Jonny Appleseed in Crazy Challenge Connection

Mar 19, 2021 Keli rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: i-love-this-book, oooh-that-is-a-good-character, fun-and-engaging-main-character, what-the-hell-have-i-just-read, bittersweet

Synopsis- "You're gonna need a rock and a whole lotta medicine" is a mantra that Jonny Appleseed, a young Two-Spirit/Indigiqueer, repeats to himself in this vivid and utterly compelling novel. Off the reserve and trying to find ways to live and love in the big city, Jonny becomes a cybersex worker who fetishizes himself in order to make a living. Self-ordained as an NDN glitter princess, Jonny has one week before he must return to the "rez," and his former life, to attend the funeral of his step Synopsis- "You're gonna need a rock and a whole lotta medicine" is a mantra that Jonny Appleseed, a young Two-Spirit/Indigiqueer, repeats to himself in this vivid and utterly compelling novel. Off the reserve and trying to find ways to live and love in the big city, Jonny becomes a cybersex worker who fetishizes himself in order to make a living. Self-ordained as an NDN glitter princess, Jonny has one week before he must return to the "rez," and his former life, to attend the funeral of his stepfather. The next seven days are like a fevered dream: stories of love, trauma, sex, kinship, ambition, and the heartbreaking recollection of his beloved kokum (grandmother). Jonny's world is a series of breakages, appendages, and linkages--and as he goes through the motions of preparing to return home, he learns how to put together the pieces of his life. Jonny Appleseed is a unique, shattering vision of Indigenous life, full of grit, glitter, and dreams.

Review- This book is absolute poetry. I was sad when it ended. I wanted another few hours with Jonny. It was visceral, painful, beautiful, funny, poignant and honest. Why it's not on every must read list, I don't know. Because it damn well should be.
Since I always find it hard to review books I love because I don't think I'd do it justice, in fact, I think I could even put people off with my trite praise, I'm just going to borrow another person's review. Meike, whose review you can read here said,

"This is a book that makes you feel like you can connect to and understand people who live in a country you never visited and in a culture you know almost nothing about. You close the book and you start missing Jonny, because his humanity and his humor transcend all that separates you from him."

That pretty much sums it up.
Just read it.

Rating - Five poignant and painful slice of life stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Devoured the book, couldn't put it down.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Really liked it, consumed within days
⭐⭐⭐ - Enjoyed a fair bit, better than average
⭐⭐ - Meh
⭐ - Absolute drivel ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Apr 25, 2024 Cecily Black rated it really liked it

Shelves: home-owned

Read this novel in my Gender and Sexuality class in university. Giving this novel a close reading along with reading articles on Joshua Whitehead I was able to gain a deeper appreciation for the nuances of the story and the complexity of meanings and intersectionality of race and sexual identity. Definitely worth the read and I am pleased books like this exist to offer more representation for those who identify as LGBTQ2S+.

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Jun 18, 2021 Carissa Brown rated it liked it

Shelves: adult, audiobook

Jonny Appleseed has left the reservation in search of his true life. He is living in the city as a sex worker. He has many ups and downs, but overall everything is ok. Even when he gets caught up in a love triangle he just goes with it.

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Aug 30, 2025 Jamie (TheRebelliousReader) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: adult, fantastic-hero, lgbt, for-a-challenge, great-side-characters, borrowed-from-hoopla, contemporary, 2025, e-book, read-on-my-ipad

4.5 stars. I loved the writing. It’s so good and really paints a picture. I found Jonny to be empathetic and a great character to follow around. What a story he had to tell! The culture was fascinating and I loved learning about it and overall I thought this was a really great read and I would definitely check out more by this author.

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