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A review by caseythereader
Just Happy to Be Here by Naomi Kanakia
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
- I adored JUST HAPPY TO BE HERE. I love how YA can both explore teen friendship drama and cut to the heart of big, life-defining questions.
- This book really digs in on big, messy questions surrounding transness and gendered institutions and spaces. Who has a right to be there? Who is permitted to do what because they do or do not conform to a binary? Should these spaces even exist?
- I don’t want to get too much into the details because I don’t want to spoil the journey. But I really hope lots of people will pick up this book and have some good, long discussions about the questions raised in it. I am very glad that it exists.
- This book really digs in on big, messy questions surrounding transness and gendered institutions and spaces. Who has a right to be there? Who is permitted to do what because they do or do not conform to a binary? Should these spaces even exist?
- I don’t want to get too much into the details because I don’t want to spoil the journey. But I really hope lots of people will pick up this book and have some good, long discussions about the questions raised in it. I am very glad that it exists.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Deadnaming, Misogyny, and Transphobia
Moderate: Racism, Classism, and Deportation