I Read, Therefore I Blog

The Blurb On The Back:

In this first volume of his multi-million-selling autobiography, Paul O’Grady tells the story of his early life in Birkenhead that started him on the long and winding road from mischievous altar boy to national treasure. It is a brilliantly evoked, hilarious and often moving tale of gossip in the back yard, bragging in the corner shop and slanging matches on the front doorstep, populated by larger-than-life characters with hearts of gold and tongues as sharp as razors.

At My Mother’s Knee features an unforgettable cast of rogues, rascals, lovers, fighters, saints and sinners - and one iconic bus conductress. It’s a book which really does have something for everyone and which reminds us that, when all’s said and done, there’s a bit of savage in all of us …

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Paul O’Grady was a comedian, actor, TV presenter, chat show host and British national treasure. Warm, hilarious, horrifying and heartbreaking this is the first in his autobiography quartet, charting his life in Birkenhead from birth to his late teens and his relationship with his working class, Catholic parents and aunts. This 2018 reprint featured a new introduction by O’Grady where he says he’s softened some of the depictions of his family.

The Blurb On The Back:

Everyone has pronouns.
We need them to communicate!
Some pronouns you use every day, others may be less familiar.

So what do you do when you meet someone new? It’s simple, just ask: “What are your pronouns?”

Let’s celebrate our different identities and help make the world a more welcoming place for everyone.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Chris Ayala-Kronos is an experienced children’s book editor and writer. Melita Tirado is a experienced illustrator. This is a well-intentioned but ultimately mis-firing picture book that’s aimed at introducing young readers to the use of pronouns but while Tirado’s illustrations are vibrant and diverse, the text itself is trying to do too much and risks confusing with a giant information dump at the end that has no context or explanation.

Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

Have you ever had a secret?
The sort you lie awake at night thinking about?
I have.

A couple of years ago, I told my friends my secret. About me not being a girl or a boy. About me being non-binary. It was a little weird at first, but now things are pretty good.

Or at least, things were pretty good.

Until we started Year Six. Until we had to start thinking about secondary schools. Until I realised there was one school for boys, and one for girls, but no place for me.

That was when everything went wrong

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

L. D. Lapinski’s LGBTQ+ friendly novel for readers aged 9+ is a compelling and entertaining look at what it means to be non-binary and to campaign for what you believe in. Lapinski does a great job of explaining what being non-binary means and includes definitions of the various terms used. I particularly admired how they show how allies can find it difficult to understand what it means to be non-binary and pressure non-binary people to conform.

JAMIE was released in the United Kingdom on 30th March 2023. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

Sometimes people say to me: “What happened to your brother Bill?”
That’s when I look them in the eye and say: “Hun, you need to chill.”

When Bill can’t be found at school one day, the imaginations of the other children run wild.

Is he on holiday?

Is he lost in the park?

Has he been eaten by a shark?!

It’s up to Bill’s sister to explain …

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Juno Dawson’s lgbtq+ picture book is a good way of introducing young readers to children with trans identities with the narrator’s pragmatism contrasting with the increasingly hysterical worries of her classmates. However, while Laura Hughes’s illustrations are great - bright, colourful, energetic and packed with character - I found Dawson’s rhymes to be strained at times and the need to chill refrain sounds increasingly precocious.

YOU NEED TO CHILL was released in the United Kingdom on 1st September 2022. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

According to the rule, Freddie has to say “yes”.

Freddie is unremarkable - too unremarkable. In fact, his teachers and fellow students keep forgetting who he is. Even his TV-producer mum thinks he’s a disappointment. After embarrassing himself in front of Jasper Perry (the gorgeous teen star of his mum’s new show), Freddie decides to try something different: saying “yes” to every opportunity.

That’s how Freddie ends up auditioning for the school musical (Grease), actually going to parties, and flirting with hot new boy Zach! He’s becoming a whole new Freddie - maybe even one that his mum might be proud of.

But the path to love is never smooth, and sometimes you have to get things wrong in order to work out what - and who - you really want.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Simon James Green’s YA gay rom-com is a light hearted affair that nods at PRIDE AND PREJUDICE and GREASE while hitting all the romance notes you’d expect and throws in some smart observations about how being a gay compares with how TV show gay teens together with genuinely hilarious one-liners and scenes (I particularly enjoyed those with bitchy theatre kids). I’m not normally a YA romance fan but would check out Green’s other books based on this.

Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

Fifteen-year-old Spencer is a proud nerd, an awesome big brother and a Messi-in-training. He’s also transgender.

After a year of bullying, Spencer gets a fresh start at a new school with great friends, a spot on the boys’ soccer team, and maybe even something more than friendship with one of his team-mates. The only thing is, no one knows Spencer is trans - he’s passing.

So when a discriminatory law forces his coach to bench him, Spencer has to make a choice: cheer his team on from the sidelines or fight for his right to play, even if it means coming out to everyone, including the guy he’s falling for …

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Isaac Fitzsimon’s debut YA novel mixes trans rights, romance and sports fiction to mixed effect. It’s great to read something with a black trans boy main character and although the romance is a little predictable, Fitzsimon sensitively shows the anxieties and issues he has to navigate. However there is a lot going on plot and character wise so that some elements, notably Spencer’s autistic brother and Justice’s religious family, feel tacked on.

THE PASSING PLAYBOOK was released in the United Kingdom on 3rd June 2021. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

”I wonder what people would think if they could take the front off our house, like a doll’s house, and watch us. All in the same house, but everyone separate. No one talking, but everyone thinking the same thing. Will we ever be a normal family again?”

Izzy’s family is under the spotlight when her dad comes out as Danielle, a trans woman. Now shy Izzy must face her fears, find her voice, confront the bullies and stand up for her family.

Warm, honest and hopeful, this is a story about the power of family, friendship and being true to yourself.

You can buy NOTHING EVER HAPPENS HERE by Sarah Hagger-Holt from Amazon UK, Waterstone’s or Bookshop.org UK.  I earn commission on any purchases made through these links.

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Sarah Hagger-Holt’s contemporary novel for children aged 9+ is a sensitive look at what it’s like to have a parent who realises that they need to transition. Although it’s very much an ‘issue’ book, at times I think it soft soaps some of the prejudice that trans people face by merging it in with generic teasing and bullying. However, saying that, it is a book with a lot of heart and a strong theme of friendship that children will enjoy.

Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

Silva’s door is open. My brain nudges me. She’s not in there. All the time I’ve been hanging around and trying not to disturb her, she wasn’t here at all …

Becks and Silva live under the same roof, but they couldn’t be less like sisters.

Becks likes watching loud superhero movies, girls, and chatting to anyone and everyone. Silva likes privacy; her bedroom is her oasis, and she has an unspoken rule that none of her family are allowed inside.

But then Silva goes missing.
Becks enters Silva’s room.
And finds eight clues about Silva’s secret life.

Can Becks piece the jigsaw together and find her, before it’s too late?

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Patrice Lawrence’s standalone YA contemporary novel uses a mystery structure to tell a story of love, loss, grief and obsession with a pitch perfect narrative voice that shows both London and blended families in a way that’s vivid and recognisable. I wished some of the friendships had been more fully developed (particularly Raych) but liked the lesbian romance, the geek references and the central mystery and look forward to Lawrence’s next book.

EIGHT PIECES OF SILVA was released in the United Kingdom on 6th August 2020. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.

The Blurb On The Back:

This is Michael’s story.

Join him as he enters the world with tiny feather eyelashes. Travel from school to college, where he discovers his flock, and comes to terms with his identity as a mixed-race gay teen. At university, take a seat in the audience and watch him find his wings as a drag artist, The Black Flamingo.

A bold story about discovering that only YOU get the privilege of choosing who you are. There is power in embracing your uniqueness. What’s your story?

( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )

The Verdict:

Dean Atta’s contemporary LGBTQ+ YA novel (sensitively illustrated by Anshika Khullar) is a sympathetic coming of age tale that’s beautifully told in verse and which is a moving reflection of the intersectionality issues of being bi-racial and gay in modern Britain and trying to find your own place and identity. It’s a beautifully written book that I found very touching and I can well understand why it’s on so many YA prize shortlists.

Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the review copy of this book.