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itshardizzy's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
[first read I rated 4.75 stars and this was my review]
this was such a heart-warming book!!!
running with lions deals with important themes such as queerness, belonging, found family, the hardships that we go thru as teenagers and the fear of the future. all of the themes really impacted me and i felt so connected with some of the struggles the characters go through.
the team is so cute and friendly. it was a refreshing take on the themes of soccer themes, when normaly there isn't that many queer individual in the team (sometimes none), and the athletes usually are repulsed by femininity in a boy (which btw this book really deals with it well, boys doing things that would be consider female). it was important to see a group of boys that support each other no matter the sexuality, they are a family and one where everyone will always be there for the other.
we also have a strong representation of Pakistani people and the struggle they go thru, talking about the prejudice people holds against them. it was heartbreaking seeing Emir talking about that.
our mc, Sebastian, was the one that i felt more connected to. he and i share a struggle: not knowing what we want for the future. in the moment I am, it felt really good and reassuring seeing this being represented in a book, and then seeing that the author wanted to talk about that because he wants teenagers to understand its normal, and everyone has its own time. and also he coming out as bi was just like "woooooah is this me?".
another point I wanna talk about is the development of the characters and how each of them accepts their flaws, and work to get better — this is visible in Mason.
but one thing that felt a bit off for me was Grey, in the beggining it felt that she doesn't really like femininity and I felt really bothered by it, but I guess later on i understood that she probably feels this way bc Mason treats her like a little girl, which made her have to be more "masculine". but in the end she really does a girlboss move (hahah) and accepts that she doesn't have to do a lot just so Mason can stop seeing her as just a little girl, and it was my fave moment of her.
this book felt like a warm hug and it was exactly what I need this new years eve. i'll most definitely reread it just to see me beautiful character again
this was such a heart-warming book!!!
running with lions deals with important themes such as queerness, belonging, found family, the hardships that we go thru as teenagers and the fear of the future. all of the themes really impacted me and i felt so connected with some of the struggles the characters go through.
the team is so cute and friendly. it was a refreshing take on the themes of soccer themes, when normaly there isn't that many queer individual in the team (sometimes none), and the athletes usually are repulsed by femininity in a boy (which btw this book really deals with it well, boys doing things that would be consider female). it was important to see a group of boys that support each other no matter the sexuality, they are a family and one where everyone will always be there for the other.
we also have a strong representation of Pakistani people and the struggle they go thru, talking about the prejudice people holds against them. it was heartbreaking seeing Emir talking about that.
our mc, Sebastian, was the one that i felt more connected to. he and i share a struggle: not knowing what we want for the future. in the moment I am, it felt really good and reassuring seeing this being represented in a book, and then seeing that the author wanted to talk about that because he wants teenagers to understand its normal, and everyone has its own time. and also he coming out as bi was just like "woooooah is this me?".
another point I wanna talk about is the development of the characters and how each of them accepts their flaws, and work to get better — this is visible in Mason.
but one thing that felt a bit off for me was Grey, in the beggining it felt that she doesn't really like femininity and I felt really bothered by it, but I guess later on i understood that she probably feels this way bc Mason treats her like a little girl, which made her have to be more "masculine". but in the end she really does a girlboss move (hahah) and accepts that she doesn't have to do a lot just so Mason can stop seeing her as just a little girl, and it was my fave moment of her.
this book felt like a warm hug and it was exactly what I need this new years eve. i'll most definitely reread it just to see me beautiful character again
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Homophobia, Antisemitism, Abandonment, Bullying, and Body shaming
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