Title: All Boys Aren’t Blue
Author: George M. Johnson
Pub. Date: April 28th. 2020
Genre: YA LGBTQIA+ Memoir
Format: Libro.fm/audiobook
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Pages: 304 Pages
GOODREADS | BARNES & NOBLE | LIBRO.FM
It’s no surprise to me by now the level of procrastination I take on whenever I’m to review a favorite book. I listened to this memoir told in a series of personal essays on Libro.fm & strongly believe this was the best way to go. I love when authors narrate their own books & this truly felt like I was sitting at the table with George listening to him recount stories from his childhood/young adult years. Going back to his childhood days spent with his grandmother & cousins, we see the support he received as he embraced his sexuality. We Journey with him as he goes through the awkward dating years & then ventures into the rites of passage that comes with Fraternities in college. George starts his story in New Jersey discussing some of the issues he experienced as a queer black boy. The shedding of toxic masculinity as well as exploring gender issues & the decision to change his name are just a few of the things shared in this memoir. There were also some personal essays on his first sexual encounters, the topic of consent, and the boundaries he learned to create while learning his body. Some of my favorite essays were those that gave us an inside look to some of the cherished family members who supported George from the very beginning. They say it takes a village to raise a child & we definitely see that when meeting family & friends who left a lasting impression.
It is important when reading Queer Lit that we’re looking to also read books that speak on intersectionality. This memoir gives us a look at what it’s like to navigate the challenges of being a queer black man in America. There were moments I smiled at fond memories shared while other times I felt the pangs of grief when speaking on the loss of a loved one. I don’t believe I have ever personally read a memoir written for Young Adults but after reading All Boys Aren’t Blue, I wondered out loud how many teens could’ve found wisdom and/or solace in these stories. These often untold stories are the ones I want on my home shelves. Although I listened to this on Libro.fm (phenomenal service btw), I most definitely am hauling my own physical copy <3’s!
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Now I’m kicking myself for not buying this when I visited the bookstore. I was trying to choose between The Black Flamingo and this one. I was so conflicted, I left with neither LOL. I’ll definitely have to read this someday 😀 Wonderful review. I’m so glad that you enjoyed this memoir ❤
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I also was torn between the two! I ended up getting both audiobooks & ordering a physical copy of All Boy’s Aren’t Blue. I LOVED Black Flamingo, it’s also narrated by the author but has a different tone. I loved them both for different reasons but they both have supportive families (more so for George Johnson) in common. Thank you for the lovely comment, I hope you love them when you read them 🙂
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Ugh they both sound so wonderful, especially that both books feature a supportive family. Those types of books feel a little hard to come by. I’ll have to add them to the TBR, but I hope I can get to the audiobooks first. Maybe I’ll sign up for audible finally haha.
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Great review, I really want to pick this up as it sounds like such an important book 💜
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It’s def one I feel is important & should be on our shelves, especially for teens/young adults on their own journey with self identity. This is one that will be on my top 20 of 2020, happy reading! 🙂
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