A review by zoenelson
The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School by Sonora Reyes

emotional funny hopeful sad 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

4.0

I enjoyed much of this story: the sibling dynamics between the protagonist and her brother, Yami's personal growth, budding romances, Yami's strong narrative/voice, and the humor laced throughout. I love that the author embraced their heritage, identity, and culture - it was one of the things that drove me to read this novel. I appreciated the author's ambition in tackling heavy topics related to suicide, homophobia, religious bigotry, parental hatred, and more. At times, though, it felt like certain story lines and issues didn't get fully developed like
Yami's work for Emma, Emily's entrance to the squad, Yami's feelings about her prom dress being ripped, and Jenny being a mirror of Bianca
. I also loved Mami's character but wasn't fully convinced
she would recognize the unfair pressure she put on Yami (at least not so quickly). I did think the response to both her kids being queer was within the realm of possibility and very funny.


I also love that this story didn't punish characters for lying like some novels do (such as using a lie as a major conflict point).
Specifically, Yami and Bo. Other romances would have been shattered or set back for the lies these two told to each other to protect themselves in a hostile environment. Here, both characters had a developed level of empathy.


Overall, I think this novel captured a lot of the feelings of a Mexican-American queer teenager in a hostile space.
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