The Free People's Village

As per usual when I really, really love something I feel entirely inadequate to review it. I received an ARC of this book, I finished reading well ahead of publication date and yet here we are 3 days post publication date and I still haven't been able to string a coherent sentence that might entice someone to read this book together.

I adored this book, I loved the characters and how real they came across as. It was uncomfortable to read at time but in a way that felt important and like it was opening ground for conversations that need to happen. It's complex, nuanced, and raw. It made me cry a couple of times but it also invited me to look in the mirror.

If you've ever had your heart broken by a social movement you need to read this book, it's both healing and bracing.

I think this book comes at a time where we really need that type of fiction immensely, something that isn't about a hero, that isn't about someone who saves the day and makes it all better but about how revolution and societal change doesn't happen overnight and that sometimes (most of the time actually) it's about doing what you can when the opportunity arises and slowly building towards these opportunities. Also it's an excellent reminder for white people (such as myself) that being cringe and getting called out on it isn't the worst thing and that we can still do some good and grow which is often too easy to forget.

And because I always like to see it: points for casual/comfortable use of neopronouns.