pucksandpaperbacks's reviews
642 reviews

CW: For binding unsafely 

This is such an important book for trans folks. This is written for teens but it can also be a viable read for adults. Breathe shares stories from real trans* people young and old who tell their tale of binding and explain the positive affects it had on them. But also shedding light on the do's and don'ts of binding. 

At the back of the book there are exercises and stretches, Peitzmeier explains how binding can affect the body. But overall, this guide is POSITIVE. It never once paints binding in a bad light, it only shows the benefits and briefly talks about what not to do. There's also affirming language and tips for binding healthily. 

I love that this exists because I would've loved to have this when I was first coming into my transness and started binding. Now as an 30-yo trans man, it will benefit me. 

Content warnings for miscarriages, depression, pregnancy and mentions of pregnancy complications, minor homophobia and bullying.

Thank you to the publisher, Algonquin Young Readers for sending me a #gifted copy. All opinions are my own!

Nicole Melleby is the gift that keeps on giving. If you’re looking to add more middle grade to your summer hopefuls, I highly recommend her newest book, Winnie Nash is NOT Your Sunshine.

Down by the Jersey Shore, Winnie Nash is stuck at the clubhouse with her grandma, who she is living with for the summer while her mom is pregnant. But little does she know, this summer she will finally tell people she likes girls, join a book club, go to Pride, and make some great friends along the way.

I love how Melleby writes kid-lit with messy queer kids and through Winnie, we learn that she is a frustrated and angry little girl. She’s been hiding her smiles to save for her mom because that’s what her Dad told her to do. Plus, she’s also been advised to not tell her grandma that she’s gay because her mom wanted to protect her.

Winnie is put through a lot, all for the comfort of the adults in her life. But some bright spots in Winne’s gloomy life are meeting two girls her age, Louisa and Pippa; who she may have a crush on. I loved seeing Winnie have a little sunshine in her life especially when she would get butterflies whenever she encountered Pippa.

At the beginning of the book, she signs up for a book club hosted at the clubhouse. The clubhouse is a place where the elderly folks in the neighborhood go to mingle or in Winnie’s grandmother’s case, play canasta. Little does Winnie know that she’s met a queer elder in the process. I loved the way queer adults showed up for Winnie even if it wasn’t perfect. This is exactly what kids need! It warmed my heart when we met Jeanne and she started to casually give Winnie queer romances to read.

Content warnings for miscarriages, depression, pregnancy and mentions of pregnancy complications, minor homophobia and bullying.

If you’re still building your June hopefuls and want to read some queer kid-lit for Pride Month, this is my recommendation. Winnie attends Asbury Park Pride in Asbury Park, NJ - which is a Very Queer place that I’ve been to! - and she sneaks off to New York Pride to get her sunshine back.

Queer zombies, ACAB and an overarching commentary on rainbow capitalism. My only complaint is that I didn't like how Wendy's friends didn't press her harder on her stance and actions regarding cops. Overall, I enjoyed the action-packed story of messy queers and how the ending didn't wrap up in a nice bow. The fight for queer liberation isn't over. 

CW: Gore, murder, police brutality, zombies, blood, sexual content; a scene where condom breaks; homophobia, religious bigotry, emetophobia. 

CW: Grief; mention of a car accident and car accident death; death of a child; bullying; deadname (on-page)

Written in verse, Dear Mothman was a wonderful exploration of gender identity. I loved how Gow made cryptids and monsters into an allegory for transness. This book made me silently weep as Noah, our MC comes to terms with his gender identity; a trans boy. While he also  grieves the death of his best friend, Lewis who was also a closeted trans boy. You'll come out this book wanting to hug the kids in your life and want to protect every trans kid. I did, at least.

Throughout the book, Noah becomes more open about being a boy but there's a journey to get there. In the meantime, he's dedicated to finding "Mothman", a cryptid Lewis was fixated on. When their class gets ready for the science fair, Noah decides Mothman will be his science fair project.

Noah is also autistic & Gow is an #ActuallyAutistic trans author.

"I am so happy they get it— Mothman’s not just a hobby or something— that being “Noah” is hard because I feel like I have to be a different version of myself in different places."

"A world of Mothmen? Maybe Mothman is lost. Sometimes I feel lost, like I ended up in the wrong time line. Maybe I’m from a realm of people all like me and Lewis— of all trans people. I guess I’m happy I’m trans then because that world sounds supercool."

Chef's kiss. This IS trans joy. 

CW: Racism, racial slur (on-page), homophobia, car accident, minor mention of a suicide attempt, drug use, mention & scenes of visiting an incarcerated person, hate crime, violence, blood, injuries.

This debut was phenomenal. It is promoted as a dark academia thriller but I'd also say it's a horror.

When the only two Black students at Nevus Academy are picked as Senior Prefects, things start going awry as texts of the students, Chiamaka and Devon's deepest secrets (and some lies) are spread throughout the school by an anonymous texter, Aces. 

This was an excellent YA thriller that shows how systemic racism works in the academic setting. As our protagonists grow to uncover the truth about their school, they learn a lot about themselves the people around them. Both characters are also queer! I really enjoyed seeing queer joy in between the darkness the teens experience.

Please note that this book is very dark.  But, as the author intended, it does have a happy ending. I HIGHLY recommend this. I hybrid-read with the physical copy and audiobook and I thought the audiobook was fantastic as well.  

CW: Mention and description of sexual assault; sexual harassment; racism; racial slur; violence; gun violence; death; mention of slavery and being enslaved; blood; taxidermy; mention of alcoholism; mention of death by child birth, mention of child abuse, sexual harassment, alcoholism,  animal still birth.

Wow! I knew I wanted to pick up Beverly Jenkins for the Diverse Baseline Challenge prompt "historical fiction" for February. But that window is over now that it's almost April.  Regardless, I'm thankful to the challenge for giving me an opportunity to finally pick up her work!

Wild Rain is a slow burn grumpy x sunshine romance between a female rancher and a reporter who comes into town. If you like the caregiver trope - you must pick this up. Set in the wake of the Civil War, Spring takes in Garrett during a blizzard thinking he will only be with her for a couple of days. However, Garrett is in town to interview her brother and doctor, Colt. 

I loved how Jenkins played into the forced proximity trope and it was realistic! Even if it was at the hands of her characters getting injured, haha. What I appreciated and admired most about this romance is how the grumpy x sunshine element unraveled, showing the author's intent for applying it to this story. Spring is bold, fierce, and resilient. She has endured a lot of trauma due to the way men have treated her. Therefore, she wears her heart on her sleeve and doesn't allow men to let her in. 

But Garrett (our cinnamon roll) shows her what a healthy relationship and a kind man is. By asserting and accepting Spring's boundaries, listening and accepting her. Very early in the book, Spring declares that she doesn't want to marry and later on we learn she is child free by choice. Garrett is okay with that. Whenever I read romance, I always say this: THIS is a healthy romance. I thought this was great and very refreshing to see a historical romance where the female protagonist is child free and the love interest is okay with it.