Reviews tagging 'Deadnaming'

Kiss Number 8 by Colleen AF Venable

19 reviews

the_crooked_neighbor's review

emotional medium-paced

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

5.0

I am really picky when it comes to graphic novels because I feel like it can be hard for them to really tell a full story. KN8 fills all of my requirements for a perfect graphic novel. It was long enough to tell the story it needed to tell and it had a great art style. I cried a lot- in a good way- because it really had the catharsis that I craved from the setup. I really appreciated that the comfort found in religion was portrayed alongside the harm that can come from it as a queer person. I am so glad I picked this one up.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Transphobia, Religious bigotry, Lesbophobia, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Bullying, Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Outing, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Minor: Death and Death of parent

The story handles the homophobia in a satisfying way- it is cathartic by the end. The transphobia- less so, but the characters definitely become less transphobic by the end. If it is not too triggering, I would still recommend the book because I felt that the pain from reading her experiences was overwhelmed by the joy of her acceptance by the end.

wynterwonderland's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Deadnaming, Homophobia, Transphobia, Religious bigotry, Lesbophobia, Outing, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol

Moderate: Child abuse, Infidelity, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Death of parent

Minor: Sexual content

arlangrey17's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Cursing, Deadnaming, Homophobia, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Transphobia, Vomit, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Outing, and Alcohol

thejoyfuljuggler's review

emotional sad 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? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Biphobia, Homophobia, Transphobia, Religious bigotry, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Biphobia, Bullying, Deadnaming, Death, Sexual content, Transphobia, Death of parent, and Lesbophobia

Minor: Bullying and Deadnaming

fallandfox's review

emotional funny hopeful informative lighthearted reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Religious bigotry, Lesbophobia, Outing, and Gaslighting

kaitlyn_ann's review

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

3.75

I really enjoyed this, but I found it quite slow in some parts, but found the ending to be incredibly rushed

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Deadnaming, Homophobia, Transphobia, Religious bigotry, Lesbophobia, and Outing

Minor: Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, and Death of parent

iheartmuseums's review

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring sad fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, Transphobia, and Violence

Minor: Toxic relationship and Toxic friendship

ehmannky's review

emotional hopeful 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

On the whole, I really liked this graphic novel. It tackles a lot of topics that are incredibly difficult in a way that extends empathy to most everyone involved (except the terrible bigot grandparents, who can choke). And the art is lovely and compliments the story so well.  I do agree with most people here that the cover for this does not really match the content within. The cover promises a kind of romcom kind of vibe, when it's a much more serious study of acceptance, homophobia, family, coming of age and coming out.

I would love to read a review by a trans reviewer to see how the trans subplot is handled since the character is dead named, and to the best of my knowledge, neither creators were trans. I deeply related to the queer girl at the center of the story and felt it was handled with grace. I would just like a deeper review of that. I also don't know how I feel about 

how quickly the dad is forgiven for ignoring his daughter for weeks after she's outed (though I did love her mom so very much). But everyone has their own journey I suppose.

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Deadnaming, Homophobia, and Transphobia

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Violence, Religious bigotry, and Death of parent

Minor: Child abuse

strawbself's review

medium-paced

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

1.0

who thought it was okay for no one to ever explicitly call out and condemn the violent transphobia in this? not to mention the homophobia and racism. religion/church literally is part of the violence so for colleen to state she wanted the church to not be the bad guy?? why? why would you defend one of the most violent institutions on earth? why would you joke about priests being pedophiles (my dad is a survivor of catholic priest molestation) and then not talk about it or condemn it? cat and adam and amanda’s dad aren’t cute or funny, they’re bigots. they didn’t even learn anything from repeatedly hurting amanda. why did no one correct the people who repeatedly misgendered and deadnamed sam? sam is amanda’s grandpa. what the fuck man.... as a trans lesbian with a lifetime of religious trauma, this book sucks. it is recklessly harmful for no fucking reason.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Deadnaming, Homophobia, Transphobia, and Religious bigotry