My Dear Henry

My Dear Henry: A Jekyll & Hyde Remix by Kaylyn Bayron

(Format used for this read: Audiobook)

London, 1885. Gabriel Utterson, a 17-year-old law clerk, has returned to London for the first time since his life― and that of his dearest friend, Henry Jekyll―was derailed by a scandal that led to his and Henry’s expulsion from the London Medical School. Whispers about the true nature of Gabriel and Henry’s relationship have followed the boys for two years, and now Gabriel has a chance to start again.

But Gabriel doesn’t want to move on, not without Henry. His friend has become distant and cold since the disastrous events of the prior spring, and now his letters have stopped altogether. Desperate to discover what’s become of him, Gabriel takes to watching the Jekyll house.

In doing so, Gabriel meets Hyde, a a strangely familiar young man with white hair and a magnetic charisma. He claims to be friends with Henry, and Gabriel can’t help but begin to grow jealous at their apparent closeness, especially as Henry continues to act like Gabriel means nothing to him.

But the secret behind Henry’s apathy is only the first part of a deeper mystery that has begun to coalesce. Monsters of all kinds prowl within the London fog―and not all of them are out for blood..

I LOVE me some retellings of classic tales….

ESPECIALLY when the retelling centers marginalized people who have been left out of the narrative for SO SO LONG.

I realized after I finished this book and was researching the author that this book is just one in an entire SERIES called “Remixed Classics.”

My face when I discovered that 😲😲😲😲😲😲😲😲😲

And also 😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃

Here is more about them:

In the Remixed Classics series, authors from diverse backgrounds take different literary classics from centuries past and reinterpret them through their own unique cultural lens. This collection will serve YA readers as both a series of fun, engaging reads as well as a subversive overall look at what our society has deemed “classic” — works that are overwhelmingly cishet, white, and male.

This gothic YA remix of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde subverts the cishet white perspective of the original, starring a Black queer teen searching for the reason behind his best friend’s disappearance and the arrival of a magnetic stranger.

Here is a list of all the books in the series:

A Clash of Steel: A Treasure Island Remix by C.B. Lee
So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix by Bethany C. Morrow
Travelers Along the Way: A Robin Hood Remix by Aminah Mae Safi
What Souls Are Made Of: A Wuthering Heights Remix by Tasha Suri
Self-Made Boys: A Great Gatsby Remix by Anna-Marie McLemore
My Dear Henry: A Jekyll & Hyde Remix by Kalynn Bayron
Teach the Torches to Burn: A Romeo & Juliet Remix by Caleb Roehrig
Into the Bright Open: A Secret Garden Remix by Cherie Dimaline
Most Ardently: A Pride & Prejudice Remix by Gabe Cole Novoa

Yall KNOW these have ALLLL been added to my TBR list!

I am OBSESSED with this idea and am so grateful for it….ESPECIALLY because these are all YA books!

The original tale of Jekyll & Hyde is a macabre one, with commentary and insight about what makes a good man and what makes a monster…and asks the age old question of is there a little of both inside all of us?

This book takes that story and flips is all kinds of ways….and it was FIRE, yall.

FANTASTIC read.

Before you read any more of this review, know that there WILL be a teensy spoiler ahead even if you are already familiar with the original story.

Read at your own risk…don’t say I didn’t warn ya if you’re a person who gets pissed about this kinda thing!

SO…..

The Jekyll that transforms in THIS story is NOT the doctor like in the original but his SON, Henry…the doctor forces the transformation…

and the whole reasoning for it is because his doctor father is trying to literally change him into something he and society deems more “normal” and “acceptable”….

Because Henry is gay.

I had so many thoughts come to my mind while reading this…how heartbreaking it is that this kind of thing is still done to many children by their parents even in PRESENT TIMES.

Maybe not in some experimental science lab…. although I’m fairly certain there are plenty of parents out there who WOULD give their children a disfiguring and damaging elixirto “fix” them.

I kept thinking of all those atrocious “conversion” camps and therapists out there that moms and dads bring their gay children to…the horrible things done to these children to “get the gay out.”

Horrifying and disgusting….and just so so so so sad and completely unnecessary.

What a metaphor this story provides.

Not just about human sexuality, but also about race and class…. the extreme risks many will take as they strive to reach the societal “norm” and fit in…and the awful things they will do to others who challenge it.

There is a different kind of ending in this story than the original—which I will NOT spoil even in the least—and I appreciated the author’s creative take.

While I am a fan of the original tale, I gotta admit that I think this one is far more interesting and intriguing.

Plus…anything that challenges that white, heteronormative patriarchy BULLSHIT in the world I am HERE FOR ALWAYS. 🙌