Free to Be Me: An Lgbtq+ Journal of Love, Pride & Finding Your Inner Rainbow

by Dom&ink

Scribble your feelings and feel your true self in a technicolor guide to being the happiest you, discovering LGBTQ+ history, and making your own queer mark on the world.

Complete with hilarious and thoughtful color illustrations, readers are encouraged to explore their own story with writing prompts and empowering activities coupled with important stories of LGBTQ+ history from antiquity to the present. No self-respecting young adult will want to put this book down . . . and if they don't have self-respect yet, this book will challenge them to dig deep and find it. This is the perfect gift for the out-and-proud set, anyone peeking their head out of the closet, and friends and allies alike.

Genres: Nonfiction, LGBT, Mental Health

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2019

Reviews

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Divided into six simple chapters (q&a for the reader/journalist/doodler, celebrating individuality, showing support, dealing with bullying and haters, LGBTQIA+ history and a glossary of helpful terms and contact groups), this whimsical, thoughtful and often humorous journal is like a friend every closeted or out LGBTQIA+ person could want. This is a perfect tool that I would love to be able to hand out to any and every member of a GSA group or other Alliance organization.

Show off just how amazing you are!
Wonderful illustrations and prompts!

[Cassandra M · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought this book in a rush while my mother wasn't looking(Bad choice I know). I at first really enjoyed the book as I was desperate to find some kind of validation and guidance. I did enjoy the book but I felt while reading the book that this was meant for younger audiences. As evident by the constant unicorns and "YAS QUEEN". I have no problem with people enjoying their language and terms it felt a little cringe at times. The book has a character called "basic betty" who is meant to educate on common misconceptions but this character never seems to go anywhere. The book promotes nonstereotypical thinking while also presenting stereotypes in itself. such as telling the possibly young audience that everyone in the LGBTQ+ community knows Cher or enjoys getting down and dancing. Again I would have no issue with this book if it didn't contradict itself a whole lot. I would recommend spending your money elsewhere. Pride seems to get lost in this book.

[Jeimy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unless you are a part of the LGBTQ+ community you cannot really know the lows that live alongside the pride. This book is a rainbow-colored reminder that--regardless of what others may say and how hard it may seem at times--we are worthy!

I had never heard of Dom&Ink, but I am glad I found this book and that it led me to follow Don&Ink on Instagram.

[Gina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not a huge coloring fan, so parts of the journal felt a little tedious. However, it really has helped me become more comfortable with my sexuality by addressing key topics in a sensitive and culturally competent way. If you are going through your LGBTQ+ journey, or an ally looking to learn from a different perspective, then I recommnd.

[Kate Piscani · Rating 2 out of 5]

In all honesty i think this book was written for a more teenage demographic than i am (22 gf), it felt like a 14 year olds tumblr blog while they’re going through their “lol i’m so weird” phase. i was a little bothered by the amount of very stereotypical lgbt representation in this book, alongside the amount of times i was called a rainbow narwhal (i felt like that was a slur at one point).

[Matteo · Rating 5 out of 5]

i loved this! i love myself in the way i am trans and queer, but this journal helped a lot with some extra bits and i loved it! it was also just a lot of fun to do as well haha :))

[Daniel Hardy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute workbook for queer self love; it lost stars for the unapologetic but more era-typical appropriation of AAVE/Black American English by the general white gay community, some questionable definitions in the back of the book (some are outdated, some are watered down as to lose a lot of nuance, others remain accurate), as well as the mistaken use of the intergender (a nonbinary gender identity) flag with the label "Intetsex" (a biological condition). The actual intersex flag is yellow with a purple circle.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zacznijmy od tego, że przepięknie wydany jest ten journal! Ma piękne obrazki oraz treść. Wspiera, dodaje sił i osładza. Jest idealny dla młodszych osób, które zaczynają się edukować o rodzajach seksualności i tożsamościach. Ma ważny przekaz, ale dla osób mających większą świadomość i wiedzę, będzie tylko czytaniem o tym co już wiedzą. Mimo wszystko polecam każdemu, bo jest to fajna forma poprawienia sobie humoru, miłymi remaindami 🤎

[Sam Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wish this book had been around when I was first coming out :) amazing

[Chrupa w mig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kocham to

[Emily✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This colorful and fun journal can help lead someone through their "rainbow journey" (in the author's words). Contains tips for self-care and self-confidence, info on LGBTQ+ icons, history, and vocabulary, and lots of cute coloring pages. Loved the prompts for introspection about things/people in your life to be grateful for, and for research into queer-positive role models and organizations.

I'm especially happy to see size, faith, and ace identities represented, as they're so often missing from "LGBT+" works, or seen as "too niche"-- yet all three apply to me! However, considering the glossary includes the words "biphobia", "homophobia", and "transphobia", why wasn't "aphobia" also included? And I would have liked to see some rep for aromantic identities, as well.

With so many actually-queer icons out there, I'm not sure how I feel about non-queer celebrities being included as "rainbow icons", but I also know that famous allies are important to a lot of people.

Overall, not too many complaints! I think Free to be Me will be a fun and comforting interactive journal for LGBT+ people.

Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with this eARC via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review!

[Reuben Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was lovely - colourful, fun, gorgeous illustration and some great snippets of humour. I don’t need it myself and personally it’s a little ott for me in terms of cutesy affirmations and ‘yas queen’ campiness and stuff. Also, I never actually draw in books or do any of the activities in these journal things, so I’m very much not the target audience. Therefore it’s not something I particularly enjoyed reading per se, but I realllllly appreciate the fact that it exists. I know this would be so useful to some of the kids I work with, and the fact that bookshops now have massive Pride displays full of books like this available for those kids can only be a good thing.

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a journal that would be perfect for a child who may be figuring out their identity. It is full of activities and messages of body positivity. It does not encourage children to express themselves in a particular way but does offer some advice if they are struggling with relationships and friendships.

This is not a book I would read to the whole class and it definitely requires a certain level of maturity to be used in the right way. If I were to recommend this book to a child, I may want to have a discussion with the parent prior to this (depending on the circumstance).

It is definitely only suitable for Y5+Y6.