All Boys Aren't Blue is an insightful and honest discussion of the intersections between race, gender, and sexuality. This memoir told in essays are centered in the author's own experiences as he navigates his own self-evolving identity in our world as a black queer young man. The memoir is divided into three sections following the author's childhood, adolescence, and current adulthood as he wrestles his pain and joy through life. He informs his reader that is not self involved to write a memoir at a very young age (33 years old), but had to write one in order to temporarily fill the vacuum of representation for young queer boys of color and to live his own truth. The journey of Johnson's activism is full of highs and lows as he understands the labels placed upon him by himself and by society. His essays and personal experiences touches upon many tough topics such as toxic masculinity, sexual abuse, institutional violence, and the dual fear of being both black and queer when both of these identities are neither safe. Though the topics are serious they add depth and realness to the essays and strengthens his call to all of us to help fight injustices in our society. I really appreciated his stance on the process of coming out to be cyclic instead of being finite and the necessity for inclusive sexual education that will help erase the stigma of queer relationships and ultimately help save lives. This is an important memoir that is a window for many and a critical mirror for black queer individuals.

“be BOLD and BRAVE and QUEER” is the message on the back of this book. George M. Johnson has done just that in this his memoir manifesto which is a very public declaration of his life and intentions.

Throughout the book, Johnson is sharing intimate details about gender, sexuality, and race while also showing how each of these things affect how he has been seen and how he sees the world. He shares hard truths like, “my life story is proof that no amount of money, love, or support can protect you from a society intent on killing you for your Blackness.” He also shares family love. Much of this book seemed to be a love letter to his grandmother – Nanny. He shares traumas and the complicated messiness of life. You’ll even bump into a few brief history lessons that show how the telling of history can be so very different depending on who is telling it and what they think of the students they’re telling it to. There’s so much here to appreciate. And yes, because there is some heavy stuff here, the delivery can be pretty serious, but Johnson’s playfulness and sense of humor also rings out here and there.

Recommendation: Get it now. There are painful moments in this book for sure, but there is also joy and much love. This book is an act of bravery and helps readers see one experience of being queer and Black right now. For some, this may be one of the first times they truly see themselves on the page. For others, this is an opportunity to see the many things they have in common with someone they may have believed was very different from them.

Here is a book where you can tell how much heart and soul was poured into it. It is made clear that this memoir is written not only for himself, but for everyone growing up and going through any similar experience. In a collection of essays, Johnson walks us from his childhood to his college years. He walks us through his growth and challenges of learning how to be a black queer man in this world. He doesn’t shy away from the hard parts but balances it with the stories of his family’s support.
I highly recommend this book for your Pride reading in 2020, but also for every other month of the year.

This is George M. Johnson's memoir, highlighting growing up knowing he wasn't like other boys. He talks about how his experiences, both good and not so good, shaped him and inspired him to try and support others like him.

This is an important book--showing how families can be supportive of those who are different, how people can learn more about themselves while growing up, and how we all can better support LGBTQIA+ community. Sometimes the writing was a bit awkward, but the conversational style was good and should appeal to YA readers and teens.

In a series of poignant stories intended to share pieces of the author’s life, George M. Johnson guides the reader through the joys and many tribulations of coming to age while also dealing with sexuality and race. Johnson does a fantastic job at illustrating the confusion of becoming someone that society often deems as an outsider while also making sacrifices to stay safe and accepted in social groups. Johnson’s writing is spectacular throughout. I look forward to recommending this book to the several students in my care who may be struggling with similar feelings.

It was a painful read, but a wonderful one! Everyone should read this book, because it's important to know stories we didn't know existed.
Thanks, George!

In these personal, thought provoking and insightful essays about his own personal, and often times painful experiences, Johnson weaves memoir, education and motivational prose together seamlessly. A love letter of acceptance to young men and women like him Johnson is determined to make these young people feel seen in a way he often wasn’t by his family and society, with some notable exceptions. I look forward to using chapters of this beautiful book in my class next year during our memoir unit as a model for my young scholars to use as inspiration.

“Many of us carry burdens from the traumas of our past and they manifest in our adulthood. We all go through various identities - gay, straight, or non-identifying. And race and various other factors play a role in how we navigate them. Many of us as always in a state of working through something - always in a state of “becoming” a more aware version of self.”

What can I say about this book that hasn't already been said. George M. Johnson created a masterpiece memoir that discusses what it means to be black and queer, never to fit in no matter where you go, and how to survive at the intersection of those identities. I have a million quotes highlighted from this book. George discusses extremely hard things: stereotypes, assault, violence, racism, homophobia, AIDs, death. But it is worth it because the writing is beautiful and the connections that Johnson makes are so needed, especially for young folks who might be experiencing similar struggles. I especially loved the chapters that dealt with family and the way that Johnson highlights that the family experience he had as a queer child/teen are very different from the ones that many others have.

Johnson ends many chapters calling the reader to action, forcing us to recognize the responsibility we have to ensure that young queer, black, trans children and teens receive the support, love and caring that they deserve. Johnson says "homophobia denies queer people happiness" and the same can be said for racism/transphobia/etc. - we are denying people happiness when we continue to perpetuate these racism and oppressive ideals. "Too many watch in silence while others in the community suppress Black queer people. One day the choice must be made by all: Are you teaching people how to swim or are you letting them drown?" This book was utterly amazing.

There is a chapter in this book that is destined to be the "Forever" (Judy Blume) of gay male teens. But the book is much more than that: a memoir of a young man growing up Black and gay in contemporary America. The writing is a little self-conscious to adult ears, but the teens who need this book will love it. And that cover . . . !!!!

I won’t lie. The cover got me on this one.

Johnson’s story is one that is notably absent from YA. The issues of intersectionality are present in some fiction, but finding good memoirs/nonfiction can be rare. Johnson writes about his life growing up as black and queer in modern America, and he’s not afraid to cover it all. I picture this as an important read for kids who are exploring their own sexual/gender identities because, as Johnson says, “You sometimes don’t know you exist until you realize someone like you existed before.”

This is a book that doesn’t know what it wants to be. To me the most compelling part of this book was Johnson’s memoir, where he details his experience growing up as a queer black boy in America. Where it was a bit clumsy was the integration of the statistics or facts at the end of some of the chapters. It felt out of place and like a minor nod to the bigger issue connected to his experience. In general, his writing style was a bit bland for my taste. There were a few gems that I was compelled to write down, but overall I felt like the prose was a bit dry.

Publishers should be looking out for more voices like Johnson’s. Kids need to read this kind of stuff, and not just the kids who are questioning.

I'm always looking for more modern, YA friendly biographies and memoirs...and this one hits two under-represented groups: African Americans and LGBTQ.

It's more a series of essays (though mostly chronological) than a narrative, but each chapter focuses on an important person or event in Johnson's life. He focuses equally on his black identity and his queer identity, and stresses that his family (who were supportive in their own way) played a big part in his survival.

He discusses the added challenges that come with being queer AND black, along with issues that are pervasive within his community: mental health stigma, reluctance to process trauma, toxic masculinity, etc. He also tackles some topics that he admits might be controversial (child abuse, loss of virginity) but that are important for adolescents--particularly those in the LGBTQ community--could benefit from hearing.

It might be a little heavy for my middle schoolers, but it would make a great addition to a high school LGBTQ collection.

DNF @ 50%

This ARC has a gorgeous cover, which was what initially drew me to the title. I was not as drawn in by the author’s storytelling methods. Most chapters were short essays focused on a particular theme or story from the author’s younger years. There were moments when I wasn’t actually sure what the point of some chapters were. Specifically, there was a chapter that started off talking about shoes and ended with a story about learning to swim and a call to keep pushing onward in your self-journey. I went back and re-read the chapter and still don’t know why the shoes were mentioned at all. (Theoretically, these issues may not be present in the final published version.)

I found myself hung up frequently on issues of voice and writing style that lessened my ability to really connect with the stories, although I did think the author's relationship to his grandmother came through very powerfully.

This memoir could still be useful in larger libraries that have sizable budgets and are looking to include more voices from the queer black community. Smaller libraries who need to make their budget dollars stretch farther can probably skip this title.

This book is so powerful for young readers who will see themselves in different chapters of Johnson’s memoirs.

This book is categorized as Young Adult and I do think the language is perfect for that level. He’s very straight forward with all of his messages for teens, but for older readers, it does come across as him consistently telling us what he wants us to get out of each story rather than showing us his experience.

The real highlight of this was the relationship Johnson has with various members of his family and how clear the love he has for them is with every word he writes and every story he tells.

This is such an important book for people to have, whether it’s as a mirror to their own experiences or a window into someone else’s.

Thank you to Farrar, Straus and Giroux for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book.

This is a powerful and necessary memoir about growing up black and queer. With unflinching honesty, Johnson addresses difficult topics such as sexual assault, toxic masculinity, and internalized homophobia. The blunt, straight-forward narrative style will appeal to many readers, although the narrative voice sometimes felt to me like it was pitched more to adults than teens. Overall, though, Johnson provides an important and often overlooked perspective on the LGBTQ experience. This book deserves a spot in school libraries and classroom collections, and I hope it will find its way into the hands of the readers who need it most.

4.5 stars, rounded up to 5.

The quote that will make you want to pick this book up:

“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?”

Review:

“We are not as different as you think, and all our stories matter and deserve to be celebrated and told.”

All Boys Aren’t Blue is incredibly thought-provoking. Johnson’s writing is casual yet intimate, it feels like he could be sitting right beside you as he tells you about his beloved grandmother “Nanny” or discusses growing up and hiding parts of himself to fit in. Even when discussing traumatic experiences and heartbreaking losses, the book also offers hope and an outstretched hand, reminding you that you are not alone in this fight called life.

The common denominator of the chapters is that you feel the heart put in between these pages – Johnson covers a myriad of relevant topics, from racism, toxic masculinity, and sexual abuse all the way to responsibility, dealing with unspeakable losses, and the impending task of taking care of your elders, which all hit you right in the feels. It’s an honest and unflinching exploration of society’s compulsory heterosexuality and overwhelming gender expectations, but also of intergenerational and familial conflicts and connections, of not measuring up and then wondering why anyone ever even would want to measure up to expectations placed upon you by someone else instead of setting them for yourself. In the afterword, Johnson talks about how he believes that the queer community, right now, at this very moment, has the chance to be the blueprint for the next generation – to “trial and error” their way through life and decide what works, and what definitely has to go. In this memoir-manifesto, Johnson spotlights and exposes the trauma inflicted upon the black queer community but he also lends hope and encourages others to look beyond the boundaries that society has set for them and fight their way out of it.

It’s hard to put into words how much this memoir will mean to a multitude of people but in particular black queer people. Yes, there is more media now representing the interests of black people and queer people, but intersectional representation does not get the attention it needs and deserves. All Boys Aren’t Blue should be mandatory reading for everyone because it inspires you to work harder to make this world a more open, more accepting place. It is a fight that’s never done fighting but reading this book reinvigorates your spirit and so I’ll just leave you with my favourite quote from the book where Johnson talks about being true to yourself and hope that will convince you to pick up a copy:

“This won’t always be easy, I’m not going to lie. I won’t sell you the fable of “It Gets Better” like media tries to do without offering how. The how comes in being willing to take a chance on yourself and create the support system you wish to have. I would also tell you to reclaim that campaign slogan and use it from a place of power. Tell folks, especially those who are non-queer and non-Black, to “Make it Better.” Something getting better doesn’t happen without action, and you have every right to ask for that.”

Johnson is right, we have the right to ask for that. And we also have the chance to Make It Better.

There are not many first person books that cover the black queer experience.. Matthew tells his story with poise, grace and strength. He shares family stories full of love and acceptance. A key factor in him learning to love himself was the love of his grandmother and the support of his parents and cousins. If you are a black, queer individual who feels alone, this book can give you hope. If you are questioning if you are transgender, this book can help you. Amazing job Matthew, honeychild.

All Boys Aren't Blue allows the reader to understand intersectionality through the words of a black, gay man reflecting on his teenage years. The memoir is conversational and informative. Johnson uses relatable stories so teenagers can find guidance in this book and those wanting to gain understanding can easily picture Johnson's life. This is a must-have for a high school library.

Full of raw details of struggles he experienced growing up and coming out as a queer black male. Luckily, his family has supported him through some very tough times. The cover is powerful and will be something that I am eager to put on the shelves at my high school.

This book is a powerful, intimate look at the coming-of-age story of a Black, queer man. I loved the honest, raw, and conversational tone of the book. I thought that teens would really be able to feel safe and seen while reading it. The book does tackle tough topics, sometimes in explicit detail, but I thought those moments were written very carefully and thoughtfully so as to still be appropriate for teens while also being honest as many teens are going through the moments highlighted in the book. Highly, highly recommend this one. It’s a great YA nonfiction title.

I loved this memoir so much! Johnson masterfully takes readers on a journey into his childhood/young adulthood with stories that are written in such a relaxed and natural way, yet filled with so much honesty, love, and joy.
Johnson's anecdotes about his family (especially his parents and Nanny) were one of my favorite parts of this book. I feel like we don't get to read enough about the beauty and positivity that exists in Black families. The love, adoration, and support Johnson received from his family members was such a delight to read about.
This book is stunning and offers so much hope to its readers. I genuinely want all young people (and those of us who are young at heart!) to have it in their hands as soon as it is released!