Overall, I liked this book and my favorite part about it was: it exists. That being said, the author made some narrative choices that weren't personally my favorite. There was a tendency to tell rather than show throughout the book; often, I felt like the author's stories or lessons would have been more impactful if they were written out as a scene, rather than just described. At points, it felt like listening to a grandparent reminisce about their youth -- that was the level of 'detached' I felt from many of the stories. Each chapter was also typically finished with a very explicit summary and 'lesson' for readers to learn. I understand that I am well above the target audience for this book (I'm much closer to the author's current age than his age in the memoir), and the explicit detailing of the lessons may benefit younger readers. 

I'm glad I read it, and there were definitely some powerful moments. I think it is always valuable to read narratives about people who are different from us, particularly those who are members of marginalized groups. I appreciated the author's reflection on the intersectionality of his Black identity and his queer identity -- this book would be a great introduction to helping teens understand intersectionality as a concept, and begin thinking about its importance when we discuss systematic oppression.