All Boys Aren't Blue Explained

All Boys Aren't Blue
Author:George M. Johnson
Cover Artist:Charly "Carlos" Palmer
Genre:Young adult non-fiction
Publisher:Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Pub Date:2020
Media Type:Print
Isbn:9780374312718
Oclc:1246484973
Dewey:306.76/6208996073
Congress:HQ76.27.A37 J644 2020
Website:https://www.fiercereads.com/books/all-boys-arent-blue/

All Boys Aren't Blue is a young adult non-fiction "memoir-manifesto" by journalist and activist George M. Johnson,[1] published April 28, 2020, by Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

The book consists of a series of essays following Johnson's journey growing up as a queer Black man in Plainfield, New Jersey,[2] and Virginia. In addition to describing Johnson's own experience, it directly addresses Black queer boys who may not have someone in their lives with similar experiences.[3]

Despite mostly positive reviews from critics, All Boys Aren't Blue has been subjected to multiple attempts of censorship, becoming one of the top ten most banned and challenged books in the United States in the early-2020s.

Content

The book discusses consent, agency, and sexual abuse, alongside various other topics. It also describes two sexual encounters and statutory rape.[4]

Background

Johnson was motivated to write All Boys Aren't Blue by Toni Morrison's maxim "If there's a book you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it," which Johnson has tattooed on their right arm.[5]

The "blue" in the title carries several meanings, being a color traditionally identified with masculinity and the color of police officers, who have disproportionately invoked violence against queer Black people. The title also pays homage to the character Blue from Queen Sugar, as well as the appearance of Black skin in Moonlight and the play it is based upon, In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue.

Reception

Critical reception

All Boys Aren't Blue received a starred review from Kirkus,[6] as well as positive reviews from School Library Journal,[7] Booklist,[8] and Publishers Weekly.[9]

Kirkus called the book "[a] critical, captivating, merciful mirror for growing up Black and queer today."[6]

Publishers Weekly noted, "Though at first glance the book lacks the synthesizing call to action that "manifesto" would imply, its "be yourself" message remains a radical stance for doubly marginalized individuals." They continued to say, “In a publishing landscape in need of queer black voices, readers who are sorting through similar concepts will be grateful to join him on the journey,” and called it "a balm and testimony to young readers as allies in the fight for equality."[9]

The New York Times called it "[a]n exuberant, unapologetic memoir infused with a deep but clear-eyed love for its subjects."

HuffPost wrote that it was "an unflinching testimony that carves out space for Black queer kids to be seen."[10]

Bitch Magazine said that "All Boys Aren't Blue is a game changer."[11]

Kirkus named All Boys Aren't Blue one of the best young adult biographies/memoirs of 2020.[12] The New York Public Library[13] and Chicago Public Library[14] also included it in their list of the top ten books of 2020 for young adults.

Awards and honors

YearAwardResultRef.
2021ALA Rainbow Book ListTop 10[15]
YALSA's Amazing Audiobooks for Young AdultsSelection[16]
YALSA's Teens' Top 10Selection[17]
2020Goodreads Choice Award for Memoir & AutobiographyNominee[18]
2019Outstanding Books for the College Bound: Literature and Language ArtsSelection[19]

Censorship in the United States

All Boys Aren't Blue has frequently been censored because it includes LGBTQIA+ content and profanity; it is also "claimed to be sexually explicit."[20] In 2021, the American Library Association's Office of Intellectual Freedom named it the third most banned and challenged book in the United States of the year; it was the second most challenged book in 2022[21] [22] and 2023.[23] [24] School boards in at least ten states have removed the book from their libraries.[25] [26] [27]

In 2021, Flagler County School Board member and retired teacher Jill Woolbright filed a criminal complaint against the Superintendent for carrying the book, objecting to mentions of masturbation and oral sex.[28] [29] The Flagler County Sheriff's Office found that the content of the book was not a violation of law and did not warrant further investigation. The removal of the book prompted student protests.

In 2021, the Wentzville School Board in Missouri banned All Boys Aren't Blue, alongside three other books, from the district's high school libraries. Other books included in the ban were Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye, Kiese Laymon’s , and Alison Bechdel’s Fun Home.[30]

In 2022, All Boys Aren't Blue was listed among 52 books banned by the Alpine School District following the implementation of Utah law H.B. 374, “Sensitive Materials In Schools,"[31] 42% of which “feature LBGTQ+ characters and or themes.”[32] [33] Many of the books were removed because they were considered to contain pornographic material according to the new law, which defines pornography using the following criteria:

Adaptation

All Boys Aren't Blue was adapted into a short film in 2021. The film was directed by Nathan Hale Williams and stars Dyllón Burnside.[35]

All Boys Aren't Blue was optioned to be developed as a TV series by actress Gabrielle Union.[36]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Clarendon . Dan . June 9, 2020 . 20 LGBTQ+ Books for Teens Coming Out in 2020 . live . 2021-12-06 . Teen Vogue. https://web.archive.org/web/20200615152701/https://www.teenvogue.com/story/lgbtq-books-for-teens . 2020-06-15 .
  2. News: Harlan . Jennifer . April 18, 2020 . From Missing Persons to Mistaken Identities, Books About Seeing and Being Seen . The New York Times . December 6, 2021 . December 6, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211206203540/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/18/books/review/new-young-adult-crossover.html . live .
  3. Web site: Steele . Taylor . 19 Books By Queer Authors Reviewers Fell In Love With . BuzzFeed . 25 June 2020 . 2021-12-06 . 2021-12-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211206204117/https://www.buzzfeed.com/taylor_steele/books-by-queer-authors-reviewers-fell-in-love-with . live .
  4. Web site: McDougle. Jonathan. 18 November 2021. George M. Johnson isn't surprised their book is being banned: "America has always had an issue with anything that tells the truth". CBS News. 6 December 2021. 7 December 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211207103646/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/book-bans-george-m-johnson/. live.
  5. Web site: Mayer . Petra . May 2, 2020 . 'Give Them The Damn Information': Questions For George M. Johnson . NPR . December 6, 2021 . December 6, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211206203400/https://www.npr.org/2020/05/02/848764750/give-them-the-damn-information-questions-for-george-m-johnson . live .
  6. Web site: 2020-01-23. All Boys Aren't Blue. live. 2022-01-11. Kirkus Reviews. https://web.archive.org/web/20200123114034/https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/george-m-johnson/all-boys-arent-blue/ . 2020-01-23 .
  7. Book: All Boys Aren't Blue. live. 2022-01-11. Chicago Public Library. 9780374312718 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220112053136/https://chipublib.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S126C2238958 . 2022-01-12 . Johnson . George M. . 28 April 2020 . Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) .
  8. Book: 2020-03-01. All Boys Aren't Blue. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200924185806/https://www.booklistonline.com/All-Boys-Aren-t-Blue/pid=9730673 . 2020-09-24 .
  9. Web site: Children's Book Review: All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, $17.99 (320p) ISBN 978-0-37431-271-8. Publishers Weekly. 2021-12-06. 2021-12-06. https://web.archive.org/web/20211206201858/https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-37431-271-8. live.
  10. Web site: George M. Johnson's New Memoir Reminds Us That 'All Boys Aren't Blue'. April 28, 2020. HuffPost. December 6, 2021. December 6, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211206201858/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/george-m-johnson-book-all-the-boys-arent-blue_n_5ea70d5cc5b6a30004e62a79. live.
  11. Web site: Dionne . Evette . January 3, 2020 . 17 Memoirs Feminists Should Read in 2020 . Bitch Media . December 6, 2021 . December 6, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211206201908/https://www.bitchmedia.org/article/bitchreads/most-anticipated-memoirs-2020 . live .
  12. Web site: Best YA Biography and Memoir of 2020. 2021-12-06. Kirkus Reviews. en. 2021-12-06. https://web.archive.org/web/20211206220309/https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-lists/best-ya-biography-and-memoir-of-2020/. live.
  13. Web site: Pullen. Emily. November 24, 2020. Introducing NYPL's Best Books of 2020. live. 2021-12-06. The New York Public Library. https://web.archive.org/web/20201124141136/https://www.nypl.org/blog/2020/11/24/introducing-nypls-best-books-2020 . 2020-11-24 .
  14. Web site: Best Teen Nonfiction of 2020. 2022-01-12. Chicago Public Library. en-US. 2022-01-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20220112054903/https://chipublib.bibliocommons.com/list/share/200121216/1769527119. live.
  15. Web site: The 2021 Rainbow Book List. 2022-01-12. Rainbow Book List. en-US. 2021-05-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20210505210310/https://glbtrt.ala.org/rainbowbooks/archives/1341. live.
  16. Web site: 2021-01-04. 2021 Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults. live. 2022-01-12. Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). en. https://web.archive.org/web/20210104213625/http://www.ala.org/yalsa/2021-amazing-audiobooks-young-adults . 2021-01-04 .
  17. Web site: Serbekian. Michael. 2021-11-04. 2021 YALSA Teens' Top Ten titles announced. live. 2022-01-12. American Library Association News and Press Center. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20211108204148/https://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2021/11/2021-yalsa-teens-top-ten-titles-announced . 2021-11-08 .
  18. Web site: All Boys Aren't Blue. live. 2022-01-11. Goodreads. https://web.archive.org/web/20220112054941/https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44280883-all-boys-aren-t-blue?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=ZuW4UfossL&rank=1 . 2022-01-12 .
  19. Web site: 2020-02-14. 2019 OBCB Literature and Language Arts. live. 2022-01-12. Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). en. https://web.archive.org/web/20211023161705/https://www.ala.org/yalsa/2019-obcb-literature-and-language-arts . 2021-10-23 .
  20. Web site: 2013-03-26 . Top 10 Most Challenged Books Lists . 2022-08-07 . American Library Association . en . 2017-07-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170728055307/http://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/top10 . live .
  21. News: Pendharkar . Eesha . 2023-04-24 . These Were the Most Banned Books in 2022 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230424121813/https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/these-were-the-most-banned-books-in-2022/2023/04 . 2023-04-24 . 2023-04-24 . Education Week . en . 0277-4232.
  22. Web site: Albanese . Andrew . 2023-04-24 . ALA Releases Top 13 Most Challenged Books of 2022 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230425102915/https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/libraries/article/92111-ala-releases-top-10-most-challenged-books-of-2022.html . 2023-04-25 . 2023-05-01 . . en.
  23. Web site: 2023-04-21 . Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2023 . 2024-04-09 . . en . 2017-07-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170728055307/http://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/top10 . live .
  24. Web site: Schaub . Michael . 2024-04-08 . ALA Reveals Most Challenged Books of 2023 . 2024-04-09 . . en . 2024-04-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240408165555/https://www.kirkusreviews.com/news-and-features/articles/ala-reveals-most-challenged-books-of-2023/ . live .
  25. Web site: Garrison. Mark. December 5, 2021. Conservatives Target Queer, Black Memoir, 'All Boys Aren't Blue'. December 6, 2021. December 6, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211206201900/https://www.starobserver.com.au/news/all-boys-arent-blue/207606. live.
  26. Web site: Cooper. Alex. November 9, 2021. Conservatives Fight to Ban This Black, Queer Memoir State-By-State. www.advocate.com. December 6, 2021. December 6, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211206201858/https://www.advocate.com/exclusives/2021/11/08/all-boys-arent-blue-george-johnson-ban-school-removed. live.
  27. Web site: Perez. Suzanne. 2021-11-09. Goddard school district orders 29 books removed from circulation. 2022-01-25. KMUW. en. 2021-11-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20211112022924/https://www.kmuw.org/education/2021-11-09/goddard-school-district-orders-29-books-removed-from-circulation. live.
  28. Web site: Woronoff. Brent. November 10, 2021. School Board member Jill Woolbright turns to Sheriff's Office over 'obscene' book at schools | Palm Coast. Palm Coast Observer. December 6, 2021. December 6, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211206201908/https://www.palmcoastobserver.com/article/school-board-member-jill-woolbright-turns-to-sheriffs-office-over-obscene-book-at-schools. live.
  29. Web site: Gollon. Chris. November 15, 2021. A Full Breakdown of Jill Woolbright's Efforts to Remove 'All Boys Aren't Blue' from School Libraries. December 6, 2021. December 6, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211206201900/https://askflagler.com/a-full-breakdown-of-jill-woolbrights-efforts-to-remove-all-boys-arent-blue-from-school-libraries/. live.
  30. Web site: Schaub. Michael. 2022-01-25. Missouri School District Bans Toni Morrison Book. 2022-01-25. Kirkus Reviews. en. 2022-01-25. https://web.archive.org/web/20220125183134/https://www.kirkusreviews.com/news-and-features/articles/missouri-school-district-bans-toni-morrison-book/. live.
  31. Web site: 2022-08-01 . Ban on 52 Books in Largest Utah School District is a Worrisome Escalation of Censorship . 2022-08-05 . PEN America . en . 2022-08-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220805150751/https://pen.org/press-release/ban-on-52-books-in-largest-utah-school-district-is-a-worrisome-escalation-of-censorship/ . live .
  32. Web site: School District Removes 52 Books From Libraries . 2022-08-05 . Kirkus Reviews . en . 2022-08-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220805150751/https://www.kirkusreviews.com/news-and-features/articles/school-district-removes-52-books-from-libraries/ . live .
  33. Web site: 2022-08-01 . Ban on 52 Books in Largest Utah School District is a Worrisome Escalation of Censorship . 2022-08-05 . PEN America . en . 2022-08-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220805150751/https://pen.org/press-release/ban-on-52-books-in-largest-utah-school-district-is-a-worrisome-escalation-of-censorship/ . live .
  34. Web site: Mullahy . Brian . 2022-07-28 . Alpine School District pulls dozens of books from school library shelves . 2022-08-05 . KUTV . en . 2022-08-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220805082032/https://kutv.com/news/crisis-in-the-classroom/alpine-school-district-pulls-dozens-sensitive-materials-books-from-school-library-shelves-utah-state-legislature . live .
  35. Web site: Gardner . Chris . 2021-01-28 . George M. Johnson Sets Filmed Reading of 'All Boys Aren't Blue' . 2023-11-07 . . en-US . 2023-11-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231107002052/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/george-m-johnson-sets-filmed-reading-of-all-boys-arent-blue-4123871/ . live .
  36. Web site: Petski. Denise. June 10, 2020. Gabrielle Union Options 'All Boys Aren't Blue' Memoir For Series Development With Sony TV. December 6, 2021. December 6, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211206201858/https://deadline.com/2020/06/gabrielle-union-options-all-boys-arent-blue-memoir-tv-series-development-1202955815/. live.

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