Nov 28

Nov 28 Crosshairs

Author: Catherine Hernandez
Publisher: Atria Books
Goodreads | The StoryGraph

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Note: Trigger warnings are provided for those who need them at the bottom of this page. If you don’t need them and don’t want to risk spoilers, don’t scroll past the full review.

Cover Description

The author of the acclaimed novel Scarborough weaves an unforgettable and timely dystopian account of a near-future when a queer Black performer and his allies join forces against an oppressive regime that is rounding up those deemed “Other” in concentration camps.

In a terrifyingly familiar near-future, with massive floods that lead to rampant homelessness and devastation, a government-sanctioned regime called the Boots seizes the opportunity to force communities of colour, the disabled and the LGBTQ2S into labour camps in the city of Toronto.

In the shadows, a new hero emerges. After his livelihood and the love of his life are taken away, Kay joins the resistance alongside Bahadur, a transmasculine refugee, and Firuzeh, a headstrong social worker. Guiding them in the use of weapons and close-quarters combat is Beck, a rogue army officer who helps them plan an uprising at a major internationally televised event.

With her signature prose, described by Booklist as “raw yet beautiful, disturbing yet hopeful,” Catherine Hernandez creates a vision of the future that is all the more terrifying because it is very possible. A cautionary tale filled with fierce and vibrant characters, Crosshairs explores the universal desire to thrive, to love and to be loved as your true self.

TL;DR Review

Crosshairs isn’t perfect, but it’s worth reading. Catherine Hernandez shows a terrifyingly realistic dystopia — and a solution begging to come to life.

For you if: You strive to be an ally to those who face discrimination and violence.

Full Review

First, thank you to Atria for granting me an early review copy of this book on NetGalley. It will be published December 8.

This is a hard book to review, mostly because it represents experiences, hardships, and desires that my identity shields me from — I’m not an Own Voices reviewer for this one. So I urge you to seek out Own Voices reviews as you decide whether you want to read this one.

Crosshairs tells the story of a near-dystopian future that feels too realistic. Catastrophic weather events caused by climate change have pushed people with privilege to turn their back on “Others” — essentially anyone who isn’t white, cis, straight, able-bodied, or passing for all those things — and the Canadian government has begun a genocide of Others disguised economic recovery. The main character, a queer Black drag queen, is on the run when he’s swept up into the heart of the revolution, which is Other-led and ally-assisted.

What I really liked: I thought the premise of this book was excellent and compelling and important, and I was drawn into the story and these characters. Obviously Hernandez has shown us a future that is really not outside the realm of possibility at all. She’s written from the perspective of one character whose experiences in a dystopia like this would matter most. And, perhaps most importantly for me, she’s created the sort of ideal structure of a revolution — led by the Others, and assisted by those with privilege who fight their unconscious biases every day to center and amplify Others’ voices.

The thing that has me torn on this book is the writing. I didn’t necessarily feel like the plot followed a shape that built up toward the end like you might expect from a story like this, so I found myself 75% of the way through and more than capable of setting it down and doing something else. Only the last chapter really felt like a climactic moment. The writing also felt very heavy handed, sometimes bordering on cheesy. But ultimately, that may have actually been the point. Hernandez is sort of begging allies to get the picture here.

So while I don’t think this book was perfect, I do think that it is very much worth reading, especially for those of us who strive to be allies to those who face discrimination and violence.