Gabi’s Reviews > Boy Like Me > Status Update

“The world is full of people who want power and control. But they have to use fear and ignorance to get it, because nobody in their right mind would support them otherwise. Keep people afraid by giving them a common enemy, and keep them ill-educated so they never know any better, and you’ll always control them!”

So, I’d also like to thank all of you who are fighting for the simple right of being able to read whatever book you’d like to read, and for making sure that all young people have the chance to see themselves, and their lives, reflected in a book, and that those young people also get the opportunity to read and learn about people who are completely different to them too.

❤️

“Fuck,” he said, “I think it’s pride.”
I laughed.
“I’m proud to be with you. Proud of … us. What have you done to me, Jamie Hampton?”

❤️ ❤️ ❤️

“(…) Know what I think, Jamie? I think you’ve got the right idea. I think people should sort out their own lives and stop prying so much into other people’s.”
He met my eyes. “So, I told her where to shove her ignorant head. And, in case you want to know, I suggested it should be up her bigoted arse.(…)“

Wait, WHAT? YES!!! I can't believe he’s saying that! 👏👏❤️❤️

I felt like a new man when he showed me out of his house later that night. Well, if not new exactly, then changed. Is that pathetic? We’d totally kept our clothes on. Maybe the odd hand wandered a little … we don’t need to go into it.

And, if you’re a librarian, you don’t need to shelve this as 16+. 😂

I love these humorous comments and footnotes from the author.

“But don’t for one minute think I’m not on to you, because I very much am. You can bleat all you want about censorship, but we don’t allow books that promote homosexual lifestyles in the library for the same reason we don’t allow books that promote being a Nazi – because they’re damaging and dangerous.(..)” 🤬🤬🤬

“Heterosexual men are the worst.” He met my eyes and we both cracked a smile. It was funny, hearing him say stuff like that. A boy who I’d just assumed was straight, was borderline dangerous, would hate someone like me, and no … he was actually … just like me. I kind of … loved that?

Guys, I have a feeling this is going to be a 5-star-read! 💓 LOVE IT so far!

I didn't expect this book to be so funny, but at the same time so, so sad:

Normal boys don’t lie next to each other, talking and cuddling. The boys who do that are the boys they talk about in the newspapers, and they are despised, and dirty, and usually end up dead.
Why couldn’t I just be friends with a boy and it be normal? 😭 😡

“But it’s nice. A big event to take someone you like to, and all that. Ahh, the romance! Almost makes me want to be a teenager again, except … no, not quite enough to want that, but it warms my stone-cold heart to think of all of you experiencing that.”

First appearance and I already like her, Mrs Carpenter, the librarian. ❤️