Gabe's dream is to be a radio DJ playing good music over the airwaves. His neighbor John got him a gig at the local radio station playing songs from 12-1 AM on Saturday night.
One little issue: Gabe was born Elizabeth and a “she”. Only a few people know him as Gabe, but with graduation on the horizon Gabe is looking forward to being Gabe full time. Things at school aren’t easy for Gabe, who answers to Liz and is bullied by some of the boys for looking so masculine. Then there is the issue of getting a job or applying to colleges when biologically you are “F” but in your heart and mind you are “M”.
Things at home aren’t that great with his parents still calling him “Liz” and at times not even looking at him. It’s good he has John, an old radio DJ, to be a friend and a mentor. Then there is Paige, Liz’s best friend who Gabe has a crush on. Moving forward with Paige might ruin their friendship, and Gabe doesn’t want to risk the one friendship he has.
Life is confusing enough at 18, figuring out what next after high school, especially if college isn’t the answer. Adding in not identifying with the gender he was born as makes things extra confusing for Gabe. Caught between childhood and adulthood as well as “female” and “male” in a world that makes you pick one, Gabe is navigating a world stuck on labels that he doesn’t fit. Wanting to be Gabe full time is not easy, and he does risk losing friends, family and fans.
Beautiful Music for Ugly Children gives a new perspective on going through these changes. Gabe’s story is a bit unusual for young adult fiction, as it deals with a teen that is transsexual, and one transitioning from female to male. (For a male to female perspective try reading Almost Perfect by Brian Katcher or Luna by Julie Anne Peters, although the character transitioning is not the main character.)
While this won’t be a book for every reader, those readers into music will love the mentions of rock history and royalty. Elvis plays a big part of in Gabe’s story too, so fans of the King will find trivia throughout the book. Put Beautiful Music for Ugly Children on your summer reading list if you love music or are curious on what it would be like to not identify as the gender you were born as.
I’ll see you @ the library!
Katie (Now reading How My Summer Went Up in Flames by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski)
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