crystal_reading's review against another edition
3.0
Gabe is a character who will stay with me for a long time. I loved the relationships he had - especially the one with a neighbor who is like a grandfather to him. The characters were living and breathing for me.
I also enjoyed the music aspect of the story. Now I want to go and listen to binge on Elvis and Prince. It was fun to contemplate what my own B side too.
Gabe is a transgender young man. That is a large part of the story, but it is not the only part. This didn't feel like an "issue" book. It's a story about relationships and being your true self.
I also enjoyed the music aspect of the story. Now I want to go and listen to binge on Elvis and Prince. It was fun to contemplate what my own B side too.
Gabe is a transgender young man. That is a large part of the story, but it is not the only part. This didn't feel like an "issue" book. It's a story about relationships and being your true self.
gica's review
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
milvan849's review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
jesselyn's review against another edition
2.0
I wanted to like this book but I couldn't get through it. The way Gabe talked about his gender felt forced and inauthentic and the book feels dated even for 2012. It sounded at times like the author got her information about being trans from info pamphlets written by other cis people instead of first hand from the experiences of trans folks.
As other people have noted, Elvis features heavily in the narrative with no analysis or even acknowledgement of how he appropriated and downright stole Black music.
And aside from these issues, the story felt heavy-handed and unrealistic. Only a few episodes into his radio show, Gabe already has a loyal fan base that graffiti a giant mural inspired by his show. Really? Do teenagers even listen to public radio at midnight? And the way the teens describe their "A side/B side" sounded way too much like an adult trying to be cool without a good grasp of how contemporary teenagers talk about themselves. I had no interest in finding out what happened to Gabe and gave up after about a third of the book.
Skip this and read Girl Mans Up by M-E Girard for a more heartfelt exploration of queerness and masculinity.
As other people have noted, Elvis features heavily in the narrative with no analysis or even acknowledgement of how he appropriated and downright stole Black music.
And aside from these issues, the story felt heavy-handed and unrealistic. Only a few episodes into his radio show, Gabe already has a loyal fan base that graffiti a giant mural inspired by his show. Really? Do teenagers even listen to public radio at midnight? And the way the teens describe their "A side/B side" sounded way too much like an adult trying to be cool without a good grasp of how contemporary teenagers talk about themselves. I had no interest in finding out what happened to Gabe and gave up after about a third of the book.
Skip this and read Girl Mans Up by M-E Girard for a more heartfelt exploration of queerness and masculinity.
literatehedgehog's review against another edition
3.0
As a coming-of-age teen novel about music, love, and getting your family to understand you, it's a pretty solid story. Some parts are windy while some are jumpy, making the timeline hard to follow. Sometimes Gabe's voice is a little too "tell, tell, tell" rather than "show, show, show" - sure, it's a first person narrative inside his head, but there could have been more editing.
As a coming-out-as-transsexual novel, with complicated feelings for a best friend, a tense family that seems to just ignore Gabe's presence as a coping mechanism, and a decent swath of positive, ambivalent, negative, and supportive responses from his peers and community, it was a pretty solid story. I didn't really buy some of the romantic tensions and complications with the three different girls, but that's more of a writing style flaw than an inherent story or character flaw. (For instance, Gabe spends the first third of the book obsessed with staring at girls' mouths and then never mentions mouths for the rest of the story. Why? Was it purposeful to show his changing focus of attention? Or was it just sloppy editing?).
There is a good author's note afterward that details various identity terms, some general information, and what I really thought important, numbers and websites for support for both kids and their families. On the other hand, I do wish the author explained a little more her research process for the book, not just that she considers herself an ally. I would hope that she did in fact meet or talk to people who have come out as transgender or transsexual...
Recommend to
For the 15-18 year olds you would want to give George to, but want a story with more meaty, complex relationships, who aren't as persnickety as I am about plot progression and character narration.
As a coming-out-as-transsexual novel, with complicated feelings for a best friend, a tense family that seems to just ignore Gabe's presence as a coping mechanism, and a decent swath of positive, ambivalent, negative, and supportive responses from his peers and community, it was a pretty solid story. I didn't really buy some of the romantic tensions and complications with the three different girls, but that's more of a writing style flaw than an inherent story or character flaw. (For instance, Gabe spends the first third of the book obsessed with staring at girls' mouths and then never mentions mouths for the rest of the story. Why? Was it purposeful to show his changing focus of attention? Or was it just sloppy editing?).
There is a good author's note afterward that details various identity terms, some general information, and what I really thought important, numbers and websites for support for both kids and their families. On the other hand, I do wish the author explained a little more her research process for the book, not just that she considers herself an ally. I would hope that she did in fact meet or talk to people who have come out as transgender or transsexual...
Recommend to
For the 15-18 year olds you would want to give George to, but want a story with more meaty, complex relationships, who aren't as persnickety as I am about plot progression and character narration.
raechsreads's review against another edition
4.0
Such a beautiful story of how we need to open our minds and hearts to think of others. The world is changing and I hope that it's for the better. This book encourages me that it is.
kricketa's review against another edition
4.0
i really enjoyed this story of gabe, his neighbor john, and his local radio show, 'beautiful music for ugly children.' funny & moving. i loved cronn-mills' other book as well. i hope she writes a million books.
galpalcentral's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
dlberglund's review against another edition
4.0
Sweet, somewhat predictable, sometimes uncomfortable, and highly readable story of Gabe. Gabe's an aspiring DJ, an introvert, and wasn't born into the body that fits his mind. A really good addition to the queer YA sub genre.