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Tuesday, February 28, 2023

All Boys Aren't Blue: Review

All Boys Aren't BlueAll Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

At the end of his memoir (acknowledgements?), George M. Johnson notes that he learned of the existence of YA memoirs just before writing his. I am -- as a reader nor a teacher -- not the target audience. Johnson's story is important and compelling as a queer Black young adult from a loving, expansive family and strong education. 

In my reading,* the stories, ruminations, tones, and general themes did not cohere. Its structure felt to me like a personal blog: sometimes personal narrative, sometimes personal diary ("might delete later"), cultural artifact lesson, family tree, fraternity history... occasionally how-to manual. I hope and expect several pieces of this memoir are valuable -- and accessible -- to students (and their teachers) who are wondering if they are alone.

Takeaway:
"There is truly something to be said about the fact that you sometimes can’t see yourself if you can’t see other people like you existing, thriving, working."



*two-thirds paper, one-third audio, read over 12 months (library copies).

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