Drug use, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment, and Classism
jesikasbookshelf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
Nope.
Nope, Nope, Nope, Nope, Nope.
For the first quarter or so I thought this book was underwhelming representation in a YA novel. God, I wish I'd quit still thinking that.
This book is nothing short of irresponsible publishing.
For a book marketed as a light and sweet YA romance, this book is nothing, and I truly mean nothing, other than protracted queer trauma. The main character is trans - not only does this book make her ONLY identifiable 'personality' the idea that she is pretty and trans, it perpetuates harmful misunderstandings of the trans community from the singular need for top and bottom surgery, through the lack of ongoing therapy to the young and apparently extremely quick uptake of accessible surgery.
So in some ways, this book manages to completely gloss over the very real fight transgender people go through to live as themselves in western society, thereby failing to reflect on the ways in which the main character has had to be traumatised at a young age.
What it does instead is focus entirely on the trauma she experiences socially. Her dad continually deadnames and misgenders her. There is a long scene depicting her suicide attempt not from an explanation of how often she has learned her trans friends have succeeded. There is depictions of religious prejudice and societal homophobia/transphobia that culminate in a girl offering to be her friend even though "I think it's a sin"...and the main character THANKS HER. A bi character is shown telling people that all homophones are secretly gay, a disturbing thing to be telling kids in a book, only to progress to publically outing everyone she can think of when turned down by the straight main character. The love interests mum calls the main character a slur, he makes horrendous comments about her gender and genitalia and then offers to stick by her anyway...for which she is endlessly grateful. Her parents allow her to return to a school that has failed to protect her in a community that has harmed her.
I'm so angry. None of this is OK, particularly when none of it is then dealt with. There's no emotional arc or growth or character development here. No one learns anything or meaningfully changes their behaviour, exception only the main characters dad. There is no reflection on the trauma being unacceptable, on the need for change or the need for support and protection of rights. The book just uses trans and queer pain as plot points and acts as though that is acceptable.
And then, in this anger, I looked up the author after finishing the book and I just cannot believe any publisher is allowing this person to speak about their community with a book that includes sexual assault. Horrendous.
Moderate: Bullying, Deadnaming, Drug abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Transphobia, Violence, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Outing, and Toxic friendship
lilikamasha'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? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Bullying, Transphobia, Suicide attempt, and Outing
Moderate: Biphobia, Deadnaming, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Religious bigotry, and Dysphoria
Minor: Suicide
kmccann3's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, and Suicide attempt
michelangelo1987'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
4.0
Graphic: Bullying, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Suicide attempt, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Deadnaming, Homophobia, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Abortion
mintchocolatechip'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: Hate crime, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Transphobia, Violence, Suicide attempt, and Outing
Moderate: Bullying, Death, and Dysphoria
Minor: Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Abortion, and Lesbophobia
laejone's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.75
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Transphobia, and Suicide attempt
Near the end of the book is a somewhat graphiccarmenross599'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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, Self harm, Sexual violence, Suicide, Transphobia, and Suicide attempt