Non-Fiction Friday: All Boys Aren't Blue

Author: George M. Johnson Title: All Boys Aren't Blue Publisher: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux Date Published: 04/28/2020

Read Dates: 04/04/2026- 04/07/2026
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫

This was my non-fiction pick for April.

All Boys Aren’t Blue is a memoir for teens and young adults, specifically those growing up queer with no role models or examples of navigating and discovering their identity in a heteronormative world. The book is broken into four acts: A Different Kid, Family, Teenagers and Friends. It shares the experiences that George M. Johnson had, both good and bad, and how they navigated their journey with identity, not just as a member of the queer community but also as a member of the Black community, and the intersection of those identities.

This was such a moving memoir and it definitely opened my eyes to experiences outside my own. Usually I gravitate towards mental health memoirs but I am really glad I picked this one to read. It made me question whether I provided the right eduction, resources, and support for my kids as they entered their teens and young adulthood. Absolutely worth the read!

In a series of personal essays, prominent journalist and LGBTQIA+ activist George M. Johnson explores his childhood, adolescence, and college years in New Jersey and Virginia. From the memories of getting his teeth kicked out by bullies at age five, to flea marketing with his loving grandmother, to his first sexual relationships, this young-adult memoir weaves together the trials and triumphs faced by Black queer boys.

Both a primer for teens eager to be allies as well as a reassuring testimony for young queer men of color, All Boys Aren't Blue covers topics such as gender identity, toxic masculinity, brotherhood, family, structural marginalization, consent, and Black joy. Johnson's emotionally frank style of writing will appeal directly to young adults.