tabloids/paparazzi as main motivators of action selfish/immature characters motivated by romance (cough, or sex, cough) exclusively

This Justin Bieber fanfiction-esque style reveals itself in a series of ways: (Which isn’t to say fanfiction can’t be good and professional and polished - but my experience with fanfiction is limited to what was available in 2011-2012 in the genre of “normal teenage girl onto whom I can project myself meets and promptly falls in love with male teen pop sensation.”) Mainly, I have the same problems with this book as I did with Queens of Geek. Because these people are garbage monsters. Outside of some pretty okay character development.but the character development is much needed. For example, when The Brightsiders are performing, a concert attendee is described as a “person in a yellow dress.” Gender identity not assumed based on garb or appearance.īut alas, though that is the Biggest Good Thing I am capable of imagining, it is also the only good thing. It, on its own, pretty much salvages what would have been a pretty bad read for me.Īdditionally, this book does something I don’t think I’ve ever seen before, and it is miraculous how wonderful and right and natural it feels: no pronouns are assumed. Side characters include a gender nonconforming African American who uses they/them/theirs a pansexual love interest who transitioned from biologically female to genderqueer and uses he/him/his an Asian boy who comes out as bi two lesbian females and a bi female. The main character in The Brightsiders is a bisexual female.

The main main main amazing triumphant life-changing world-turning Good Thing is what Jen Wilde seems to do best (judging by the very limited sample of her two books): diversity. You know, those really fun ones that feel like someone is stabbing you above the eye? Yeah. By exciting stuff, like drama so unrelenting and pain-inducing that it gave me icepick migraines. I know this is my unending refrain, but I really wanted to like this book.

The brightsiders book