Stop Congress from Reversing the Transgender Protectio Laws: https://www.change.org/p/united-states-department-of-health-and-human-services-stop-congress-from-reversing-the-transgender-protection-laws?utm_content=cl_sharecopy_22799425_en-US%3Av10&recruiter=275455711&recruited_by_id=51954910-e049-11e4-82ed-052f7a80ffbf&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_abi
Trigger Warnings: Homophobia, racism, instances of deadnaming and misgendering, sexual assault, graphic depictions of sex
Synopsis: In a series of personal essays, prominent journalist and LGBTQIA+ activist George M. Johnson explores his childhood, adolescence, and college years in New Jersey and Virginia. From the memories of getting his teeth kicked out by bullies at age five, to flea marketing with his loving grandmother, to his first sexual relationships, this young-adult memoir weaves together the trials and triumphs faced by Black queer boys.
Both a primer for teens eager to be allies as well as a reassuring testimony for young queer men of color, All Boys Aren't Blue covers topics such as gender identity, toxic masculinity, brotherhood, family, structural marginalization, consent, and Black joy. Johnson's emotionally frank style of writing will appeal directly to young adults.
Review: All Boys Aren’t Blue is a memoir by George M. Johnson who is an activist for the LGBTQIA+ community. Since this is non-fiction. I’m not going to do a breakdown between characters and plot. All Boys Aren’t Blue is George’s way of being honest about his journey to understand his sexuality and gender while also dealing with the constant barrage of how the world views him as an African-American. I’m white, so the elements of George’s life where he talked about race isn’t something I can relate to. I did strongly relate to his experience with gender. I’m not going to go into my personal experience, but George talked a lot about how the world defined what being a “man” is and how he never really fit that mold. Even when he got into sports and tried to make himself more palatable to a world that desires straightness and whiteness. George also mentions that he is fortunate in his support group. There are kids who come out as queer and they get evicted from their house and disowned by family members. George definitely didn’t have it easy, but he was loved by his family. The only criticism I have is when George deadnames a family member. I understand why he did it and I’m not taking any points off. It’s just a thing that needs to be acknowledged. The family member he was referring to passed away so they will never be affected by this book and how George presents them. It’s just the one thing I didn’t necessarily agree with.
Beautiful memoir that helps readers understand the complexity of gender expectations.
5 howls
If you want to watch videos on how All Boys Aren't Blue have affected readers who are not white, I would highly suggest checking out Jesse and Adri. Both of them have expressed what this book means to them on different layers than I can properly express because I am white.
Jesse's Instagram post for the Enby Book Club: https://www.instagram.com/p/CBGPpWxA36M/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet
Jessie's June TBR video where they talk abut reading All Boys Aren't Blue for the Enby Book Club: https://youtu.be/T5udRZR9nIY?t=624
Adri: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnleR33t34Q
If you enjoyed All Boys Aren’t Blue, consider checking out the following books:
Karamo: My Story of Embracing Purpose, Healing, and Hope by Karamo Brown(Another non-fiction memoir by one of the guys on the reboot of Queer Eye)
The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta (Fiction told in verse about a mixed-race boy who learns to love himself while attending a university)
Space Between: Explorations of Love, Sex, and Fluidity by Nico Tortorella (Non-fiction work about Nico as they explore sexuality and struggle with addiction)
Trigger Warnings: Homophobia, racism, instances of deadnaming and misgendering, sexual assault, graphic depictions of sex
Synopsis: In a series of personal essays, prominent journalist and LGBTQIA+ activist George M. Johnson explores his childhood, adolescence, and college years in New Jersey and Virginia. From the memories of getting his teeth kicked out by bullies at age five, to flea marketing with his loving grandmother, to his first sexual relationships, this young-adult memoir weaves together the trials and triumphs faced by Black queer boys.
Both a primer for teens eager to be allies as well as a reassuring testimony for young queer men of color, All Boys Aren't Blue covers topics such as gender identity, toxic masculinity, brotherhood, family, structural marginalization, consent, and Black joy. Johnson's emotionally frank style of writing will appeal directly to young adults.
Review: All Boys Aren’t Blue is a memoir by George M. Johnson who is an activist for the LGBTQIA+ community. Since this is non-fiction. I’m not going to do a breakdown between characters and plot. All Boys Aren’t Blue is George’s way of being honest about his journey to understand his sexuality and gender while also dealing with the constant barrage of how the world views him as an African-American. I’m white, so the elements of George’s life where he talked about race isn’t something I can relate to. I did strongly relate to his experience with gender. I’m not going to go into my personal experience, but George talked a lot about how the world defined what being a “man” is and how he never really fit that mold. Even when he got into sports and tried to make himself more palatable to a world that desires straightness and whiteness. George also mentions that he is fortunate in his support group. There are kids who come out as queer and they get evicted from their house and disowned by family members. George definitely didn’t have it easy, but he was loved by his family. The only criticism I have is when George deadnames a family member. I understand why he did it and I’m not taking any points off. It’s just a thing that needs to be acknowledged. The family member he was referring to passed away so they will never be affected by this book and how George presents them. It’s just the one thing I didn’t necessarily agree with.
Beautiful memoir that helps readers understand the complexity of gender expectations.
5 howls
If you want to watch videos on how All Boys Aren't Blue have affected readers who are not white, I would highly suggest checking out Jesse and Adri. Both of them have expressed what this book means to them on different layers than I can properly express because I am white.
Jesse's Instagram post for the Enby Book Club: https://www.instagram.com/p/CBGPpWxA36M/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet
Jessie's June TBR video where they talk abut reading All Boys Aren't Blue for the Enby Book Club: https://youtu.be/T5udRZR9nIY?t=624
Adri: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnleR33t34Q
If you enjoyed All Boys Aren’t Blue, consider checking out the following books:
Karamo: My Story of Embracing Purpose, Healing, and Hope by Karamo Brown(Another non-fiction memoir by one of the guys on the reboot of Queer Eye)
The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta (Fiction told in verse about a mixed-race boy who learns to love himself while attending a university)
Space Between: Explorations of Love, Sex, and Fluidity by Nico Tortorella (Non-fiction work about Nico as they explore sexuality and struggle with addiction)
Comments