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cogowno's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Transphobia and Outing
allysonbogie's review
4.0
A beautiful and important book. I love the integration of music, and the friendship between John and Gabe. This books portrays a transgender teen in the context of a realistic-seeming life. There is a small amount of violence but it's very disturbing. Sadly, it contributes to the realistic feeling of the book.
mcf's review
4.0
An impressive, really sweet story of a teenage trans man and the challenges he faces. For the most part, Gabe is confident in his decisions, and the book starts after he has already come out to his best friend and family, an unusual entry point for such a story. Gabe and the supporting case were appealing and nicely drawn, and there was a pleasing nuance to his parents and their struggles with his identity. The best thing about the book, though, was how unresolved it was -- the great majority of the dramatic moment end ambiguously, something which, while perhaps unusual in a YA novel (at least one not leading into a sequel), is refreshingly true to how things work in, you know, real life.
heatherg213's review
4.0
Gabe loves music, being on the radio, and his best friend, Paige. Gabe also, until recently, was a girl named Elizabeth. At least, Gabe was born biologically female, and his parents raised him in the female gender. As far as Gabe is concerned, he has always been a boy. But his decision to start living his day to day life that way is new, and it is throwing his family for a loop. The only people who seem to truly accept the new/old him is his best friend Paige, and his elderly neighbor John, himself a radio devotee. Gabe gets his own late-night radio show on the local channel, which he calls Beautiful Music for Ugly Children. Radio allows him to be fully himself in a way he can't be at school or at home. But things get complicated when one of his fans discovers his secret, and Gabe is forced to confront the very real danger that trans* folks face from people who refuse to accept their identity.
I loved this book, in large part because I know a few young adults who could have been Gabe. As a part of the queer community myself, and someone who works with teenagers on a regular basis, the prejudice, discrimination, and violence that trans* folks deal with is something that I am more familiar with than I would like. I think that it speaks to Cronn-Mill's ability to write a fully-realized character that I was so readily able to identify with Gabe, if not through my own identity, then through the sharing of trans* youth I have worked with over the years.
Not that I have anything against issue driven stories, but ultimately this book is not "just" a book about being trans*. The reader gains some insight into the experience of trans* folks, but Cronn-Mills does an excellent job showing just how universal the issues that Gabe deals with are in adolescence, even if Gabe has a harder row to hoe than most. The teenage years are all about separating from parents, creating identity, and navigating increasingly sophisticated social structures. Many youth struggle to find balance and meaning between the person they have always been, and the person they would like to become. Gabe's transition from being Elizabeth is a more dramatic example of something that all of us go through. Instead of diluting the issues surrounding being trans*, though, this universality may help the reader create connections with characters that are otherwise seemingly very different, which can only help create empathy for people in Gabe's position, and for anyone who is identified as "other"
I think that this book would be a great addition to any classroom library at the secondary level. I also could see it being taught in a human sexuality class, or as part of a course on social justice topics. Beautiful Music for Ugly Children won the Stonewall Award from the American Library Association, given to books for young adults that show excellence in portraying LGBT themes, and award that in this case is well-deserved.
I loved this book, in large part because I know a few young adults who could have been Gabe. As a part of the queer community myself, and someone who works with teenagers on a regular basis, the prejudice, discrimination, and violence that trans* folks deal with is something that I am more familiar with than I would like. I think that it speaks to Cronn-Mill's ability to write a fully-realized character that I was so readily able to identify with Gabe, if not through my own identity, then through the sharing of trans* youth I have worked with over the years.
Not that I have anything against issue driven stories, but ultimately this book is not "just" a book about being trans*. The reader gains some insight into the experience of trans* folks, but Cronn-Mills does an excellent job showing just how universal the issues that Gabe deals with are in adolescence, even if Gabe has a harder row to hoe than most. The teenage years are all about separating from parents, creating identity, and navigating increasingly sophisticated social structures. Many youth struggle to find balance and meaning between the person they have always been, and the person they would like to become. Gabe's transition from being Elizabeth is a more dramatic example of something that all of us go through. Instead of diluting the issues surrounding being trans*, though, this universality may help the reader create connections with characters that are otherwise seemingly very different, which can only help create empathy for people in Gabe's position, and for anyone who is identified as "other"
I think that this book would be a great addition to any classroom library at the secondary level. I also could see it being taught in a human sexuality class, or as part of a course on social justice topics. Beautiful Music for Ugly Children won the Stonewall Award from the American Library Association, given to books for young adults that show excellence in portraying LGBT themes, and award that in this case is well-deserved.
shinygreenbeetle's review
4.0
As far as I can tell, Gabe is a really well written trans character, though I'm not the best judge of that. But honestly, pretty much any and all fairly well written trans characters are important, and there really isn't enough. A better awareness and understanding of trans people would lead to less violence and discrimination like what Gabe experiences, and younger transgender people would probably really benefit from positive representation and seeing characters who are like them in a positive light.
Parts of the plot were a little predictable to me, but overall it was a good story, funny and with likable characters.
Parts of the plot were a little predictable to me, but overall it was a good story, funny and with likable characters.
jwinchell's review
4.0
3 for writing, 5 for topic & YA relevance.
Not enough is written about gender variance, and this book paves the way for lots of important advocacy: self-advocacy, for kids who need to normalize their gender questions and identities; general advocacy, for "cisgender" young adults who need to understand peers who are different than them in this way (and others); and empathic, empowered advocacy for adults who can work within systems for change and should maintain safe spaces for all young adults.
There's lots of music in this book, and Gabe's experience/emotions felt authentic. The writing felt flat, though, but that's a small issue when it comes to the overall importance of this book.
Not enough is written about gender variance, and this book paves the way for lots of important advocacy: self-advocacy, for kids who need to normalize their gender questions and identities; general advocacy, for "cisgender" young adults who need to understand peers who are different than them in this way (and others); and empathic, empowered advocacy for adults who can work within systems for change and should maintain safe spaces for all young adults.
There's lots of music in this book, and Gabe's experience/emotions felt authentic. The writing felt flat, though, but that's a small issue when it comes to the overall importance of this book.
inkstndfngrs's review
2.0
It wasn't that I didn't like the book...but I can't think of anyone I would recommend this too, transitioning or otherwise. It just wasn't powerful enough to really move me. Yeah, Gabe's struggle is a real one, but at the same time...he lacks the ability to (apologies for the pun) "man up" and take control of his issues. He hides on the radio waves and behind this facade he's created. It just kind of reminded me why I don't usually bother with "local" authors. I don't feel like she really did enough research or was knowledgeable enough to work with this subject matter... I know nothing about Kirstin Cronn-Mills and I'm sure if I offended her any way some one will let me know but...for the time being, I just wasn't particularly impressed. If you're looking for an angsty LGBT teen novel, I guess this is a possibility, but there are more impressive reads.
bookgirl4ever's review
4.0
Trans-vampire Liz aka Gabe is obsessed with music. Once a week he DJs a midnight show on a local radio station. It is a relief for Gabe to have an artistic outlet, sharing his first love, but it is also the only time he can truly be himself. Gabe is male-gendered, trapped in a female body. Outing himself to his family was a failure and he can't bring himself to risk losing his next door neighbor/mentor and his BFF, Paige, who he happens to have a crush on, by revealing his sexual orientation. Is a small Minnesotan town ready for a guy like Gabe?
HS
HS
tellingetienne's review
3.0
This sure was a book. I wanted SO SO much more from it as a Stonewall Award winner, but at the end of the day I was left wanting. It's very much a cis woman writing about trans people, and that can be frustrating. That said, it seemed to be fairly standard issue YA (with a dose of transphobia and violence over it, which honestly I just want to do with out). When will we have trans YA that doesn't have violence in it?
I did like Gabe, so there was that?
I did like Gabe, so there was that?