Reviews

We Are Not Broken by George M. Johnson

spetty88's review

challenging hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0

brooke_reads98's review

emotional informative reflective fast-paced

4.5

quinnster's review

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective slow-paced

4.0

 A sweet love letter to the woman who raised them and kept their families whole. She wasn't perfect, but she was perfect for them. Johnson doesn't hold much back in this and tells his story, as well as his Grandmother's story during his childhood with candor and humor all laced with love. 

cassiesnextchapter's review against another edition

5.0

Thanks to Hachette Audio for my gifted copy of this audiobook!

I couldn’t get to WE ARE NOT BROKEN fast enough, and wow did it deliver! I absolutely loved this ode to Nanny, his grandmother who recently passed. It was moving, funny, tender, enlightening, and so fierce. Read by the author, I can’t recommend it enough!

jwinchell's review against another edition

4.0

George M Johnson has written a most beautiful memoir of growing up with his brother and cousins under the guidance of his grandma, Nanny. He says it’s an ode to black boy joy and to Black women. He tells lots of stories about growing up in small town New Jersey, intermixes letters from each grandchild to Nanny, and Johnson’s reflections on the ways Black heteronormative culture was abusive and dismissive of him. I cried at the end because I thought of how my own grandparents were always larger than life and how I still love them so much. This is a beautiful YA memoir.

jenwoodrum's review

4.0

Beautiful and powerful memoir!

zellm's review

4.0

This was an incredibly strong book on black boyhood, the importance of family, and growing up queer. I loved the content. I found myself wanting more, and I think the structure of specific anecdotes rather than a cohesive narrative contributed to that. But overall great!

lorijoy720's review

5.0

This memoir is a heartfelt dedication to the author's grandmother - Nanny. As someone also raised by a strong, independent black grandma, I found myself relating to the deep love portrayed in this book - both given and received. I feel honored to have read about this wonderful woman and how she shaped the lives of so many young black children, and now some of her wisdom as been passed down to me (some rando lol).

j_loon's review

emotional hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted sad tense medium-paced

5.0

Even better than their first memoir

soupwitch86's review

5.0

This book, at the root of it, is love.