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livlamentloathe's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion
knokelmaat's review
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Very nice combination of perspectives on an extremely important issue. Really interesting and nuanced. The fact that so many different authors get to tell their story makes this more a broad collection of views and experiences than one single vision. I see this as a good thing, it serves as a jumping off point to reflect and discuss further, giving a lot of different takes to start from.
My only criticism might be that I'm not sure if this comic will help people who are on the fence about the issue. It obviously comes from a pro-choice standpoint and as this aligns with my views on the matter I could immediately connect to all the stories. However, for people who are not sure of this or are stuck in more conservative ways of thinking, I'm not sure if the way the stories are structured is ideal to "ease" them into an alternative way of thinking. Still, this is an extremely important work and the task of convincing anti-choice people is not necessarily the goal of this book. I highly recommend it.
My only criticism might be that I'm not sure if this comic will help people who are on the fence about the issue. It obviously comes from a pro-choice standpoint and as this aligns with my views on the matter I could immediately connect to all the stories. However, for people who are not sure of this or are stuck in more conservative ways of thinking, I'm not sure if the way the stories are structured is ideal to "ease" them into an alternative way of thinking. Still, this is an extremely important work and the task of convincing anti-choice people is not necessarily the goal of this book. I highly recommend it.
novel_nymph's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.0
jugglingpup's review against another edition
5.0
To see more reviews check out MI Book Reviews.
I grabbed this book because I saw it in the new book section of my library. I have always avidly said I was a feminist and that I was pro-choice (well I said I was “pro-life by being pro-choice”, which I thought was just so brilliant when I was just coming to terms with my feminism). This book is my first real look at abortion outside of some history around the practice and a French film.
I learned so much from reading this. I am so thankful these wonderful people have shared their stories. They have taught me some practical things like pricing and some emotional things like feeling alienated after an abortion because of the social stigma of having an abortion. Things I understood, but didn’t know.
There were pieces that were solely about the history of abortion clinic protests (read attacks on clinics and killing of people by extremists), the history of abortion laws, birth control options, planned parenthood stats, and a few that were stories from people that work in clinics that actually provide helpful services to people seeking abortions. I am beyond impressed by the work that these people do. They face violence, they face stigma, and they do it to help others on a daily basis. They are true heroes.
Most of the pieces were easy to read, easy to follow, and had art that was fitting for the topic. There was one piece that I almost skipped because it was difficult to figure out the flow of the text and the art blurred into the words making the difficult to even see. The rest of the pieces were very well done. That is a much higher rate of liked pieces and legible pieces than I am used to seeing in an anthology.
The piece that really got to me was one by Kris Louis called “October”. It is about their own experience getting an abortion as a budding trans person. It hit so close to home. I may not have gotten an abortion, but it was my only option if I had gotten pregnant as a teenager. I came out early as a FTM, which is different than the author, but the feelings were the same. I was raped and did not have a choice in condom usage. My life spun, I didn’t know what to do. I was too afraid to even get a pregnancy test, I had been told they wouldn’t be effective because I was on hormones. So I went months without knowing. My period had stopped, I was gaining weight, I was moody. I had no support system, that I knew of, because the few people I had gone to had laughed and said it couldn’t have been raped or that it was my fault for being trans. So I just suffered alone, though I know now that I had friends that would have supported me if I went to them. I only found out for sure I wasn’t pregnant when I went to get my top surgery and the hospital wouldn’t operate on me without one. I was terrified I would find out I was pregnant in front of my family (my mother being one of the people that denied it was rape) and having my transition completely cancelled. Louis thankfully had a better support network and continues to have a support network. Louis’s story might not hit everyone as close to home as it did me, but the fact that the editors allowed and encouraged non-binary and trans people to submit their stories says a great deal about the editors and the organizations that they support.
Now that was a bit TMI, but it is hard to not share information. It is hard to not feel like you have been let into these people’s lives and now you know something that some of them were deeply ashamed of for years. Just know that even if you don’t read this book, that this book will change lives. This is a necessary book and should be supported.
I grabbed this book because I saw it in the new book section of my library. I have always avidly said I was a feminist and that I was pro-choice (well I said I was “pro-life by being pro-choice”, which I thought was just so brilliant when I was just coming to terms with my feminism). This book is my first real look at abortion outside of some history around the practice and a French film.
I learned so much from reading this. I am so thankful these wonderful people have shared their stories. They have taught me some practical things like pricing and some emotional things like feeling alienated after an abortion because of the social stigma of having an abortion. Things I understood, but didn’t know.
There were pieces that were solely about the history of abortion clinic protests (read attacks on clinics and killing of people by extremists), the history of abortion laws, birth control options, planned parenthood stats, and a few that were stories from people that work in clinics that actually provide helpful services to people seeking abortions. I am beyond impressed by the work that these people do. They face violence, they face stigma, and they do it to help others on a daily basis. They are true heroes.
Most of the pieces were easy to read, easy to follow, and had art that was fitting for the topic. There was one piece that I almost skipped because it was difficult to figure out the flow of the text and the art blurred into the words making the difficult to even see. The rest of the pieces were very well done. That is a much higher rate of liked pieces and legible pieces than I am used to seeing in an anthology.
The piece that really got to me was one by Kris Louis called “October”. It is about their own experience getting an abortion as a budding trans person. It hit so close to home. I may not have gotten an abortion, but it was my only option if I had gotten pregnant as a teenager. I came out early as a FTM, which is different than the author, but the feelings were the same. I was raped and did not have a choice in condom usage. My life spun, I didn’t know what to do. I was too afraid to even get a pregnancy test, I had been told they wouldn’t be effective because I was on hormones. So I went months without knowing. My period had stopped, I was gaining weight, I was moody. I had no support system, that I knew of, because the few people I had gone to had laughed and said it couldn’t have been raped or that it was my fault for being trans. So I just suffered alone, though I know now that I had friends that would have supported me if I went to them. I only found out for sure I wasn’t pregnant when I went to get my top surgery and the hospital wouldn’t operate on me without one. I was terrified I would find out I was pregnant in front of my family (my mother being one of the people that denied it was rape) and having my transition completely cancelled. Louis thankfully had a better support network and continues to have a support network. Louis’s story might not hit everyone as close to home as it did me, but the fact that the editors allowed and encouraged non-binary and trans people to submit their stories says a great deal about the editors and the organizations that they support.
Now that was a bit TMI, but it is hard to not share information. It is hard to not feel like you have been let into these people’s lives and now you know something that some of them were deeply ashamed of for years. Just know that even if you don’t read this book, that this book will change lives. This is a necessary book and should be supported.
caitlyn888's review against another edition
5.0
This is an extremely educational collection of comics that discuss the legal history of abortion in the U.S., the medical reasons for needing one, and resources for those seeking reproductive healthcare. It dispels a lot of propaganda myths around the procedure, including lies about how unsafe it is (of course, I'm speaking about its safety with people who are properly trained to perform abortions). Trigger warning since there is mention of abuse and SA in some of the stories.
It's unlikely that someone who is very anti-choice would pick this book up, but it truly is full of so much valuable information that people should know. I learned a lot, and I feel that this resource will become increasingly more valuable to our population as we venture forth into a post-Roe world.
It's unlikely that someone who is very anti-choice would pick this book up, but it truly is full of so much valuable information that people should know. I learned a lot, and I feel that this resource will become increasingly more valuable to our population as we venture forth into a post-Roe world.
julesthebookdragon417's review against another edition
4.0
This is a powerful collection of comics in which women share the true stories of how their lives have been touched by abortion and legislation over women's bodies. Contributors represent a broad range of identities, cultures, and experiences as they walk the reader through a breadth of topics from their own personal stories, to the legal history of women's bodily autonomy, to the biological development of a human in utero and how that process correlates with various's cultures' timelines of ensoulment...This books does not portray abortion as a black and white issue, but as one with an infinite number of nuances and facets that interconnect and impact the very fabric of civilization.
alixsbooktherapy's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
I decided to read this as a rape victim and someone who lives in a city where you cannot get a abortion, I've been so close to having kids when I literally could die due to my health issues
This really shows me men should not be the ones to ever talk to women if they want a abortion because men will continue to ask you if you think it's right or give you reasons why you shouldn't have one.
No fetus is worth giving birth to if you don't want it our foster homes and orphanages are already filled enough have abortions!
I loved being able to relate to some of these ladies stories and how alot of them weren't ready to be moms or didn't have the funds to have the kids, I was absolutely so mad when they mentioned how much abortions cost I remember how pricey it was for me But still abortions should be free just like having sex is.
As we go on throughout the book we see different art styles and I love it especially with the women in prison who are imprisoned for abortions/miscarriages. There was one girl who brought a gun and saved the women from being murdered for their "crimes"
"As if pro-choice people believe in abortion. This is false. We believe in personal choice. A person can have a future."
Access to abortion is a human right
In past tense future forward it made me so mad that the doctor showed the lady pictures of "what you're doing if you have a abortion" it's triggering and will only make people have unsafe abortions if they don't feel welcomed or accepted at the clinlic
The story of my abortion broke me she assumed she wasn't pregnant because of how many scares she had and ended up not being pregnant then she starts bleeding and little does she know she's very pregnant and it costs thousands of dollars upfront to abort it
Justin cheating on Lani and trying to hide it, Lani dumped him at the pond but before that he said that they can't go to his place and never said why then when Lani calls to tell Justin she's pregnant she learns why
Small mistakes big problems is the one that got me so mad the partner ends up doing stuff while the sophia is asleep says he'll buy sophia plan b but when it comes to his trip he doesn't even though he came in sophia without a condom and when he said he'd pull out like what the fuck you just raped somebody and now you're not gonna buy Sophia a plan b
"I guess if he wants to fuck me without a condom so bad then I should go on birth control" Sophia ends up pregnant and gets a abortion. We figure out later he's abusive and controlling forces her to have sex him for him paying rent and "taking care of her" which we see wasn't the case when he hits her and asks "do you want to break up"
"3 years later I had my first orgasm at 25" this broke me its the sad reality for most rape victims she goes on to tell her thoughts of how she still thinks about the kid she would of had if she didn't have a abortion which I know that feeling all to well even though she made the right choice
"And I Still want to see you someday but definitely not back then and not yet today" the epilogue for Sophia's story broke me but I'm glad she told us her story
"I can't wait to eat my weight in rice balls and bubble tea"
This book was a must read
This really shows me men should not be the ones to ever talk to women if they want a abortion because men will continue to ask you if you think it's right or give you reasons why you shouldn't have one.
No fetus is worth giving birth to if you don't want it our foster homes and orphanages are already filled enough have abortions!
I loved being able to relate to some of these ladies stories and how alot of them weren't ready to be moms or didn't have the funds to have the kids, I was absolutely so mad when they mentioned how much abortions cost I remember how pricey it was for me But still abortions should be free just like having sex is.
As we go on throughout the book we see different art styles and I love it especially with the women in prison who are imprisoned for abortions/miscarriages. There was one girl who brought a gun and saved the women from being murdered for their "crimes"
"As if pro-choice people believe in abortion. This is false. We believe in personal choice. A person can have a future."
Access to abortion is a human right
In past tense future forward it made me so mad that the doctor showed the lady pictures of "what you're doing if you have a abortion" it's triggering and will only make people have unsafe abortions if they don't feel welcomed or accepted at the clinlic
The story of my abortion broke me she assumed she wasn't pregnant because of how many scares she had and ended up not being pregnant then she starts bleeding and little does she know she's very pregnant and it costs thousands of dollars upfront to abort it
Justin cheating on Lani and trying to hide it, Lani dumped him at the pond but before that he said that they can't go to his place and never said why then when Lani calls to tell Justin she's pregnant she learns why
Small mistakes big problems is the one that got me so mad the partner ends up doing stuff while the sophia is asleep says he'll buy sophia plan b but when it comes to his trip he doesn't even though he came in sophia without a condom and when he said he'd pull out like what the fuck you just raped somebody and now you're not gonna buy Sophia a plan b
"I guess if he wants to fuck me without a condom so bad then I should go on birth control" Sophia ends up pregnant and gets a abortion. We figure out later he's abusive and controlling forces her to have sex him for him paying rent and "taking care of her" which we see wasn't the case when he hits her and asks "do you want to break up"
"3 years later I had my first orgasm at 25" this broke me its the sad reality for most rape victims she goes on to tell her thoughts of how she still thinks about the kid she would of had if she didn't have a abortion which I know that feeling all to well even though she made the right choice
"And I Still want to see you someday but definitely not back then and not yet today" the epilogue for Sophia's story broke me but I'm glad she told us her story
"I can't wait to eat my weight in rice balls and bubble tea"
This book was a must read
saborlitino's review
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
3.0
I learned so much from this wonderful comic compilation! From the intricacies of fetal development to various first-hand accounts and histories, Comics for Choice gathers a choir of voices to shine a light on just how important abortion access is for us as a society.
Premise aside, I found myself struggling to make it through this. The pacing was choppy because the quality varied greatly from comic to comic. I would get a lot of momentum from a really strong story then lose it after moving to the next (at times too dense, at others confusingly organized) story because of this. Also, I found that some stories were surprisingly moderate with their take on abortion:
Premise aside, I found myself struggling to make it through this. The pacing was choppy because the quality varied greatly from comic to comic. I would get a lot of momentum from a really strong story then lose it after moving to the next (at times too dense, at others confusingly organized) story because of this. Also, I found that some stories were surprisingly moderate with their take on abortion:
As if pro-choice people believe in abortion. This is false. We believe in personal choice. A person can have a future.
Of course, there will always be variation in people's opinions on what pro-choice means, however, I am completely sure that pro-choice is pro-abortion (as it should be!). This take was strange and felt off-putting compared to the rest of the stories surrounding it.
That said, I am so glad to have read this! Access to abortion is a human right.