Student Life | Issue 41

This Book is Gay
by Juno Dawson
BY CELESTE SPAIN
REVIEW
After putting down my latest read,
I was scouring the Waterstones’
website for a book that would
stand out with colour and beauty.
A change from the bland, white,
straight authored books sitting on my
Young Adult fiction shelf, I wanted a
book that would explore the gender
identities within our society. I’d heard
of all these words: ‘Queer’, ‘Asexual’,
‘Nonbinary’ and many more, but I’d
never truly understood them until
I began to read This Book is Gay by
Juno Dawson.
The title was attention grabbing so
I clicked on the book and read the
blurb, ‘Juno Dawson smashes the
myths and prejudice surrounding
sexual orientation and gender
identity’, well that sounded really
interesting! However, I still felt a bit
nervous as though I oughtn’t to be
reading a book which I assumed from
the title would be aimed at LGBTQ+
teens, as a straight cis female.
Then I saw ‘...this book is not Gay,
Straight or Bi. It is a book about the
extraordinary, unique and totally
normal person that is you…’. Just what
I was looking for!
The book covers sexual orientation
and gender identities in Chapter 2,
and draws on peoples’ experiences
of coming out, transitioning, and
dating throughout. This Book is Gay
is a truly enjoyable and inspiring
read for anyone and everyone.
Dawson’s use of language within the
text is also an aspect that I enjoyed,
as it made the book relatable, and, as
stated on the blurb, made me ‘laughout-loud’
at the ‘wit and wisdom’ while
also conveying the serious parts too.
There is even a chapter at the end
covering ‘gay saints/icons’, and of
course, with many activities for you
to complete throughout the book. It
was refreshing reading a book which
felt so open and honest. Juno Dawson
filled this book full of passion,
opinions, and completely smashed
a lot of stereotypes! Therefore, it
definitely deserves a space on my YA
bookshelf at home, and upon yours.
My final thoughts would be that this
is a book that inspires you to go
out into the world and be yourself.
Your identity is part of who you are,
whether you choose to adopt one of
the many labels out there or shake
off the stereotypes that society tries
to pin on you. I am certain that you’ll
love this book, and if you haven’t
already, you’ll find yourself within its
pages.
25 • 25 MARCH • ISSUE 2019 41 • STUDENT LIFE