Welcome to Litsy!

I‘ve finished my week three book for #14books14weeks2021 and book three for #JoysofJune
None of the Above is YA fiction about homecoming Queen Kristin Lattimer who finds out that she is intersex. Although her family is supportive, most of her schoolmates are not, and then there are concerns about her sports eligibility. Important story but the ending could have been better.

What a fantastic collection of short fiction! These stories were disturbing in the best possible way. Every single one had me so intrigued and horrified, "flipping" the pages of my e-reader so freaking fast. If I had to pick favorites, it'd be Imitate and Dead America. Oh boy were those two just the pinnacle of creepy!

I ran over to the Toledo Friends of the Library sale during my lunch break today and came home with these goodies. I also got a book on calligraphy and lettering that can hopefully help improve my book journal.

Tonight was the first year of the Pride Festival & Parade in my hometown. It was a really great night. Wonderful turnout. Our public library had an entry, and in addition to carrying this awesome flag, they were all wearing book titles with an #LGBTQIA+ theme. I thought that was really cool! #pride #publiclibrary #readingdiversity #queerbooks

This is a YA book about a popular high school girl who discovers through a doctor‘s examination that she is actually intersex and the hateful responses that occur when others find out about it. While the author does a good job of explaining the medical conditions, the characters themselves seem a bit flat, like Hallmark-channel characters. It was a bit appalling how transphobic and ignorant the majority of them are.

Great time with the #bellesandbrujastour at #barnesandnoble. Excellent discussion on their writing processes and exploring under-represented identities. I didn't receive my pre-order of Bruja Born in time for the event. I hope it arrives soon!

Ok bookish friends, I need a “beach read.” Like, a Gone Girl sort of situation. Life has been a bit stressful and I just want to get lost in someone else‘s drama. I want to be so absorbed that I don‘t even notice the crowds on the subway. Recommendations? Thoughts? Advice? All of it?

Great #weneeddiversebooks YA read handled with skill by one of the founders of the organization. This read a little bit after school special to me, but I really enjoyed it. A novel about a beautiful, popular teen girl that discovers she is intersex. Gregorio deftly explains what that means, how it affects the MC (plus other intersex characters), and gives a crash course on sex vs gender identity. YA authors are just doing so well by all of us.

Good story (although Hallmark-y, which suited my mood) and good information Androgen Insensitive Syndrome or intersex individuals

Got my #tbrpile for the next couple weeks! Already started #NoneoftheAbove (which I LOVE so far) #HoldMeLikeABreath (which is interesting but mixed reviews have me cautious) and #ThatSummer (good so far, havent read too much yet). Going to get through these this month and then start the #books by #GillianFlynn 😄😄😄

#amreading #backlog #contemporary #fantasy

I got this #book for #tbtbsanta and WOW I'm loving it so far! I'm only a few pages in and it's so mundane but there's just something about it that really pulls me in #amreading #intersex #contemporary

Really well written & very obvious that the author has done her research. I thought it ended well & even though Kristen goes through a lot emotionally & sometimes self-hating, the story ends with hope for her. There are a lot of transphobic characters as well as ignorant ones like Kristen herself but I think this book shows just how important being educated about intersex is. I think overall its very educational and a really important story. 4/5⭐️

My #tbrbingo reward arrived today! 😍😍😍 It's holding this fantastic book now. #bookbubbie #booksleeve #protectyourbooks

This is a really difficult read, and I'm not finished. It's so easy to tell #LGBTQIA+ teens, it gets better, but that doesn't necessarily help in the here and now. I feel for Kristen.

I looked at the back to see why the author chose to write this book. The author, who chooses no gendered pronoun, is a surgeon the helps intersex people as part of the patient base. I found this a great reason and perspective for writing this book. #queerbooks

This has been on my too read list since last year. I am interested in genetic disorders, especially those that effect the sex of people. I'm quite excited to dig into a book about a female that discovers biologically she is intersexed. #YA #Diversity

I couldn't put this one down! So good. Looking forward to discussing at book club.

I should start this tonight, seeing as how I have book club about it on Wednesday! I got distracted last night watching CNN's The Eighties series, and now I see they're airing The Sixties tonight! So tempted to watch 📺

My next read.

My next read

#bookmail

The next day, the world was the same. Nothing about me had changed, either. Yet everything was different.

Check out my full review here: http://ericarobynreads.blogspot.com/2017/04/book-review-none-of-above.html?m=1

If there's one thing I learned from my dad leaving my mom, it's that love isn't a choice. You fall for the person, not their chromosomes.

Screw that gender essentialism bullshit. Men have as much of a right to care about clothes as women. Girls can like sports and cars and guns too. So why does it even matter if you identify as a girl, a boy, or as neither.

Gosh, it's so nice to actually start YA book with Homecoming and not finish it there dramaticaly.

This is an important book because the main character is a girl who is intersex. I definitely learned a lot about different intersex conditions. I am happy to know about this book to recommend to others in the future!

So to break my reading rut I'm trying to listen to None of the Above and I checked out I Hate Fairyland. #lunchtimereading

Absolutely loved it. What an intelligent and heartbreaking look at the intersex condition and the people it affects.

This book can change the way you see the intersex community in today's society. This is a story that any person who has a heart can relate to in more ways than one. A spiritual, romantic, heart-wrenching, drama that is sure to make you not want to put it down.

I randomly came across a YA book at the bookstore that has an intersex main character; how awesome is that?! What a time to be alive! 💜📚

Guys. I can't find an ugly cover. It's a combo of my clutter and that I mostly have YA books which mostly have pretty covers. 😕
#SomethingForSept #SeptPhotoChallenge
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OwlCrate wants us to show off contemporary reads and the cute Eleanor & Park necklace that they made for the August crate. I'm happy to oblige!
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#OCAugustPhoto: Necklace & Contemporary Reads.
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#contemporaryreads #noneoftheabove #eleanorandpark #dumplin #owlcrate

Yes, the narrator was an intersex teen, and there's nothing cookie cutter about that. Still, the characters were not as deep or original as I wanted them to be. I felt like once I read the back of the book and knew the premise, it almost wasn't necessary to read the book. Maybe I'm being too harsh?

🌟🌟🌟 3.5 stars. This book was fast paced and informative. I have never read or looked into information on intersex or AIS. This book was full of helpful resources. I felt some of the word choices to be problematic. Medical choices made based on romantic feelings bothered me too.

Started this one tonight. It's a quick read. It comes off a little cheesy, just like the brochures and pamphlets one gets while discovering and learning more about themselves. At the same time I think it's very important.

I stayed up way too late last night finishing this but it was definitely worth it. The author treated the topic of intersex with a sensitive and smart hand. I was immediately invested in Kristen's story. Highly recommended

Already loving this book. It's so straightforward and supportive. This quote is perfect. No complicated scientific terms. Just simple and true.

Book is phenomenal! One of the best YA novels that I have read. So relevant to the problems of today's youth, especially those that struggle with gender identity. The author is a doctor and very informed on the subject matter.