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mattyb's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.75
schwaka's review against another edition
5.0
This was a re-read for me. I think I bought the book pretty soon after it was published so it must be 10 years or more since I read it the first time. I had forgotten most of the story and when I relocated some of our books last week I was pretty surprised I even owned it. Which says a lot about me and nothing about the quality of the book. Which is pretty good. It's a classic, combining pop culture and (recent) history. Just think about how much has changed in those 20 years since the story played out. HIV is treatable way better today already. (Which gives me hope we might say the same about most kinds of cancer in 20 years time). Still, casting in HIV-person would probably result in the same kind of judgement and prejudice as it did then.
It's a good one. Making you feel with the characters - especially Pedro - and showing that you can still make a difference in the world, if you just put your heart in it.
It's a good one. Making you feel with the characters - especially Pedro - and showing that you can still make a difference in the world, if you just put your heart in it.
mtnofbooks's review against another edition
5.0
I was in high school when Pedro and Judd's season of The Real World aired. I got it but I didn't get it. The significance of Pedro was lost on me. I picked this book up because it dawned on me during my Graphic Novel course for grad school that graphic artist/novelist Judd Winick was TRW's Judd. I finally understand how monumental Pedro's appearance in the show was and how truly devastating his death was. I get it now, nearly 27 years later. What a beautiful tribute Winick created for his friend.
lucyblack's review against another edition
3.0
way better than it's nineties cover and american cheese factor make it look
lilmatt050's review against another edition
5.0
I always find it important that when it comes to our identity, we need to learn about the history of the generations before you in order to learn the struggles and dilemma they suffered so that way our generation and future generations do not have to follow the same hardships. Sadly most people nowadays do not care about the past or do not bother learning whereas I found this comic book refreshing and important.
Ever since I realized who I am truly am in my sexual orientation, it became my primary goal to research and learn about how the generation before mine were treated like 2nd class citizens, perverts, animals, and when AIDS became mainstream it became a social plague because at the time only gay people were catching the disease. Many people in our history looked the other way when they needed help and how to prevent HIV/AIDS.
Then a few years ago, I had seen countless HIV/AIDS movies but this one was quite different and made it personally when it comes to my cultural and sexual identity. The movie was called Pedro, it was about a Cuban man named Pedro Zamora who got HIV when he was a teenager and made it his goal to teach every person he encountered what HIV/AIDS is and how to prevent catching it and the myths that society believes. I was completely in tears by the end of the movie and got to learn someone who lives in the same back yard as me.
Now when I discovered this book in the library yesterday, I remember everything about him and thought that I should take a trip down memory lane even though his story ends on a sad note. This book is about Pedro but from the point of view of his friend Judd Winick who he met on The Real World: San Francisco.
The first reason that I love about this book is Judd's illustration of these characters, they felt so real and did an absolutely wonderful job of drawing and storytelling Pedro's life. The 2nd reason why I believe this book was astounding is how they teach you about HIV/AIDS, how to prevent it, and most importantly that anyone can get the disease. This book is targeted mostly for Young Adults but I believe it fits for anyone who wants to know more about Pedro and the enthusiasm he brought to those who encountered him.
What's cool is my high school P.E. teacher had met him in the 90s. For my teacher she was adamant at teaching us this disease because so many of her friends had passed away and since our school system cannot teach us about sex, she taught us how to prevent from getting any sexual diseases. She met him once and brought him to my school who all the kids fell in love with him and found it interesting the way he would talk and present himself. She said he was great guy and someone who you were instantly impressed and able to trust and love.
I find it heart breaking how millions of people have dead from this disease. People who could have changed the world and instead were diminished to rubble. I find it important to keep these people in our hearts and memory especially Pedro and to never lose sight of how we only have one life on this earth and what we do with our life can effect the entire world.
Ever since I realized who I am truly am in my sexual orientation, it became my primary goal to research and learn about how the generation before mine were treated like 2nd class citizens, perverts, animals, and when AIDS became mainstream it became a social plague because at the time only gay people were catching the disease. Many people in our history looked the other way when they needed help and how to prevent HIV/AIDS.
Then a few years ago, I had seen countless HIV/AIDS movies but this one was quite different and made it personally when it comes to my cultural and sexual identity. The movie was called Pedro, it was about a Cuban man named Pedro Zamora who got HIV when he was a teenager and made it his goal to teach every person he encountered what HIV/AIDS is and how to prevent catching it and the myths that society believes. I was completely in tears by the end of the movie and got to learn someone who lives in the same back yard as me.
Now when I discovered this book in the library yesterday, I remember everything about him and thought that I should take a trip down memory lane even though his story ends on a sad note. This book is about Pedro but from the point of view of his friend Judd Winick who he met on The Real World: San Francisco.
The first reason that I love about this book is Judd's illustration of these characters, they felt so real and did an absolutely wonderful job of drawing and storytelling Pedro's life. The 2nd reason why I believe this book was astounding is how they teach you about HIV/AIDS, how to prevent it, and most importantly that anyone can get the disease. This book is targeted mostly for Young Adults but I believe it fits for anyone who wants to know more about Pedro and the enthusiasm he brought to those who encountered him.
What's cool is my high school P.E. teacher had met him in the 90s. For my teacher she was adamant at teaching us this disease because so many of her friends had passed away and since our school system cannot teach us about sex, she taught us how to prevent from getting any sexual diseases. She met him once and brought him to my school who all the kids fell in love with him and found it interesting the way he would talk and present himself. She said he was great guy and someone who you were instantly impressed and able to trust and love.
I find it heart breaking how millions of people have dead from this disease. People who could have changed the world and instead were diminished to rubble. I find it important to keep these people in our hearts and memory especially Pedro and to never lose sight of how we only have one life on this earth and what we do with our life can effect the entire world.
renatasnacks's review against another edition
4.0
You know, I liked this a lot more than I thought I would. I've never really watched the Real World, but I loved reading about Real World San Francisco in [b:A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius|4953|A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius|Dave Eggers|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1288880727s/4953.jpg|42857], and I thought the scene where Dave meets Judd was hilarious. So I kind of wanted to read this because I love Dave Eggers? But it was actually a really great memoir in its own right. Very honest and funny and sad, and an interesting look at what HIV/AIDS was like in America in the early 90s.
rgibson6's review
5.0
Wow...I was 11 or 12 when this season aired. I watched the entire thing and remember being shocked that Pedro had died. He was my first interaction with not only a person living with AIDS, but gay person. (I was sheltered...)He totally opened up my eyes and gave me an open mind about the LGBT community.
I didn't know that this book was around or I probably would have read it earlier and I'm very glad that I took this Graphic Novel course were we had to read it. I won't lie...I bawled after reading it. It is just that good. Winick really got to the heart of the reader and Pedro and let it all out. Not only is it about Pedro and his life, but his mission as well. Teaching people about AIDS & HIV, prevention and the myths.
I recommend this book to everyone. And then go out and find the 3rd season of the Real World.
I didn't know that this book was around or I probably would have read it earlier and I'm very glad that I took this Graphic Novel course were we had to read it. I won't lie...I bawled after reading it. It is just that good. Winick really got to the heart of the reader and Pedro and let it all out. Not only is it about Pedro and his life, but his mission as well. Teaching people about AIDS & HIV, prevention and the myths.
I recommend this book to everyone. And then go out and find the 3rd season of the Real World.
tsnhjhn's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.0
the comic format lent itself well to both the funny and emotional parts of the story (the ending w everyone at the hospital and laura, the kid w the older brother who died from aids that was part of the audience that judd spoke to made me teary eyed i’m ngl. i didn’t rly expect to get as attached to pedro as i did but this book was so informative and rly humanized those w aids, which was def revolutionary for its publishing time. made me feel slightly empty afterwards but the afterword on how everyone was doing made it a lil better <3
thank you pedro and thank you judd and everyone else who made this possible
thank you pedro and thank you judd and everyone else who made this possible
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness
Minor: Homophobia