No Place for Fairy Tales

What matters is the message a book gives. It starts a wave and reaches people who needs it the most.

I appreciate how West 44 Books is giving a platform for the young upcoming writers focusing on various societal and personal themes and issues. This book is no different.

This book in verse tells the story of a young person who’s struggling with coming out. This is a story of a trans teen, what they go through when it comes to letting our near and dear ones know about it and how they feel when the transition happens.

I am still ignorant how to express in proper words when it comes to different genders. I am still learning and it’s books like this that educate me the most keeping me updated and seek the most appropriate ways to address the different communities.

The prose is perfect. The book is so well written.

I love the little details added on the pages.

A perfect read.

Thank you, West 44 Books, for the advance reading copy.

This was pleasantly surprising read! Telling the story of a young person who is struggling with coming out I feel this will be an ESSENTIAL read for many young people and a necessary read for older generations who are struggling to accept the changes in our society. The prose is beautiful, the book is well written, and this is an essential tool to educating yourself.

I haven’t read something so beautiful in a long time. This words just flowed off the page.I never wanted this book to end.

we follow Yuriel, as he becomes a fairy godmother to his trans cousin Azul, making her quinceañera possibility.

the story encompassed unconditional love, and being your truest self. it also showed how important familial support is to the queer community. i loved how their friends got together to help Azul build her quinceañera, which felt empowering. i also got to witness a budding romance between Yuriel and a new boy in town.

No Place for Fairy Tales is one of the most timely and important book of our time.

This short but beautiful YA verse novel is written in perfect prose and it completely captivated me.

The novel follows Yuriel and his cousin Azul who live in a Mexican town where they say girls don’t get to be princesses and fairy tales definitely don’t come true.

Azul wants to mark her 15th birthday the same way all her friends do with a quincenanera, a tradition that celebrates young women moving into adulthood. Yuriel, a young gay man, takes on a fairy godmothers role to help Azul’s dream come true as he recognises the additional barriers she faces as a young trans woman.

It’s raw, messy and beautiful and that’s exactly what makes it ring so powerfully true.
I always say it with YA novels, but it’s definitely not just one for the kids!

There was something so unique and special about this story of Azul finding her voice and affirming her transition in a small town in Mexico. His ability to make the reader feel like they are present was phenomenal. Additionally, this is a quick read, written in short prose format flowing from chapter to chapter. I found myself proud of Yuriel for defending his cousin and frustrated with Azul's father. But this was a beautiful way of expressing the potential cultural pressures experienced by Azul and Yuriel in this tale. Truly a special read with a unique voice; highly recommend.

4 stars
This book is powerful. The message of friendship and acceptance is one of the major points of the book, and it also spreads the importance of having a good support system/community.
However, it’s not added to Goodreads, so I can’t enter my review there.

A poor neighborhood in Mexico. Two queer cousins, one gay, the other trans. A story written in verse.

Just like Edd Tello’s debut Only Pieces, No Place for Fairytales is a hi-lo YA story, which means it’s for struggling readers like dyslectic teens. And even if it’s stripped from all frills, the writing is so vivid and descriptive that it felt like I was actually there in Mexico, together with Yuriel and Azul. You have a huge talent if you can write such a powerful and important story with so few words!

Yuriel is the narrator of this story, but the actual main character is Azul, Yuriel’s trans cousin. I felt Azul’s want to have a quinceañera like every other fifteen-year-old girl, and I felt the love of Yuriel and his parents for Azul seep through the pages. Azul’s story made me smile and wipe a tear away once in a while. Edd, I’m a fan of your books and I really would love to see your writing in an adult book. I think it would be beautiful too!

Edd Tello’s second YA novel written in verse! I am so honored to have been able to review this eARC just I had for Only Pieces.

Ugh I loved this story simply because it felt like a fairy tale. Make no mistake though, this was No Place for Fairy Tales. The dynamic between Yuriel and his parents and Azul was amazing. We got to see such a fresh take on familias hispanas that I haven’t seen before.

You want a story that has drama y un poco de chisme? Then you may want to pick up this quick read!

Thank you NetGalley, Edd Tello, and West 44 Books for allowing me to read this eARC for an honest review!

No Place for Fairy Tales by Edd Tello releases February 2023!

This poetry collection tells us a powerful story with a realible narrator, Yuriel, and a inspiring main character, Azul. With friendship and acceptance at it's core showing us that with someone to help us and unconditional love our dreams might become true.

I received this copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I loved the message of acceptance and being true to who you are. Parts of this were heavy but I loved that it reflected real life challenges of the LGBT+ community.

It was a really cute story. Yuriel and Azul are so sweet to each other. I love how close they are and how protective Yuriel is, just like a big brother.

Loved seeing the Spanish sprinkled about, seemed more like a normal conversation in my family tbh.

Overall really liked it. Thanks NetGalley for the eARC.

I received an arc of this book and this is my honest review.

It is not in fact a book or well it is not written like a novel but like a poem. Every chapter is written like a poem. It is beautiful. Poignant. And I sobbed the entire time. When I was a teen we did not have books like this. We did not have books that celebrated the lgbtqia plus community or even speak of them. I will be buying this book for my own teenagers.

This is a book from the perspective of a Mexican gay teen named Yuriel. He has a cousin Azul who is trans and wishes for a quincenera. It shows life in a small Mexican town. It shows Yuriel’s age and inexperience but also his experience. His mama calls Azul her Morena. His papa calls Azul his princesa. Azul’s mom accepts her loves but her father does not. It tells the story of how Yuriel and his family and their friends put together a party for Azul.

I honestly cannot stop crying. This is why representation matters. I can see how this book would be so powerful in a trans teens’ hands or in a gay teens. It is uplifting. I will be buying multiple copies of this book.

(4.5 Stars)

A title like No Place For Fairy Tales may sound dreary, but it’s bound to be the book to make a young teen’s day brighter.

It’s hard to believe fairy tales can come true when it seems no one accepts you for your true self. Luckily, Yuriel is there for his cousin Azul, a trans teen who dreams of her own quinceñera. Money is tight for the family in Monterrey, Mexico, but Yuriel and his friends are ready to play Fairy Godmother, especially when Azul’s father is less than accepting.

Edd Tello’s verses are beautifully written, each one telling the most detailed story in so little words. While No Place For Fairy Tales is a fast paced book, the author wastes no time in describing the world Yuriel inhabits.

This reader was left with a feeling of hope for the LGBTQIA+ youth in this word! Be sure to pick up a copy for yourself, or for a young adult you know. Who knows, you could be spreading a bit of magic to someone who needs to know it’s okay to be themselves!

Many thanks to NetGalley and West 44 Books for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book made my heart melt.

It's written in HI/LO format and in verse, which makes it's an easily accessible book for those who struggle with reading. I was not familiar with this format and I absolutely adore it.

In No Place for Fairy Tales we follow Yuriel, a gay artist, who wants to make magic happen for his cousin Azul, a trans teenager, for who a quinceañera would mean the world. It doesn't seem like a possibility for Azul due to lack of money and a father that is anything but supportive of her coming out as trans. Yuriel protects her and stands up for her and vows to do whatever he can to make her fairytale come true.

A very important story about love, support and acceptance.

4.5*

this was such a bittersweet book. i love azul and think she deserves the world.

would recommend to friends.

tws: transphobia, deadnaming, misgendering, homophobia

🦇 Book Review 🦇

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

"There are no thorns to cut. Some flowers just BOOM on TOP of them. Azul is one of those flowers."

It doesn't feel like fairy tales can bleed into reality in Yuriel's poor neighborhood, but that won't keep him from trying to bring his cousin Azul's break of a quinceañera from coming true. Knowing it's an important rite of passage--especially for a trans teen in Mexico who lacks support from her father--Yuriel is ready to embody the role of her gay fairy godmother to bring a little magic into Azul's life.

No Place for Fairy Tales is a beautiful story of two queer cousins (one gay, one trans) as they navigate such an important rite of passage together. It's also a story of acceptance, love, and support; both from family and from one's community. This a Hi-Lo YA story, making it ideal for dyslectic teens and other struggling readers. There's a certain form of magic in the writing's vivid simplicity; without flowery language, you can focus on the emotion behind every word. While Yuriel is narrating his cousin's story, you still feel every ounce of what Azul is experiencing. Even when it's hard to find magic in a moment, Azul, Yuriel, and their entire community come together to make it happen. The writing's beautiful simplicity allows the words to flow from one page to the next, making it a quick read.

Though I know it's a Hi-Lo novel, I do wish there was a little more in terms of descriptions and metaphoric language. The concept of fairy tales--of wishing for the seemingly impossible, of more than we're given--is universal and relatable, making it easy to convey through unique, imaginative metaphors. The visual of a rose with thorns is the strongest metaphor to carry through the story, though I wished for a little more to truly make the writing stand out.

All in all, this a beautiful read full of love and acceptance. I only wish there was more of it.

🌹 LGBTQIA YA
🌹 BIPOC
🌹 Hi-Lo Format
🌹 Stories in Verse
🌹 Rite of passage

🦇 Major thanks to the author and publisher for providing an ARC of this book via Netgalley. 🥰 This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

No place for Fairy Tales is a quick read told in prose, similar in style to The Ghost on Rose Hill through the eyes of a young queer artist about his cousin who is a trans woman. While it’s about Yuriel attempting to organize a quinceañera, it touches on many topics surrounding young queerness and coming out in a traditional family.
Although it only took me an hour or so to read this, I found it extremely touching and emotional. This book does contain mentions of homophobia/transphobia, but overall ends up having a very hopeful tone. I thought I would have a difficult time getting into more types of poetry but I really enjoyed this style of prose and story telling.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

Thanks to net galley for the arc. This cute short story written in a beautiful style was about a young boy yuriel and his cousin azulejo a trans teen. Saul wants to mark her entrance to womanhood with a quince. The problem lies with money of course and that axil’s father was not accepting of her life choices. They gather their friends together to ask for help planning this party and everyone was overjoyed to help. It was a cute quick read that really could be done in an hour or two. It was enjoyable I just wish it was a little longer or more detailed.

Heartwarming queer YA novel-in-verse! The story is beautifully written, has a lot of heart and is full of lovable characters. The latine, trans and gay representation is superb and it will pull at your heartstrings!

I received a free E-arc from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review :)
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This was a sweet story which also packed a punch! I felt totally immersed in the setting, and enjoyed the mix of languages (the glossary at the beginning was much appreciated!)
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I really enjoy these "bite-sized" books in verse, and look forward to reading more from this author in the future!

This was a lyrical story about a neighborhood coming together to celebrate Azul a trans teen who is turning 15 and dreams of having a grand quinceañera with all her friends. Absolutely beautiful.

Finally read @eddstello 's newest YA (about a trans girl in Mexico dreaming of a quince) and it's just 😍🌈👑😘. Did not disappoint.

If you read my review of Edd's first book (Only Pieces), then you already know how important I think his hi-lo books with @west44books are. I mean, queer Mexican books meant for high schoolers but at a second to third grade reading level? GIVE THEM TO ME.

There are so many English Language Learners (and just struggling readers in general) who could benefit from access to these queer Happily Ever Afters. I know book banning is a current obstacle in many states, but if you're not dealing with that, this is one that should be in your library or classroom.

"There are no thorns to cut. Some flowers just BOOM on TOP of them. Azul is one of those flowers."

In his sophomore novel, which is written in verse just like his first one was, Edd Tello tells us about Azul, a trans Mexican girl who wants to have a quinceañera party; and her cousin Yuriel, who desperately wants to act as a fairy godmother and help his cousin celebrate her fifteenth birthday.

This was an extremely soft, touching read, which I suspect is a distinctive trait of Edd's works. While one may think that it's just about the cousins' quest to set up the quinceañera party for Azul, this story actually addresses many more topics. From domestic violence to forced migration, we explore different issues surrounding the life of a Mexican family who nonetheless manages to come together for Azul's sake. I loved the way Edd didn't need extensive paragraphs to make a point, as well as how he managed to capture the complexity of issues such as verbal abuse or homophobia in just a few verses.

If you haven't read Edd's works yet, what are you waiting for!?

This book was so good!! I really like Edd's work, and novel-in-verses in general so this book was just amazing to read.
Read it if you like:
- gay and trans rep
- novel-in-verse
- family dynamics
- sibling relationships

It was one of the most beautiful and yet sometimes heartbreaking books I read <3

My heart is happy.

The story is beautiful and just wow. I'm so happy to have had an opportunity to read this story.

This books address transphobia and homophobia, and it just makes your heart ache in the best and worse ways. Azul deserves the world. All the Azuls of the world do and I hope this book makes it into the hands of so many people.

This was such a good read.
I loved both Azul and Yuriel, but would have liked for the book to go into depth about their characters a bit more.
I also liked how the parents learned to be more accepting of their children and more loving, it shows that this is possible at all, no matter how bad things are at the beginning. It is important to note though that nobody should feel obligated to forgive past hurts.
I loved how supportive Yuriel’s parents were of Azul, but it felt like they were only focused on her and not supporting their son enough.
The scene where Azul’s father finally comes around made me tear up. But before that I was just as angry as Yuriel.

The way the community came together to support Azul was also extremely beautiful.

This book is written as a novel in verse. I really enjoyed the writing style.
There is also a glossary at the beginning, which can be very helpful. I’m a big fan of glossaries in books. :D

All in all a great book.

I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher.
Yuriel plans to help his cousin Azul have a magical quinceañera. They face difficulties due to money and being queer, but they won't let that stop them.
The story is told through poems, so it is a quick read. Despite this, it gives the reader plenty of details and information. Yuriel draws the reader in with his love and loyalty to his family. The drawing together of community to make the quinceañera happen felt like a fairy tale.

Omg, this was such a cute and heart warming read. First time reading a book in verse and didn’t know what to expect but it was a pretty breezy read. No place for fairy tales is the story of Yuriel trying to help his cousin Azul have the quinceanera she deserves. As someone that’s Mexican this book hit close to home, but their daily life living, to the food, to the celebration.
Highly recommend!

Written in prose, this novella is a quick story integrating Spanish and English together while also highlighting transphobia and homophobia in a diverse community. By providing descriptions of specific Spanish words and foods, English readers can easily understand the story even with the unfamiliar words. As it is short, this novella could easily be read in class, and it has a very diverse cast of characters that are underrepresented in modern fiction.

Like the first @eddstello book, this one also is written in verse. Here we have yuriel a gay teen and azul his trans girl cousin who wanna celebrate her quince like every other girl. But not everybody in the pueblo will accept that event. Yuriel and their friends will gather every resources to make it happen no matter that they don't have money, bad influence around them and family member who are against it.

I know I have teachers on this page, please make your kids read it !! It's beautiful written and hopeful. Not to long but still amazing description of places and feelings. Beautiful story for every ages.

This is a wonderful verse (yes a poem) rendition about young LGBTQ teenagers who are neighbors in Mexico. Members of their families struggle with acceptance in various ways. Plus teenage crushes, parties, rebellion, etc. It's a VERY short read, so pull this one out as a palate cleanser between two thicker tomes ane rejoice in the simple joy of being accepted during an awkward age..

edd tello’s newest release follows the story of two teen cousins, azul & yuriel as they navigate the trials of being the queer people in their families and teaching their loved ones how to show up for them. ⁣
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azul is a trans teen who desperately wants to have a quinceañera to mark her transition into womanhood, and yuriel makes every effort to make this happen for her despite many obstacles along the way. ⁣
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this story will make you cry. it’s emotional and moving and exactly what i needed to read as my state passes more anti-trans legislation by the day. ⁣
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(as a content warning, there is some homophobic language used, some blatant transphobia and deadnaming that happens during the book. but this is largely a story about queer resilience.)