All Boys Aren't Blue
Ratings48
Average rating4.3
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.
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(not rating this but i want you to know) this was an amazing story to hear, and i suggest everyone pick this book up at some point in their lives.
This is a really good YA memoir (definitely adult themes, so older YA) about growing up black and queer in New Jersey in the late 80s early 90s. The chapters about George's grandmother, Nanny, were my favorites. She seems like she was a wonderful woman.
4.5 Thoughtful memoir about his years growing up, high school, and into college. I appreciated his frank discussion about his first sexual encounters and believe we need more of that for teens and especially queer teens. Will be a great mirror text for many kids, even if he did a little more telling than showing (though he did write manifesto in the title so this was intentional). I could definitely listen to stories about Nanny all day!
