All Boys Aren't Blue
A Memoir-Manifesto
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4.0 • 8 Ratings
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- $13.99
Publisher Description
A New York Times Bestseller and the #1 Most Challenged Book in America according to the American Library Association
In a series of personal essays, award-winning author and LGBTQIA+ activist George M. Johnson's All Boys Aren't Blue explores their childhood, adolescence, and college years in New Jersey and Virginia.
From the memories of getting his teeth kicked out by bullies at age five, to flea marketing with his loving grandmother, to his first sexual relationships, this young-adult memoir weaves together the trials and triumphs faced by Black queer boys.
Both a primer for teens eager to be allies as well as a reassuring testimony for young queer men of color, All Boys Aren't Blue covers topics such as gender identity, toxic masculinity, brotherhood, family, structural marginalization, consent, and Black joy. Johnson's emotionally frank style of writing will appeal directly to young adults. (Johnson used he/him pronouns at the time of publication.)
As seen on Good Morning America, NBC Nightly News, Today Show, and MSNBC feature stories
Velshi Banned Book Club
Indie Bestseller
Teen Vogue Recommended Read
Buzzfeed Recommended Read
People Magazine Best Book of the Summer
A New York Library Best Book of 2020
A Chicago Public Library Best Book of 2020 ... and more!
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
Journalist and LGBTQIA+ activist George M. Johnson’s memoir will make you laugh, cry, and marvel at their bravery. Johnson gets deeply personal, revealing pivotal moments from their years as a Black queer boy growing up in New Jersey and Virginia, through childhood, adolescence, and college. Johnson addresses these stories directly to the reader, exploring topics like toxic masculinity and structural marginalization with intense insight and plainspoken simplicity. There are also moments of levity in all the right places—the Real Housewives of Atlanta and Cardi B references were giving us life. Johnson’s writing really shines when they’re describing their closest relationships—their letter to their brother blew us away—and unpacking even their most painful traumas, including being beaten up by other kids regularly, starting in kindergarten. Whether you’ve had similar struggles yourself or you’re just here to learn, All Boys Aren’t Blue is too riveting and inspiring to pass up.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Billed as a "memoir-manifesto," Johnson's debut is a collection of heartfelt personal essays revolving around themes of identity and family. Growing up black and queer in New Jersey and Virginia, Johnson feels a tension between these two identities, even before he's fully conceptualized what makes him stand out from others in his close-knit family. The loving Elder/Johnson clan, led by witty matriarch Nanny (whose take on familial loyalty and intimacy is "You might have to wipe my ass one day"), includes Johnson's cousin Hope, a trans woman who models pride and self-determination. Johnson makes impassioned declarations about the importance of community and inclusive sex education, and the freedom to define oneself outside of society's conditioning. Though at first glance the book lacks the synthesizing call to action that "manifesto" would imply, its "be yourself" message remains a radical stance for doubly marginalized individuals. Johnson's writing is a stylistic hodgepodge of anecdotes ("story time," he periodically declares) and letters to relatives. In a publishing landscape in need of queer black voices, readers who are sorting through similar concepts will be grateful to join him on the journey. 14 up.
Customer Reviews
Very open!
During the pride month I wanted to learn more about the LGTBQT+ community. This book did not disappoint. I learned so much about the Black intersectionality with the queer community in this book. It is an eye opener book for young Black men that doesn’t prescribe or fit into the masculinity of Black men in society. In this memoir of George Johnson you learn how a young man manifest to find his identity in a society that tries to shunt him. You see how important it is for the family to support these young individuals as the society is often harsh on them. This book opened up my eyes about gender as well. Society presents us a binary option but not everyone can identify with them. This book was banned in schools. After having read it, I think that people should have a right to be able to see themselves represented in books. How else would they learn about themselves?