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rockythefreak's reviews
17 reviews
The Girl from the Sea by Molly Knox Ostertag
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
What an enchanting read! We need more fantasy for queer youth. Ostertag delivers on that.
CW for two scenes that depict near-death drowning experiences.
CW for two scenes that depict near-death drowning experiences.
How to Be a Christian Witch: Includes Initiation Instructions by Valerie Love
Did not finish book.
Did not finish book.
Advocates unhealthy and fake pseudoscience stuff (the idea of detox, and promotes disordered eating habits) and it's super culty, not like in the way where bigots call anything different to them culty, but genuinely using cult language and cult red flags. My gf read a good chunk of it and relayed it to me and I felt like I should warn people that this is not an author who will help you. This is a body of work that will do harm on you.
Also, if that isn't enough, she makes no sense in her writing, contradicting herself within the same paragraph at times. She also uses language that I THINK is ableist against mentally ill people, but I can't tell because it's all vague nonsense. It's just vaguely spiritual sounding phrases most of the time.
Also, if that isn't enough, she makes no sense in her writing, contradicting herself within the same paragraph at times. She also uses language that I THINK is ableist against mentally ill people, but I can't tell because it's all vague nonsense. It's just vaguely spiritual sounding phrases most of the time.
Cheater Code by S.A. Foxe
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? Yes
4.5
Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
slow-paced
5.0
I fell in love with the work. It made me feel like I got a deeper understanding of things my partner talks about, being nonbinary and asexual, using words that I feel like she struggles to find at times. It helped me find some words for my own feelings and experiences too. I am so grateful to this work and it's author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Sexism, Sexual content, Transphobia, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Medical trauma, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying and Acephobia/Arophobia
Minor: Incest
Very brief child nudity (not sexualized). Children are depicted urinating outside. Brief but graphic images of urine and vomit and feces.
As for incest, it is discussed vaguely. It is only noticable if you're familiar with the pop culture reference where the incest takes place. Details: The incest concerns a fictional "ship" between Sam and Dean Winchester from the show Supernatural.
Pap smears are discussed as traumatic and extremely painful, and the pain is both physical and emotional, so it's amplified.
Blood, Injury, and body horror is used at times for metaphorical effect.
King and the Dragonflies by Kacen Callender
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Hate crime, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Racism, Murder, and Outing
Gravity Falls: Dipper's and Mabel's Guide to Mystery and Nonstop Fun! by Rob Renzetti
Did not finish book. Stopped at 43%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 43%.
I was just bored. I think the only interesting part for some adult readers would be the codes, which I don't have a ton of interest in right now.
Maybe a good read for healing your inner child. Might scare kids (and some adults) if they're sensitive to the paranormal, since it's treated as real.
Maybe a good read for healing your inner child. Might scare kids (and some adults) if they're sensitive to the paranormal, since it's treated as real.
Funny, You Don't Look Autistic: A Comedian's Guide to Life on the Spectrum by Michael McCreary
funny
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.75
A lot of reviews for this memoir are super harsh, and I can't really see why. I thought it was well funny. Not laugh out loud, but "exhale out of your nose" funny. A lot of negative reviews seem to lean towards the political correctness of the author, and his presentation of his experience with autism.
For example, someone seemed upset that Michael (correctly) asserts that someone can't be "a little autistic". The spectrum isn't a line from a little to a lot, but more of a circle where some symptoms are present and others aren't. Michael explains this and other information about autism and his experiences clearly. Other people are upset when he uses identity or person first language— even though he specifies at the beginning that he will do both. Michael also specifies that only a doctor can diagnose autism— I don't think he does this to gatekeep. I think it's to cover his ass so he doesn't get sued when he later talks about suspecting his friends of being autistic.
Reviews explaining their dislike of the author really feel like a "holier-than-thou" attitude. If you expect the author to be human, trying his best but not perfect (and not a voice for all autistic people), you'll enjoy this memoir. Leave any autism infighting or gatekeeping at the door. I really appreciated Michael's respect for those of us with autism who cannot be as independent as him. Even though his perspective is more common than others as an early diagnosed white man with support, I still found value in his story.
In Michael's words from the Resources section: "Do what I did: I had a look, applied some critical thinking to what I found, and decided to use what worked for me."
If you listen to the audiobook, download the supplemental material ahead of time. I wish that it was presented as a PDF /ATTACHED/ to the audiobook like other audiobooks I have read. (It may well be— my copy came from the library, though.) Having it hosted on the publisher's website is just asking for it to become lost media. That's the only reason it loses .25 stars.
For example, someone seemed upset that Michael (correctly) asserts that someone can't be "a little autistic". The spectrum isn't a line from a little to a lot, but more of a circle where some symptoms are present and others aren't. Michael explains this and other information about autism and his experiences clearly. Other people are upset when he uses identity or person first language— even though he specifies at the beginning that he will do both. Michael also specifies that only a doctor can diagnose autism— I don't think he does this to gatekeep. I think it's to cover his ass so he doesn't get sued when he later talks about suspecting his friends of being autistic.
Reviews explaining their dislike of the author really feel like a "holier-than-thou" attitude. If you expect the author to be human, trying his best but not perfect (and not a voice for all autistic people), you'll enjoy this memoir. Leave any autism infighting or gatekeeping at the door. I really appreciated Michael's respect for those of us with autism who cannot be as independent as him. Even though his perspective is more common than others as an early diagnosed white man with support, I still found value in his story.
In Michael's words from the Resources section: "Do what I did: I had a look, applied some critical thinking to what I found, and decided to use what worked for me."
If you listen to the audiobook, download the supplemental material ahead of time. I wish that it was presented as a PDF /ATTACHED/ to the audiobook like other audiobooks I have read. (It may well be— my copy came from the library, though.) Having it hosted on the publisher's website is just asking for it to become lost media. That's the only reason it loses .25 stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
Karen's Witch (Baby-Sitters Little Sister Graphic Novel #1): A Graphix Book, Volume 1 by Ann M. Martin
I know that witch imagery is sometimes described as antisemitic. Features the witch has may seem that way for sensitive readers.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
5.0
A perfect read for little ones, or adults like me when we need a relaxing break from bigger longer books. I will DEFINITELY read more of the series when I'm in a reading slump.
This graphic novel took me about 20 minutes, so I expect the rest to be around the same pace.
This graphic novel took me about 20 minutes, so I expect the rest to be around the same pace.
Content Warnings
Minor: Antisemitism
The Passing Playbook by Isaac Fitzsimons
A character is outed to his parents when a girl from his church hears him dump his boyfriend. There is homophobia, transphobia, and racism throughout. The most explicit homophobia comes from a religious context, and religious trauma is a clear factor in one of the character's lives. There is a gruesome depiction of anti-abortion sentiment as well as pre-marital sex being bad, during the soccer team's visit to a haunted house. There is minor ableism to MC's autistic little brother. Someone is referenced as having died of a heroin overdose and having a painkiller addiction. There is a school lockdown when a student gets a death threat.
emotional
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? Yes
5.0
A wonderful read! I wish I had this book when I was a kid. As an adult, there were a few parts I might have cringed or yucked at (I do NOT want to read about teens exploring sexually, no matter how brief) but I think for teen readers, these moments are important and perfectly done.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Transphobia, Mass/school shootings, and Outing
Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Outing, and Dysphoria
Minor: Deadnaming, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, and Injury/Injury detail