All Boys Aren't Blue is George M. Johnson's young adult coming of age memoir. In this book George writes beautifully and frankly about growing up black and queer, trying to come to terms with his identity. George said he wrote this book to help young LGBTQ+ people, with the goal of normalising talking about their experiences, so that hopefully others won't have to go through the same. Some of the stories and memories George shares are hilarious and others are painful and heart breaking, leaving me shedding silent tears.

I'm so grateful that I've read this, it's going to leave an impression on me for a long time. Thank you so much Penguin for providing me with a copy, the paperback edition is available in the UK from 04/03/21.

I wished there were more books like this when I was growing up. This is an incredibly smart, sometime hilarious and sometimes upsetting memoir of stories that have not been told before. It gives hope, guidance and understanding to young queer adults - especially those who are POC.

The writing is perfect. It's so human, and so honest. It helped me think about my own queerness and gave me more insight and understanding into insectional queerness as well and the particular struggles other people face.

(Trigger warnings for this book include homophobia, racism and the use of slurs, sexual assault and death of a loved one)

A powerful memoir and love letter to the friends and family who made him who he is George M Johnson's All Boys Aren't Blue battles topics like homophobia, racism, toxic masculinity and what it is like to grow up Black and Queer.

The book is both easy to read and also raw and emotional and unafraid to talk about heavy topics that many young Black and Queer boys face and the intersectionality between the two.

This will be such an important book for many young people and help them to understand themselves more.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House who I received a free eARC copy from in return for a fair review.

This memoir centres around the life of George M Johnson, activist and writer, and the struggles that he faced growing up as a queer black person.

Johnson writes in such an emotive and honest way, he talks of trying to find his identity in a society that continously tries to put us into boxes. And there are also themes of family, brotherhood, consent, toxic masculinity and marginilisation throughout. I also loved that whilst this was a personal account of Johnson's experiences he also directed this at a wider audience in the hopes that by telling his story it could help other people. Whether it be to help those who may be in the same situation as him feel as though they're not alone, to understand better and have this resource available to them that he never had himself or even if it's just for someone to become a better ally.

And its for that reason that I think it's great that this is marketed as a young adult memoir (although it can be read by people of any age) it deals with some tough topics and there are trigger warnings which are listed at the start of the book but as Johnson said these were things that he experienced as a teen himself so it's necessary that they are told especially because there are some teens that may have to navigate through these same things. In my eyes this is a must read and it should be a book that teachers encourage their students to read across schools. I feel as though this book could be a companion to those who are perhaps experiencing similar things but also for others to learn how to become a better ally to the LGBTQ+ community.

An honest and beautifully written memoir that will stay with me and one that I believe everyone should read.

TWs: sexual assault, homophobia, racism, death and racial/homophobic slurs

All Boys Aren't Blue is a young adult memoir centered around the life of writer and activist George M. Johnson. The book explores what it means be a Queer Black person, and how the two aspects of their life intersect or more often than not struggled to connect.

This is a truthfully honest account of someone who grew up struggling to come to terms with their identity in a world which is preoccupied with placing people within a box. Within the final paragraph of the book Johnson states 'if one person is helped by my story, then it was all worth it', this is a message which is felt throughout the entire storytelling process. They manage to interweave a story personal to them yet continue to relate it to a wider context, and make it feel like a story for anyone who needs it.

I can imagine this book will be a solace to many young people who are struggling with their identity. This should be a book read in schools worldwide, and one that I imagine will become a vital companion for many young people, particularly those who are LGBTQIAP+.

Overall, this is a beautifully written and honest memoir, and one which will stay with me, and I imagine many other people who read it.

This book is written beautifully, it's very informative and educational on how racism and homophobia has influence the life of George M. Johnson. This was a genre I normally do not read and found that I read this book slower than others. I feel as though I struggled to connect with the book not because of the style of writing - which was beautiful and emotive but because I do not feel any ties to the narrative as a white cis-female. Despite this, I find it very informative and perhaps the reason for my lack of connection is in fact a reason why I find the book so interesting and engaging.

Johnson has written this YA memoir solely to help others just like him. Drawing on his experiences growing up as a gay Black boy, he recounts his worries and hopes, and recalls how he didn’t have any books or media to guide him as he grew up. This is something I truly believe is important - everyone should be able to find someone to relate to in life - and I commend him for sharing his obstacles, some of which I imagine would have been very painful to remember, never mind committing to paper.

There was a lot to learn here as a white woman, so reading this isn’t only beneficial for those either Black or queer. I found some deeper insight into how society is so ingrained in unconscious (or indeed conscious) racism and homophobia, some of the origins of this, and how I can continue to learn and make efforts to improve myself and the language I use.

In addition, Johnson ensures he reinforces just how accepting and affirming his family were of his ‘differences’, and how this impacted his life. He does this so forcefully as he’s aware of the general misconception that the Black community wouldn’t be as accepting as others, and he entirely quashes this myth with his heartwarming stories of family life.

I would have loved for this to have felt a bit deeper. Johnson tells us stories as though we were old friends, and this feels cosy for a little while, until I started to feel I’d prefer to be shown these things happening, rather than being told. Sometimes I felt he was only touching the surface of the story, and I would’ve liked some more depth to what I was hearing. I also felt some more editing could have helped - the chapters aren’t chronological, so I felt confused at times on where I was with Johnson in his life. It felt jarring and dizzying; a bit more of a focus on the structure could have helped this massively.

An important and powerful book, and although it’s intended to help those who are young, queer, Black, or a combination of those, it’s also helpful for those outside of those communities to learn more about the types of experiences these people have, and how we can help, even if it’s in the smallest of ways.

All Boys Aren't Blue is a very personal, candid memoir. It's an exploration of the many different interlinking parts of the author's identity and how they affected him growing up. It was very easy to read, and felt almost conversational in tone which added to the open personal tone. A great insight into the life of George M. Johnson as a black queer teen.

This is a heartbreaking and heartwarming memoir all rolled into one. George has a way of writing that has you hooked from the first word. It’s a series of personal memoirs of his life and what it means to be both a proud black man but also gay. Being a black man in America is hard enough to be gay makes it 10x harder. From the bullying he endured to the devastating abuse he faces this book leaves you on a journey where you just find yourself unable to stop reading

George M. Johnson’s personal memoir of growing up a Black, queer, boy is one of the most necessary and honest account of someone ‘s life, I think I have ever encountered. With each chapter an ode to a particular person or anecdote, his writing style is like reading a handwritten letter. He does not hold back or censor topics that mainstream media neglects to show, and provides an open dialogue about growing up as both black and queer, exploring what it means to be both of these identities. This book is so important because it is written for young people, who should be educated about the life experiences addressed in this book.

All Boys Aren’t Blue covers so many areas, but I would urge people to read it, even if you don’t see it as having direct relevance to you.
Part memoir, this series of reflections offer an insight into the author’s life as a child and growing up (as he calls himself) black and queer. We journey from an early memory of having his teeth kicked in at five years old to dealing with the death of a close friend at college and, along the way, get to hear about family members and the various events that he recalls shaping him as he grew up.
I was struck, more than anything, by the love and strength gained from family. Things may not have always been articulated, but there’s a clear sense that when it counted they would have your back. You might be held to account, but you would always be loved - and it strikes me that this may well be the best gift you can give someone.
So many of the memories were tinged with sadness and made me feel angry that they had to be experienced, but if all of us were to pinpoint moments that shaped us I’m sure that not all of them would be positive. As so eloquently written in the latter stages of the book, reading about the experiences of others can help us define ourselves and for this reason alone I would recommend this book. While so much was nothing like my own experiences, that search for yourself and the need to find your family will resonate with most readers.
I’m in awe of Nanny and the devotion she has so clearly inspired. I feel privileged to have been allowed to see inside our author’s head, and grateful to have been given this opportunity.

This is a great memoir-manifesto, as the author says, displayed with startling courage, vulnerability and verve. Throughout, Johnson continually opens themselves up, telling their story of gender, blackness, queerness, of their <i>life</i>. Pointed so vividly as it is towards young adults and those who are often in the midst of grappling with their identities whilst in the middle of a tumultuous life stage anyway, I thought this was a very interesting and new way to read an autobiographical book.

Perhaps the most striking part of this is the depth of honesty here. The presentation of the stories is both full of love and care, vulnerability and the violence that unfortunately forms so many parts of grappling with these identities in this world. There's both great hope, honesty and pain here. This will, for many, be absolutely necessary. It's a wonderful, piercing look into their life and how their thoughts have changed, how their experiences have shaped them, how the world has reacted to this.

I can see this being immeasurably valuable to young adults struggling with these questions or even just people looking to read a biographical stance, to delve deeper into this. Ultimately, this book is quite clearly and explicitly for them and I've rated it accordingly for the people who need it. I think it's touching, moving, heartfelt, and achingly vulnerable.

Very much enjoyed this book! At the beginning I was a bit unsure about the tone for a YA audience, but this is one of those books that have been written with courage and vulnerability by a young person that ought to speak to many of us who struggle with finding our places in the world. There wasn’t much of a structure, with the author preferring to tackle subjects, even though there’s a broad chronology.

Thanks to Netgalley for a review copy.

Never before had I heard of a memoir aimed explicitly at young adults so I snapped up the opportunity to read 'All Boys Aren't Blue' by George M. Johnson. I was barely a chapter in when it started dawning on me just how important this incredibly powerful book is going to be for my students to read, particularly those questioning their gender or sexual identity. Johnson has spent his life navigating his identity as a queer black man, and he shines a light on the lack of explicit discussion and guidance he had growing up on the intersection of these worlds.

The book is structured as a series of loosely chronological essays, spanning reflections on Johnson's family life growing up, and the influence of his formidable yet inspirational Nanny, through school and to university. I respected how Johnson laid his soul bare, sharing moments of past trauma with honesty and resilience, always bringing every story back to an important lesson he wish he has been taught as a queer and questioning youngster. Alongside moments which rip your heart from your chest, there are moments of unbridled joy, such as Johnson's fraternity experience of true brotherhood in college and finally exploring his sexuality on his own terms. Johnson balances the more sombre moments with aspects of hope, highlighting his talent as a writer as he crafts the subject matter with his young adult audience always in mind.

Overall, every school library needs a copy of this book. Hopefully, with Johnson's book in hand, today's generation of teenagers can know that they are not alone when grappling with their identity and how they can start to manage this process in their own lives. I cannot wait to read more from Johnson as I can tell there is still a lot more he can share with his readers. Until then, this one is a definite 5 star read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher who provided an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

All Boys Aren’t Blue 🌸🌻💙

I have been wanting to read this for so long so I was super excited when I was accepted for a copy through @netgalley - thanks so much to the publisher!

George’s memoir is a beautiful and honest collection of essays exploring his childhood and growing up whilst learning who he is and how he can be himself in a world that has not made that easy for Black queer people.

This would be a really important read for young LGBTQIA+ individuals who are searching for books exploring intersectionality of identities.

The stories of love within family and friendships were described so powerfully and remind you how important those human connections are.

This was definitely raw at times and it didn’t shy away from the truth but it was exactly how it needed to be to have the required impact.

I’d definitely recommend this, and look how beautiful the cover is!!

4.5⭐️

If I could give this 100000 stars, I would. It will save lives and that's not just important, it's vital. This book is vital and I can't believe this has been graced to me.

“Love who you want to love, and do it unapologetically, including that face you see every day in the mirror.”

This is a memoir manifesto that will touch on so many incredibly important themes such as sex education, views on toxic masculinity, self-love and self-reflection, being black and queer, medical racism.

“Elevating a community viewed as below you to having the same equity and equality harms no one but the oppressor.”

Johnson makes it clear that history is extremely white-washed, and I particularly enjoyed this because I have called out teachers in the past with my white privilege to diversify the curriculum. This book is easily added to a recommendation list for my teachers.

“When people ask me how I got into activism, I often say, “The first person you are ever an activist for is yourself.” If I wasn’t gonna fight for me, who else was?”

I just know that the day I reread this book via audio it will be a good day. This book made me want to pick up more memoirs. There is nothing better than an author encouraging you with his own voice. I will make sure to read more memoirs in 2021.

Raw. Moving. Hurtful. Gorgeous. Heartbreaking. Beautiful. Hopeful.

A book about how the people around you shape you & how we still have a lot to learn.

A wonderfully raw and emotional memoir, which explores gender and identity whilst growing up in America. Such a heartwarming and heartbreaking read! I loved the closeness George had with his family and how they were all there for each other through so many tough times. A brilliant read for anyone but fans of The Black Flamingo will definitely enjoy this.

I've heard so much love for this book from early reviewers and people from places it was published first, so I knew I had to read it when I could, hence my excitement when I saw it on Netgalley and got approved.

This is a fantastic memoir about a black, queer persons life, starting from their first traumatic experience as a child, travelling through their youth and realising they had to wear a mask to fit in and be liked, up until adult years. I'm really not sure why I first thought it was going to be in the form of verse, though.

Although heartbreaking that a child at an early age felt they weren't normal because of who they were, ultimately it's also got a lot of hope embedded within each telling of tales around growing up and finding who you are, and that who you are is important.

I absolutely loved this memoir, especially because it's funny as well as truthful, so has a nice balance, which I think gives the desired effect as it's aimed at YA. You want the truth, but you don't want to be put off of... well.. life, and living your truth. The family pictures featured inside were so lovely too.

The chapter that was a letter to George's little brother was such a beautiful thing to read. It brought tears to my eyes and was such an uplifting, kind letter. This was followed by a beautiful chapter on George's nanny, which made me feel even more emotion because she shares the same first name as my nanny! The beautiful messages just kept coming with the chapter on George's cousin, Hope, and the letter to their mum.

I also loved that George still found comfort in prayer despite feeling so isolated for much of their life and that they still felt that faith was for anyone. So often, religion and sexuality butt heads, but it was just so nice to see it harmonious.

This memoir covered so much: sexuality, black identity, growing up, death, assault, oppression, brotherhood, family, acceptance (in many forms) and much more. It was more than I expected and so much really spoke to me on a personal level. This was phenomenal and everyone should read it, even if you don't fall under the lgbtqia+ umbrella, it's worth a read for sure.

A stunning and emotional memoir centring what it is like to be young, queer and Black in America. Johnson's writing is personal and open, delving into the nuances of family and identity with honesty and frankness. While this is written for teens, I would recommend it for anyone as an important read.