i wish it was longer! i want to know more about butch, giovanni, and hella!! not a critique, but i wish it was in 3rd person only because i want to know more of giovanni and hella’s thoughts. i loved the order in which this story was told and baldwin’s observations of particular characteristics of people and places was so unique and interesting. so heartbreakingly beautiful. if you’re queer and haven’t read this, go buy yourself a copy!

“Love your seeds as you love your children, and the people will survive.” I’ve never read a native story before- an embarrassing thing for me to admit. Taking the reader through Rosalie’s life, not just her lifetime, Wilson explores the trauma and hash realities of native people. She writes about the beauty of the Earth so poetically and forces you to reflect on all the ways you’ve contributed to the destroying of the land we live on, and for most of us, stole. Wilson shares the traditions and seeds of the Dakhóta people and the way spirits and traditions and people are intertwined through harvests and trust in other species in our communities. It’s also a Dakóta family story, showing the ways Rosalie carries generations of family hardship and is unavoidably passing it along to future generations, while simultaneously carrying and passing the strength and wisdom from her ancestors. Who can blame for marrying a white farmer when she’s just trying to put a roof over her head, but who suffers the internal and external implications of that choice? How are generations and languages lost? Is she responsible for the seeds not planted and the stories left untold and how can she relearn them The Seed Keeper is a new favorite and I couldn’t recommend it enough.

I don't read many graphical novels, but this is by far my favorite. I laughed, cried, was made deeply uncomfortable, and was shocked by how relatable this is. Maia's story is real and while many politicians *cough cough* want to ban this book, I think this should be required reading. A remind of why I want to be a librarian and how excited I am to be a resource for the queer community- especially trans folks.

btw
book i: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ An incredibly story about an alternative 1893 New York in which the confederacy won, racism and classism persist, but homophobia and sexism no longer exist. A beautiful forbidden queer love story that kept me on my toes. Yanagihara has a way with wanting more at the end, nonetheless I loved this story.
book ii: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ A bit confusing, but an important story about the Native Hawaiian community and generational homophobia. The first part was a lot more compelling (about AIDS), but the second part was devastating (about the boys lost, helpless father).
book iii: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ God, I loved this story! 2093 New York, multiple pandemics have happened, and people are living under martial law, arguable in an effort to keep the people safe and alive. But with a rise in fear, homophobia comes with it. 2 stories told simultaneously, illustrating generational differences, essentially predicts our future- our rights are quickly being taken away in the name of preserving life.

This book was actually surprising really good! Short chapters and kept me on my toes with every page! The characters and plots were super compelling! Was very intrigued by the way the dating app affected different people! Super unpredictable. I do wish it was gayer though lol