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simonlorden 's review for:
Running With the Pack
by A.M. Burns, Caitlin Ricci
For some reason I was convinced this book had werewolves, but I was wrong. Anyway.
Let's start with the positives. I liked the three boys navigating their polyamorous relationship, recognising how they all care about each other, and I liked that they all had good relationships with their supportive parents - that is rare in YA. I also loved the wolves.
But I was really, really not impressed with how the ace representation was handled. There was internalised acephobia that isn't really challenged, some aromisic language, Finn basically outing Adrian, and just... a lot of mixing up of platonic, romantic and sexual relationships.
More specifically:
- In the first third of the book, it is set up that Adrian has a secret. He refers to himself as a freak, and says he's worried he might never find somebody to love him. Right before they're about to tell Finn the secret, Ivan says he "hopes [Finn] doesn't come to the same realisation Adrian did, because that would seriously give [Ivan] a complex", to which Adrian replies that "it's not your fault. I'd blame my parents' genes", and that it "wouldn't be fair" for him to date Ivan when Ivan wants a sexual relationship. Basically, asexuality is set up as something unwanted even before the word is ever used.
- Adrian clearly wants a romantic relationship, although not a sexual one. Yet, later when Finn talks about their relationship to his parents, he describes it as Adrian "not being interested in much beyond being very close friends". A non-sexual romantic relationship is NOT the same as being very close friends!!
- Next, Finn describes his own desire to have a romantic/sexual relationship with Ivan as wanting to be "more than just close friends", which is aromisic language.
- Also, Finn basically outs Adrian as ace to his [Finn's] own parents and sister when talking about their relationship. I'm not even sure Adrian is out to his [Adrian's] own parents about being ace?! And he definitely didn't agree to Finn's family knowing, especially given that at this pointFinn's sister is dating Adrian's bully .
Overall, the polyamory part was really sweet and I liked Finn asking Adrian what kind of physical intimacy he is or isn't interested in, but I wasn't impressed with the ace rep otherwise.
Let's start with the positives. I liked the three boys navigating their polyamorous relationship, recognising how they all care about each other, and I liked that they all had good relationships with their supportive parents - that is rare in YA. I also loved the wolves.
But I was really, really not impressed with how the ace representation was handled. There was internalised acephobia that isn't really challenged, some aromisic language, Finn basically outing Adrian, and just... a lot of mixing up of platonic, romantic and sexual relationships.
More specifically:
- In the first third of the book, it is set up that Adrian has a secret. He refers to himself as a freak, and says he's worried he might never find somebody to love him. Right before they're about to tell Finn the secret, Ivan says he "hopes [Finn] doesn't come to the same realisation Adrian did, because that would seriously give [Ivan] a complex", to which Adrian replies that "it's not your fault. I'd blame my parents' genes", and that it "wouldn't be fair" for him to date Ivan when Ivan wants a sexual relationship. Basically, asexuality is set up as something unwanted even before the word is ever used.
- Adrian clearly wants a romantic relationship, although not a sexual one. Yet, later when Finn talks about their relationship to his parents, he describes it as Adrian "not being interested in much beyond being very close friends". A non-sexual romantic relationship is NOT the same as being very close friends!!
- Next, Finn describes his own desire to have a romantic/sexual relationship with Ivan as wanting to be "more than just close friends", which is aromisic language.
- Also, Finn basically outs Adrian as ace to his [Finn's] own parents and sister when talking about their relationship. I'm not even sure Adrian is out to his [Adrian's] own parents about being ace?! And he definitely didn't agree to Finn's family knowing, especially given that at this point
Overall, the polyamory part was really sweet and I liked Finn asking Adrian what kind of physical intimacy he is or isn't interested in, but I wasn't impressed with the ace rep otherwise.