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A review by destdest
About the Boy by Leah Nicole Whitcomb
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
From the beginning, this had a great narrative voice that hooked me. Music also plays a subtle recurring theme as when the character's music tastes. I think the characters sounded like teenagers, and not “how do you do, fellow kids.”
I’ll be honest I skimmed through the biology talk/terms. Both Naima and her lab partner Kamron excel at biology (science). I’m sure all the lab experiments they do might make spark the itch to do it yourself.
Naima is also very frank about being autistic. She knows what she needs to feel comfortable but often finds herself making missteps with other people. Curbing her tongue when she wants to express herself due to past experiences. Even worse, her autism diagnosis was revealed, prior to the story, without her consent.
There are a lot conversations here: Mississippi: why some leave vs stay, Black autistic girls and societal expectations, losing a parent during the height of Covid, and how Black excellence shifts when you’re not neurotypical, and, ultimately, wanting to belong.
While fictional books don’t have to be educational, I was introduced to more through Naima’s perspective. I had never considered how menstrual bleeding could be overstimulation for some before. All of the above topics weren’t heavy-handed or info-dumpy. Covid becomes a major plot point midway through too.
The miscommunication between Naima and her mother is very emotional and will be very tender for some readers. As a negative, I found Sam a little too good to be true (not that I want a jerkish character, but the average teenage boy is not this well-adjusted). I thought the story was heading in a certain direction with him (and maybe it still could be with book 2), but it felt a little unresolved.
At first, Naima comes off blunt and rude to Kamron and distrustful, but as they grow closer they become friends. One of the most heartwarming moments is when a character acknowledges why he puts less weight on first impressions; we can all extend a little more grace to everyone.
I enjoyed Naima (and Kamron’s) story , and their eventual first love. The cover is also pretty! But a good reading experience overall.
I’ll be honest I skimmed through the biology talk/terms. Both Naima and her lab partner Kamron excel at biology (science). I’m sure all the lab experiments they do might make spark the itch to do it yourself.
Naima is also very frank about being autistic. She knows what she needs to feel comfortable but often finds herself making missteps with other people. Curbing her tongue when she wants to express herself due to past experiences. Even worse, her autism diagnosis was revealed, prior to the story, without her consent.
There are a lot conversations here: Mississippi: why some leave vs stay, Black autistic girls and societal expectations, losing a parent during the height of Covid, and how Black excellence shifts when you’re not neurotypical, and, ultimately, wanting to belong.
While fictional books don’t have to be educational, I was introduced to more through Naima’s perspective. I had never considered how menstrual bleeding could be overstimulation for some before. All of the above topics weren’t heavy-handed or info-dumpy. Covid becomes a major plot point midway through too.
The miscommunication between Naima and her mother is very emotional and will be very tender for some readers. As a negative, I found Sam a little too good to be true (not that I want a jerkish character, but the average teenage boy is not this well-adjusted). I thought the story was heading in a certain direction with him (and maybe it still could be with book 2), but it felt a little unresolved.
At first, Naima comes off blunt and rude to Kamron and distrustful, but as they grow closer they become friends. One of the most heartwarming moments is when a character acknowledges why he puts less weight on first impressions; we can all extend a little more grace to everyone.
I enjoyed Naima (and Kamron’s) story , and their eventual first love. The cover is also pretty! But a good reading experience overall.