Reviews tagging 'Terminal illness'

Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan

8 reviews

capyval's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

I like the way this book was written, but sometimes it sounded too melodramatic. Still, I think Levithan's writing is superb and a pleasure to read.

One big warning, though, if you are sensitive to descriptions of homophobia you will have a hard time with this book, and the same goes if AIDS is something that triggers you. Approach this book cautiously, because it has a lot of positive things on it, but also many sad parts 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Medical content, and Terminal illness

thatchickengirl23's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Terminal illness, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Death

Minor: Excrement

malenaa14's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Suicide, Death, Terminal illness, and Homophobia

alyxferguson's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness, Chronic illness, and Mental illness

Moderate: Suicide attempt, Suicide, and Abandonment

Minor: Self harm

veronicachp's review against another edition

emotional hopeful tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I was not prepared for this book. Having never read anything by David Levithan before, or the reviews, and only barely glancing at the plot summary, I was not prepared. I expected it to be a fluffy, 2 boys in love teen romance type deal, but it is so much more poignant and beautiful and moving. I cried three times and immediately put it on my "buy a copy" list, and that's all there is to say really. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness

Moderate: Homophobia and Suicide attempt

ilona's review

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, Outing, Suicide attempt, and Violence

Moderate: Death and Terminal illness

Minor: Transphobia

erikalv97's review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Homophobia, Medical trauma, Death, Grief, Hate crime, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Medical content, Mental illness, and Suicidal thoughts

someonelikeblue's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

5.0

There are many boys kissing in this book. They lead different lives in different relationships and all feel like real couples. Seeing their struggles and joys breaks and warms your heart. Through their interlocking narratives, the supportive, melancholic, touching, encouraging commentary of the Greek Chorus of the generation of gay men lost to AIDS is woven. This is the bit that makes it even more than a YA novel, a piece of poetry. 

My only concern is with how Avery, the trans boy, describes himself. It reads as a cis person describing a trans experience. And then there is that sceptical part in me that knows not all cis LGB people (past or present) would be as welcoming to him as the Chorus is.



This book still holds up after the 3rd read. Better still, there are always new passages and sentences to find and marvel over.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Terminal illness, and Homophobia

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Transphobia