lovelybookshelf's review

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challenging hopeful inspiring fast-paced

2.75

This reads on a middle grade level, but content-wise it is solidly YA. The aspects of this book that focused on the bears and Justin's fight to get them to humane conditions were excellent. However, there was a little too much privilege combined with an intense overzealousness (à la PETA) that detracted from my enjoyment of the book overall. There was also a small scene that treated cutting and suicidal ideation so casually, so flippantly, that it practically glamorized it. That felt grossly irresponsible considering this title is marketed toward teens. I did appreciate that the narrative shows how complex people are; no one is all good or all bad. So yeah, lots of mixed feelings about this one. 

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sara_m_martins's review

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hopeful inspiring fast-paced

4.0

Jane Goodall speaks truth in her foreword, when she says you can't put this down and that it is read in one sitting!
"This was about justice, standing up for the voiceless, and helping people see that animals were more than food or entertainment. They had their own unique lives and deserved the same decency and respect that we all yearn for."
Give me animals, LGBTQ representation and mix in some fight for justice and that's ~90% of my personality and 100% of my social media timeline
This book completely transported me to the author's life, growing up in the 90's, while starting and creating his path in the animal rights movement, while growing up, finding himself and his people. I really enjoyed the writing style, making it easy to read and appealing to an YA audience. 
Recommend for any animal lovers, social justice people and queer kids, for a bit of representation where being queer is an important facet of life presented alongside others. Also 90's teens might get a bit of nice nostalgia.

Thank you to NetGalley+publisher for providing me with an eARC

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