⭐️ Original, Open, On-the-level ⭐️

Can we just take a minute to admire the gorgeous cover of this book? The creativity and colors are just brilliant. I definitely wanted to own a physical copy just to stare at this beauty!

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.

REVIEW->

In today’s gender aware world, being an ally to the LGBTQIAP+ community is a conscious decision and one that needs constant learning and growth. If you wondered what it’s like to grow up queer, ‘All Boys aren’t Blue’ is a great starting point.

George M. Johnson has written this memoir as a collection of essays to serve as an example for other queer and/or black kids out there struggling with their identities. And I think everyone can learn from this book.

As an Asian straight woman, I cannot relate to any of the experiences. But that is what learning about other peoples’ experiences should feel like. After the discomfort of unrelatability, comes empathy and growth.

The Writing->

The writing is simple and straightforward. No strong call to action or drive for rebellion. It is an account of their(pronoun George identifies with) experiences and what they drew from it. I did feel like the chapters could have followed a chronological order to follow through their life. Nevertheless the messages in the chapters were quite clear.

I’m not giving a star rating for this book, because it is a person’s soul poured into a book and I salute the courage it must’ve taken them to share this. This book is for everyone to read and decide for yourself.

Favorite quotes from the book->

“If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it”

You sometimes don’t know you exist until you realize someone like you existed before

“‘Created family’ is a system in which friends from many walks of life create extremely tight friendship circles in an effort to ensure a familial type of environment for the many who are not accepted at home”