YA Buddy Readers' Corner ♥ discussion

Can't Take That Away
This topic is about Can't Take That Away
12 views
BUDDY READ: Contemporary/Romance > Can't Take That Away by Steven Salvatore--Starting August 6th, 2021

Comments Showing 1-16 of 16 (16 new)    post a comment »
dateUp arrow    newest »

Dr. Andy | 14480 comments A debut novel about a genderqueer teen who finds the courage to stand up and speak out for equality when they are discriminated against by their high school administration.

Carey Parker dreams of being a diva, and bringing the house down with song. But despite their talent, emotional scars from an incident with a homophobic classmate and their grandmother's spiraling dementia make it harder and harder for Carey to find their voice.

Then Carey meets Cris, a singer/guitarist who makes Carey feel seen for the first time in their life. With the rush of a promising new romantic relationship, Carey finds the confidence to audition for the role of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, in the school musical, setting off a chain reaction of prejudice by Carey's tormentor and others in the school. It's up to Carey, Cris, and their friends to defend their rights--and they refuse to be silenced.

Told in alternating chapters with identifying pronouns, debut author Steven Salvatore's Can't Take That Away is both a romance, and an affirmation of self-identity.



Dr. Andy | 14480 comments 25% (view spoiler)

66% (view spoiler)


Dr. Andy | 14480 comments 76% (view spoiler)


Karen Barber | 13292 comments Andy, my copy isn't due until tomorrow, but I'll get onto it as soon as it arrives. Sorry for the delay.


Dr. Andy | 14480 comments Karen wrote: "Andy, my copy isn't due until tomorrow, but I'll get onto it as soon as it arrives. Sorry for the delay."

no worries!!


Dr. Andy | 14480 comments Finished (view spoiler)


Karen Barber | 13292 comments First quarter. I've got show tunes in my head now...kind of strange. The teacher who harasses Carey and Cris at lunch gives teachers (and people in general) a bad name.


Karen Barber | 13292 comments Andy wrote: "25% [spoilers removed]

66% [spoilers removed]"


First quarter - the situation with Joey is odd. The brief exchange they had suggests Joey is reacting to Carey in some way, so I wonder if there's something we've not been told.


Melanie (aardvarkpalace) | 38 comments Andy wrote: "25% [spoilers removed]
(view spoiler)

66% [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)

76% (view spoiler)

Finished (view spoiler)


Karen Barber | 13292 comments Second quarter - like you too, appalled by the way the school are handling the Mr Jackson/Max abuse. The deliberate misgendering and blatant homophobia should have alarm bells ringing, but there seems to be little attempt to truly represent all.
(view spoiler)


Karen Barber | 13292 comments Andy wrote: "76% [spoilers removed]"

If only real life could be like this!


Karen Barber | 13292 comments Third quarter - hard to not feel quite emotional at the level of support being shown for Carey and their friends. However, I'm not convinced we're going to see a huge shift in attitudes from certain quarters.


Karen Barber | 13292 comments Andy wrote: "Finished [spoilers removed]"

Mixed about this. Liked huge parts of this, bitterly upset that it's even needed, and depressed that Jackson was only out on a technicality...what actually changes?


Karen Barber | 13292 comments Finished. Review on home page. Mixed feelings about this, and more angry that it's needed than anything else.


Dr. Andy | 14480 comments Karen wrote: "Andy wrote: "Finished [spoilers removed]"

Mixed about this. Liked huge parts of this, bitterly upset that it's even needed, and depressed that Jackson was only out on a technicality...what actuall..."


Ugh right!! It was so frustrating. Jackson did so many things wrong and was a MENACE to the students but did the school do anything about that, no. Im still so angry


Dr. Andy | 14480 comments Karen wrote: "Finished. Review on home page. Mixed feelings about this, and more angry that it's needed than anything else."

Yep same here


back to top