The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Oh my god. This book was amazing. I loved it; it also made me realize that hardly any fiction I’ve ever read is really truly from a person of color’s point of view. Maybe a few singular others, but really, this felt like I traveled somewhere when I read this book. I’ve never really experienced what happens in this book— unfortunately, it’s like that. Before I read this, I had a vague idea of police brutality and how it affected people of color, but now I have a much clearer view. Sure, it’s only one book, but it has a legitimate, real-feeling account that I believe is wholly accurate. What happens makes me mad. It’s unjust. I can’t do much to help it, either, at least not right now… After I read this book, a new outlook bloomed inside my head, and I was changed a little bit by it. The writing is beautiful, too. Please, read this— everyone should.
Rethinking Normal: A Memoir in Transition by Katie Rain Hill
This book is very good, especially for anyone who is transgender, questioning, or even just interested in the topic. I was hesitant to read it at first because it was about a trans girl and I am a trans guy; some part of me felt a push away from it because of my own insecurities with myself. I’m glad I read it, though. Rethinking Normal isn’t just relatable to transgender teens. We all have something to relate to in this book, even if it’s as little as knowing what it’s like to struggle with relationships as a teenager. This book offers a really interesting look into a trans girl’s life— something I hadn’t really considered consciously before. I loved it, and it was a real eye-opener.
Friends with Boys by Faith Erin Hicks
Hmm… Well, the art was beautiful, but the story was off. I felt like something was missing, like the book should’ve been in a series instead of just one book. It ends with a lot of unanswered questions. In all, it was vague and kind of disappointing. I had always wanted to read it because I’ve read another graphic novel by the same author, but this one just kind of made me upset. The story was interesting, but held a lot of questionable and weak explanations for what questions were even answered. I wouldn’t say it was terrible, but I’m not going to say it’s great. Friends with Boys is at best a book to pass the time with pretty pictures.
The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee
Read it. Please. I’m not sure why it’s so good, but holy crap, it’s 500 pages of pure entertainment. The main character is very flawed, the other characters are magnificently interesting, and the story unravels really well. It’s a historical fiction, which made me wary at first, but those were quickly dashed. The book itself was written by a historian, so it’s very accurate, which only accentuates the wonder it sparked in me. It may be long, but it’s really worth it. You get to see characters grow and flourish, especially since the main character’s own misconceptions about them get shattered throughout.
Oh my god. This book was amazing. I loved it; it also made me realize that hardly any fiction I’ve ever read is really truly from a person of color’s point of view. Maybe a few singular others, but really, this felt like I traveled somewhere when I read this book. I’ve never really experienced what happens in this book— unfortunately, it’s like that. Before I read this, I had a vague idea of police brutality and how it affected people of color, but now I have a much clearer view. Sure, it’s only one book, but it has a legitimate, real-feeling account that I believe is wholly accurate. What happens makes me mad. It’s unjust. I can’t do much to help it, either, at least not right now… After I read this book, a new outlook bloomed inside my head, and I was changed a little bit by it. The writing is beautiful, too. Please, read this— everyone should.
Rethinking Normal: A Memoir in Transition by Katie Rain Hill
This book is very good, especially for anyone who is transgender, questioning, or even just interested in the topic. I was hesitant to read it at first because it was about a trans girl and I am a trans guy; some part of me felt a push away from it because of my own insecurities with myself. I’m glad I read it, though. Rethinking Normal isn’t just relatable to transgender teens. We all have something to relate to in this book, even if it’s as little as knowing what it’s like to struggle with relationships as a teenager. This book offers a really interesting look into a trans girl’s life— something I hadn’t really considered consciously before. I loved it, and it was a real eye-opener.
Friends with Boys by Faith Erin Hicks
Hmm… Well, the art was beautiful, but the story was off. I felt like something was missing, like the book should’ve been in a series instead of just one book. It ends with a lot of unanswered questions. In all, it was vague and kind of disappointing. I had always wanted to read it because I’ve read another graphic novel by the same author, but this one just kind of made me upset. The story was interesting, but held a lot of questionable and weak explanations for what questions were even answered. I wouldn’t say it was terrible, but I’m not going to say it’s great. Friends with Boys is at best a book to pass the time with pretty pictures.
The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee
Read it. Please. I’m not sure why it’s so good, but holy crap, it’s 500 pages of pure entertainment. The main character is very flawed, the other characters are magnificently interesting, and the story unravels really well. It’s a historical fiction, which made me wary at first, but those were quickly dashed. The book itself was written by a historian, so it’s very accurate, which only accentuates the wonder it sparked in me. It may be long, but it’s really worth it. You get to see characters grow and flourish, especially since the main character’s own misconceptions about them get shattered throughout.