Book Review: Beautiful Music for Ugly Children by Kirstin Cronn-Mills

Gabe was born Elizabeth but has always felt different.  Even though he’s physically a girl, he knows who he really is.  However, his tiny Minnesota town isn’t quite so accepting.  When he gets a gig hosting a late-night radio show, he finally gets to be himself.  Through the show–Beautiful Music for Ugly Children–Gabe allows his true self to shine through.

Despite not being transgender herself, Kirstin Cronn-Mills wrote a moving and often heartfelt story about a transgender character that feels both delicate and authentic.  While there are certain risks an author takes in telling a story that isn’t quite theirs, Cronn-Mills tries to be faithful to the authenticity of her characters first, and the result is quite successful.  Gabe’s voice never feels appropriated or inauthentic, and he remains completely sympathetic throughout.

What works best about Cronn-Mills’s story is the fact that Gabe’s coming-0ut story is only part of the narrative present in the book.  There are vivid characters, fantastic talks about music, and many completely real high school experiences to round out the story of Gabe’s senior year.

All of the main characters are well-rounded, but this is particularly true in the case of John, the radio station manager who befriends Gabe and offers a surprising amount of warmth as Gabe struggles to come out.  His shared enthusiasm for music and his support of Gabe’s transition provide warmth to the story, which takes a dark turn about halfway through the novel.

Although there are some plot contrivances here, this is a strong debut well worth a reader’s time.  Strong characters, snappy pacing, and a smattering of musical pop culture make this one entertaining as well as enlightening.  Highly recommended.

Beautiful Music for Ugly Children by Kirstin Cronn-Mills. Flux: 2012. Electronic galley accepted for review via NetGalley. Read for 2012 Cybils Round 1 Panel.

Quick and Dirty Mini-Reviews: Social Justice Class

I’ve done this a couple of times before, so there’s not a lot to explain here.  The idea is to knock out a few reviews of books I read for social justice class this summer.  Without further ado, let’s get to it.

Mexican WhiteBoy by Matt de la Peña

Danny might be tall and skinny, but he’s got a mean pitch when he’s playing baseball.  He’s got so much power, it’s not unusual for him to get a ball up to 96 mph, but he’s not even on a team.  He chokes every time he steps up to the pitcher’s mound.  It doesn’t help that he doesn’t fit in at his private school.  He’s half-Mexican, which means that he doesn’t fit in with the white kids.  But he doesn’t speak Spanish, which means he doesn’t fit in with the Mexican kids, either.  Spending the summer with his dad’s family means he might have to confront some of the demons that have been haunting him since his dad went back to Mexico.

I was surprised by how much I liked de la Peña’s Mexican WhiteBoy, especially considering how much of it deals with baseball.  This is an extremely well-written book, and the characters that populate it are fully-formed, flawed, and fascinating (how’s that for some alliteration?).  One of the books that has been banned in Arizona (for promoting critical race theory), this is a book that will work well for reluctant readers and fans of gritty contemporary YA alike.  It’s a must-read for anyone who wants to explore issues of race, identity, and family.

Rainbow Boys by Alex Sanchez

Jason, Kyle, and Nelson all attend the same high school and are all struggling with their sexuality.  Although each boy has problems of his own to work through, the three teens band together to start to figure out life, themselves, and love.

Arguably one of the first mainstream novels to feature homosexual protagonists, Alex Sanchez’s Rainbow Boys is considered cannon in the GLBTQ literature world.  The problem is, that it’s extremely problematic.  Nothing about this novel worked for me, from the amateurish writing to the meandering plot.  There’s also the fact that the book reinforces some damaging stereotypes about gender and masculinity and femininity.  While the book certainly has its fans, I’m not one of them, and this book feels dated (it was published in 2000).

(And yes that is Matt Bomer on the cover.)

Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork

Marcelo can hear music no one else can hear.  It’s part of his impairment–similar to Aspberger’s–that no doctor has been able to fully diagnose.  Marcelo goes to a special school and has always been fairly insulated from the real world.  But the summer before his senior year of high school, Marcelo’s father tells him he’s going to spend the summer working in the mail room of his law firm.  Marcelo has no choice in this, and it is there that he’s thrust into the real world.

Beautifully written with a fairly authentic voice in Marcelo, Stork has crafted a novel that should resonate with most readers.  Marcelo’s voice is absolutely charming, and the characters that populate his world (with a few exceptions) are well-drawn, realistic, and fascinating.

It’s impossible not to root for Marcelo in this novel, and while it raises some difficult questions, it doesn’t offer any easy answers.  I really loved this one, Gentle Readers.  Highly, highly recommended.

That’s it for this installment of Quick-and-Dirty Reviews.

Book Review: 37 Things I Love (in no particular order) by Kekla Magoon

There are only a couple of days left of sophomore year for Ellis, but summer seems to be the last thing on her mind.  Her father’s been in a coma for years, and her mom’s talking about finally pulling the plug on the life support.  Things are more tense between Ellis and her mother than ever, and Ellis’s best friend doesn’t seem to notice that anything is wrong.  When Ellis starts to discover comfort in places she didn’t think to look before, she starts to realize that life has to go on–and she has to go with it.

The deceptively light cover doesn’t hint at the surprising depth of this short, bittersweet coming-of-age story.  In her relatively short novel, Magoon has crafted a story about a girl learning to see herself and those around her totally clearly for the first time.  While Magoon tackles tough topics, she doesn’t pander to her readers, making this an enjoyable, emotional read that many readers (especially those of contemporary YA) will gobble up.

A strong story all around, Magoon excels especially in creating the main character of Ellis.  Her narration is authentic and emotionally real.  Her first-person narration as she navigates her pain and her changing feelings drives the novel and allows the reader to get close to the action and the book’s characters.  Strong secondary characters, including Ellis’s mother, help add dimension to the story and keep it from ever becoming a cliche.

Although the book grapples with love, loss, and sexual identity, Magoon’s book never feels didactic.  Magoon expertly navigates each heavy topic but doesn’t offer pat answers or solutions.  Everything is kept vague enough to allow readers to draw their own conclusions, or simply wonder about what will happen to the characters in this beautiful little novel.

Highly recommended, especially for teens looking for a heavier contemporary YA this summer.

37 Things I Love (in no particular order) by Kekla Magoon. Henry Holt & Co.: 2012. Library copy.

 

 

Tessa Masterson WILL Go To Prom by Brendan Halpin & Emily Franklin

Lucas and Tessa have been friends forever.  Everyone in their small Indiana town thinks they’ll eventually get together–and no one is surprised when Lucas asks Tessa to their senior prom.  What is surprising is that Tessa says no–and comes out to Lucas.  Humiliated, Lucas feels betrayed.  As gossip about Tessa spreads, things get worse–her decision to take a girl to prom and wear a tuxedo doesn’t go unnoticed–and soon the school board is weighing in on the controversy.  Lucas has to decide if he will stand up for Tessa’s right to go to prom, or if he”ll stand idly by and watch the town turn on her.

This is the third split-POV from Halpin and Franklin (they collaborated most notably on Jenna & Jonah’s Fauxmance), and while it is unapologetic about its ripped-from-the-headlines story, it’s also a really really important novel for teens.  Although it occasionally dips into overly-didactic territory, the authors manage to craft a sweet, funny, and absolutely heartfelt tale about friendship, identity, and our right to love.

The novel’s relatively short chapters, alternating between Lucas’s and Tessa’s narration, make the story fairly accessible to a wide range of readers.  There are some moments of genuine humor present, and both narrators are inherently likeable.  Readers will sympathize with both Tessa and Lucas as they struggle to come to terms with Tessa’s coming out.

Although Lucas’s ultimate gesture is a bit of a stretch, the novel’s climax and denouement offer a happy, hopeful resolution to a story that is emotional on a number of fronts.  It’s cautiously upbeat, which is a message that is especially important given the political climate and the issues that GLBTQ teens face today.

Recommended.  Although it probably won’t blow readers away, it’s authentic and important enough to be on library shelves all over the country.

Tessa Masterson is out TODAY.

Tessa Masterson WILL Go to Prom by Brendan Halpin & Emily Franklin. Walker & Co.: 2012. Electronic galley accepted for review via NetGalley.

Book Review: Brooklyn, Burning by Steve Brezenoff

Kid’s parents don’t understand.  Trying to find a place to accept Kid, Kid ends up in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.  Over the course of two summers, Kid falls hopelessly in love and learns about life and loss.  Summer draws to a close, and Kid has to face the fact that there are things to learn about life.

If the summary doesn’t sound like it’s doing the book justice, that’s because it’s not.  The narrator of Steve Brezenoff’s novel is never identified by gender.  Neither is Scout, the person that Kid falls in love with one summer in Brooklyn.  This gender-neutrality is intentional and effective.  Brezenoff’s novel is a lyrical, understated love story to Brooklyn.  Fast-paced this book is not: this is a slow, deliberate story that unfolds in a way that can only be described as complex.  It’s not going to work for many readers, but for readers who don’t mind a hearty dose of complexity with their their books: get ready for a doozy of a story.

Based partially on actual events–Brezenoff took the Greenpoint Terminal Warehouse fire of 2006 and crafted a story around it–Kid’s story flashes back and forth in time to help explain why Kid ended up where they did.  Unable to make their parents understand, Kid ends up in Brooklyn, looking for a respite from the pressures of home, and ends up falling in love with music and with Scout, another runaway.  The flashbacks offer slow but well-done insights into Kid’s situation, and Brezenoff’s careful descriptions of Brooklyn offer specificity and familiarity, making the book’s setting palpable.

The book handles issues of sexual identity, homelessness, and street life with nary a trace of sensationalism.  Brezenoff’s skilled writing keeps these issues from overwhelming the story and provides some of the best commentary on youth homelessness that this reviewer has come across in quite some time.  The book’s raw tone only enhances its complex characters and situations.

Also notable is Brezenoff’s decision to keep both Kid and Scout’s genders unnamed.  Kid’s first-person narrative keeps the reader at somewhat of a distance (which won’t work for all readers), but Kid’s tendency to refer to Scout as “You” is a touch of sheer brilliance.  It takes some getting used to, but it really works.

Recommended.  This is a notable book.

Brooklyn, Burning by Steve Brezenoff.  Carolrhoda Books, 2011.  Electronic galley accepted for review via NetGalley.

40 Day Book Challenge: Day 1: A Favorite Book of 2011 (so far) (01)

Tackling a challenge that I’m probably guaranteed to fail, I’ve decided to try to participate in the 40 Day Book Challenge.  I won’t be posting every day, but I’ll do my best to do so regularly.  Inspired by Jordyn at Ten Cent Notes and hosted by The Book Whisperer (the entire list can be found here), I think it’s worth shot.

A Favorite Book of 2011 (so far)

I decided to interpret this not only as a favorite book read in 2011, but also published in 2011.  I’ve read a lot of books so far this year, and a lot of those have been published this year.  While there have been a few that I absolutely loved (and a few that I absolutely did not), I’m going to have to go with Laura Goode’s Sister Mischief.

The thing about Goode’s Sister Mischief–besides the fact that it’s set in my hometown of Minneapolis–is that it’s really smart, funny, and honest.  Goode manages to capture the feelings of being an outsider in general while also creating strong female characters who are funny, bright, and flawed.  The fact that it features gay teens living normal lives is a bonus, to be sure.  As nervous as I was about a book featuring white girls (and one Indian girl) who rap, Goode tackles the subject matter with grace and care, giving equal consideration to genuine passion and the concept of cultural appropriation.

This will without a doubt make my list of the best books of 2011, and if you haven’t read it yet, I urge you to do so.  Soon.  Like now.

(#64) Book Review: Shine by Lauren Myracle

Sixteen-year-old Cat lives in the tiny North Carolina town of Black Creek.  When her former best friend Patrick is put into a coma after an attack that is deemed a hate crime because he is gay, Cat is dismayed to see that the town’s police aren’t really investigating it.  Cat decides to take matters into her own hands and interview people in the town who might be connected to the crime.  This means facing not only her older brother, but members of his “red-neck posse,” which means that Cat might have to face demons from her own past.  As Cat investigates the mystery surrounding Patrick’s attack, she realizes that Black Creek is full of secrets, and some of them are quite dangerous.

Lauren Myracle’s atmospheric novel about secrets and bigotry in a small town is really, really good.   Myracle’s novel succeeds where a lot of other novels (especially about the south) seem to fail.  Strong writing, excellent characterization, and unflinching honesty make this title a standout.

The novel is full of strong writing.  Myracle’s prose is beautiful without being too flowery and direct without being too blunt.  Through her prose, she manages to craft the atmosphere of a small town that is so claustrophobic that at times it feels hard to breathe while reading it.  Everyone in town knows everyone else’s business.  When Cat starts investigating Patrick’s attack, it seems that the entire town knows she’s been asking questions–and a lot of people aren’t happy about it.

The fact that Myracle is able to carry this part of the novel off speaks volumes about her ability as a storyteller.  Having Cat take on the mystery of what happened to Patrick could easily seem contrived or ill-advised, like it so often does in YA novels.  Instead, Cat’s attempt to investigate the attack helps to create the suspense that drives the novel as well as develop Cat as a character.  The evolution of Cat from a meek little thing into a brave young woman is remarkable, realistic, and compelling.  Authors of bland female protagonists take note: this is what real character development looks like.

The rest of the characters in Shine are also given careful consideration.  Simply put, the characterization in Myracle’s novel is great.  Instead of allowing her secondary and tertiary characters to fall into the cliches and stereotypes that often occur in stories about the small-town South, Myracle deftly side-steps these pitfalls and allows her characters to be multi-dimensional, real, and sympathetic.  Cat’s world is not black-and-white, and there are no straight-up bad guys to pin the blame on.  Myracle doesn’t offer easy answers to the problems set forth in Cat’s town, but she never gets preachy, either, and that is what makes this novel work so well.

Not that Shine isn’t without its faults, too, although they are relatively minor in the scheme of things.  The pacing of the novel is problematic: it is slow to start and the rising action takes its sweet time to begin building up.  Once it does, though, readers won’t be able to put the book down.  Additionally, it takes Cat far too long to piece together the mystery of Patrick’s attack.  Readers who have been paying any kind of attention will have it figured out long before the final piece of the puzzle clicks into place for Cat.

That being said, Shine is still a novel worth exploring.  The characters, the setting, and the writing make any pacing issues or obtuseness of its protagonist almost irrelevant.  One of the best books of the year, I wholeheartedly recommend Shine.

Shine by Lauren Myracle.  Amulet Books: 2011.  Electronic galley accepted for review via Netgalley; electronic copy purchased for Kindle.