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Beautiful Music for Ugly Children

3.87 of 5 stars 3.87 · rating details · 255 ratings · 77 reviews

"This is Beautiful Music for Ugly Children, on community radio 90.3, KZUK. I'm Gabe. Welcome to my show."

My birth name is Elizabeth, but I'm a guy. Gabe. My parents think I've gone crazy and the rest of the world is happy to agree with them, but I know I'm right. I've been a boy my whole life.

When you think about it, I'm like a record. Elizabeth is my A side, the song ever...more

Paperback, 262 pages

Published October 8th 2012 by Flux (first published October 1st 2012)

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Booklist for Trans Youth

11th out of 54 books — 94 voters

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Keeping You a Secret by Julie Anne Peters

Best GLBT books for teens

53rd out of 141 books — 190 voters

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Community Reviews

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Oct 25, 2012 Kelly rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-fiction, read-in-2012

4.5

This is a beautiful book. Really.

Gabe was born Elizabeth, and until a couple of months ago, lived as Elizabeth, fighting back everything that he felt was true about himself. But he finally decides it's time to own being Gabe, and it's through the help of working as a DJ for the community radio station that he's finally better able to accept himself -- and work toward having other people accept him, too.

It's the Midwest and while it's not small-town Midwest (it's a good size town of 40,000), t...more

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Mar 21, 2013 Madison ♡ rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: proreview

Let's start off by saying that, the only reason I read this book, is because my sister got it from B&N, and my mom made me read it to make sure it was 'appropriate'. I mean, it sounded interesting, but I never would have picked it up for myself.
I am glad to say that I actually really liked this book. More than I thought I would, anyway.
It is the first book I've read with a transgender character, so this genre is new to me. Luckily, Cronn-Mills knew what she was doing and I found the book e...more

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Jun 02, 2013 Becky rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: lgbtq, music, summer-after-high-school, ya

Beautiful Music for Ugly Children is really well done. There's not a ton of ya trans novels out there, and I liked how this one tackles a first-person, middle class, suburban experience. I appreciated how Gabe is able to find support and acceptance in his hometown, beyond what he ever imagined possible when he daydreamed about escaping to the big city to finally become who he was meant to be (common dream for suburban/small town youth of all genders). At the same time, Gabe's legitimate fears of...more

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Mar 14, 2013 Karyl rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, library-reads, young-adult-reads, favorites

Absolutely wonderful book, though heartbreaking in a way. Gabe was born female but has always felt that he is truly a boy. As a result, he decides to start living as a man. Unfortunately, his parents aren't too keen on gaining a son; they seem to focus on losing a daughter. And because he doesn't fit into how his schoolmates feel a girl should look and behave, he is taunted at school. He makes it through high school by focusing on the fact that that soon he'll live full time as Gabe. Throughout...more

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Mar 04, 2013 Tracy rated it 4 of 5 stars

I came across Beautiful Music For Ugly Children by Kristin Cronn-Mills while shelving one day and picked it up because I liked the title. After reading the blurb I was even more interested in the story. As someone who reads a lot of paranormal or dystopian fiction, a story about a transgenered person is not something I normally read. As someone who works in a book store and is often asked by teachers and librarians for books on some of the more difficult topics I was intrigued. After reading the...more I came across Beautiful Music For Ugly Children by Kristin Cronn-Mills while shelving one day and picked it up because I liked the title. After reading the blurb I was even more interested in the story. As someone who reads a lot of paranormal or dystopian fiction, a story about a transgenered person is not something I normally read. As someone who works in a book store and is often asked by teachers and librarians for books on some of the more difficult topics I was intrigued. After reading the book I am happy to say that I can highly recommend this one to everyone interested in a wonderfully written story.

From the titles of the chapters to the conversations between characters there is humour and wit. There is agony and despair as well as sweetness and light. The story is smoothly written immersing you in the story immediately. It's a straight forward look at many of the issues a transgendered person has to deal with. From telling your friends and family, to how others perceive you, bullying and hate crimes to living life as yourself they tackle it all.

Liz has finally told her family that she is a boy trapped in a girl's body. They haven't taken it well. Her neighbor and friend John (who is like a grandfather to her) has made it possible for her to do a radio show on KZUK a local community station. John shares her love of music and they love to debate all things musical. At the beginning of the book Liz has not yet told John About Gabe. The truth about who she is. In doing the radio show, it is important to be true to himself and so he does it as Gabe.

During the very first airing he gets a fan. The one fan soon grows into a following and Liz starts living more and more as Gabe. This is not a road filled with sunshine and roses. He has to deal with bullies, his feelings towards girls and towards his best friend since kindergarten, Paige.

This is a story that makes you think about how we treat each other. A story that made me wonder, what makes us think we have the right to judge others let alone why we think we have any say in their lives. It reminded me of a t-shirt I had in my 20's that said
"I M I
U R U
Live and let Live"
I wish we could do that more. That we would remember how it felt when we were teased or left out of things or bullied in what ever way. Though it may not have been as difficult it should make us more aware and considerate and less judgmental of others. We al know what it feels like to be an Ugly Child and should do more to make sure everyone can hear Beautiful Music.

I can not wait to tell others, especially teachers and librarians about this wonderful story. No matter your age I encourage you to read this story and maybe start some open discussion with your friends and loved ones.

I give this book 4 out of 5 reads.

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Feb 28, 2013 TheBookSmugglers rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: lgbt, young-adult, contempya

Original review posted on The Book Smugglers

This is going to be a difficult review to write and another one brought to you by my two hands.

Gabe Williams has big summer plans. He has his own (quite successful) late-night radio show at an obscure radio station where he geeks out on old songs with the help of his neighbour and mentor John (presumably the first DJ to play Elvis Presley back in the days). He is in love with his best friend Paige and hopes against hope she might feel the same way – al...more Original review posted on The Book Smugglers

This is going to be a difficult review to write and another one brought to you by my two hands.

Gabe Williams has big summer plans. He has his own (quite successful) late-night radio show at an obscure radio station where he geeks out on old songs with the help of his neighbour and mentor John (presumably the first DJ to play Elvis Presley back in the days). He is in love with his best friend Paige and hopes against hope she might feel the same way – although he isn’t exactly averse to hooking up with other equally hot girls should the opportunity arises. Above all though, Gabe is looking forward to the day where he can simply be Gabe. Because you see, Gabe was born Elizabeth and has just recently told his family and close friends that he is a trans guy.

The book chronicles Gabe’s summer in a story that depicts both his passion for music and his hopes for his future as well as the process of his FTM (Female To Male) transitioning.

SO: on the one hand, at a surface level Beautiful Music for Ugly Children is a really, really cool story. Gabe’s passion for DJing and for old songs is palpable and his relationship with his mentor John is awesome – the latter, a supportive presence, a mentor, a friend, a grandfather figure that admires and helps Gabe. This is all the more important at this particular moment when Gabe’s parents are still shocked at Gabe’s coming out when he is taking the first baby steps at being officially, openly Gabe. And those tremendously important first steps are really well depicted: like the first time Gabe introduces himself as Gabe; the first time he goes to a male restroom; his first attempt to go out on a date with a girl. As well as his ongoing dealings with his family and the bigots at school (who always though Liz was a freak but who know are thoroughly disgusted at Gabe).

And I am reading this and I am nodding along and I am thinking: yes, sirs, this appears to be exactly like what a transitioning FTM would face from A to B to C. As such, my other hand will tell you that Beautiful Music for Ugly Childrenis very informative in portraying the Trials and Tribulations of a trans teen.

But that first hand will say: yes, this is a really important story. And one that even acknowledges and addresses the many problems that LGBQT teens face including violence, bullying and bigotry without being completely tragic. It is an empowering story and who doesn’t love an empowering story? Especially when the ending is so hopeful?

But the other hand says: things seemed to have happened by rote, plot-wise. Almost as if there was a list of THINGS that had to happen in the transitioning process – with the uncomfortable implication that the process is the same for everybody. I never got the impression that Gabe was a real person with a really moving story beyond being a vessel for this tale to be told.

I was also quite uncomfortable with the way that Gabe interacted/saw girls (those who were not his love interest Paige), as those came across as merely receptacle/objects of his desire. There was also a weird vibe about gender roles and what “girls do” or how “girls behave” that sneaked its way into the narrative. On the other hand, it makes sense that Gabe would want to be completely dissociated from anything that remotely connects him to what is usually perceived as femininity (and therefore, to Liz). That said, I am not convinced that the narrative challenged this gender-role divide completely.

I do not want to undermine the importance of this book or the importance of stories like these simply being out there – especially for teens going through the same process or who are questioning – by saying that I don’t think that Beautiful Music for Ugly Children is a brilliant book. As such, there is definitely a divide between what I know to be an important story and how I wanted/needed/hoped this story to be told. (less)

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Feb 04, 2013 Sparrow rated it 3 of 5 stars

This is a Young Adult novel about a pre-t pre-op ftm named Gabe. He’s minimally out and lives in a town with some great people and some dangerous jerks. Most of the book is set between his house, his music obsessed old man neighbor’s house, and the radio station where he DJs a late night show once a week. The plot is equal parts trans issues and radio/music talk. The book spans the gamut of coming-out reactions, from “Hey bro, that doesn’t matter to me at all” to “I’m going to kill you with a ba...more

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Sep 12, 2012 Leah (The Pretty Good Gatsby) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, america, contemporary, for-review-netgalley, ya, lgbt, music

http://theprettygoodgatsby.wordpress....

When you think about it, I'm like my 45. Liz is my A side, the song everybody knows, and Gabe is my B side - not played as often, but the song's just as good.

Like I mentioned in my review of The Waiting Sky, I really shy away from Novels With Issues. Whereas with other genres I can pick up a sci-fi book or a mystery whenever I feel like it. That's SO not the case with books dealing with heavy topics. I need to be in a certain mood for those, but Beautiful...more

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May 31, 2012 Shortlatte rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I’m fascinated by issues of gender and sexuality; in this day and age, where gender identity is such a fluid thing, I can’t help but be a tad disappointed that more authors haven’t taken the initiative to address the topic. Particularly for young adult audiences, a large portion of whom are at a juncture in their lives where exploration of these issues in fiction could serve as a guidepost for questions regarding their own identities, the relative lack of LGTB fiction in mainstream markets is un...more I’m fascinated by issues of gender and sexuality; in this day and age, where gender identity is such a fluid thing, I can’t help but be a tad disappointed that more authors haven’t taken the initiative to address the topic. Particularly for young adult audiences, a large portion of whom are at a juncture in their lives where exploration of these issues in fiction could serve as a guidepost for questions regarding their own identities, the relative lack of LGTB fiction in mainstream markets is unfortunate. So when I first read the synopsis for Cronn-Mill’s Beautiful Music for Ugly Children, I knew I had to get my hands on it as quickly as possible.

Beautiful Music for Ugly Children explores an issue that I have rarely come across in young adult fiction: the transition of a trangender young adult from female to male. Most of the books I’ve read dealing with transgender have strayed from this particular angle, instead opting to uncover the problems faced during the male-to-female transition. For this alone, I applaud Cronn-Mills, who managed to address some pivotal, hard-hitting emotional issues with dignity and subtlety. Rather than retread the tired and expected avenues of angst and confusion, Cronn-Mills instead delivers her story through the voice of a remarkably well-adjusted and eminently likeable narrator. Even while reading stories from the most gifted of writers in the young adult genre, I rarely am able to dissociate myself completely from the experience of reading a book. No matter how honest and genuine a narrator’s voice might be, I am usually nevertheless aware of the fact that the character is a work of fiction, a figment of the author’s imaginings. The ability to make your writing transcend the confines of the page is the hallmark of a great author, and in this I must give credit where it is due. Gabe easily could have come across as rather pretentious, (self-conscious chapter headings paramount in creating the possibility), yet Cronn-Mills conveys Gabe’s voice so simply and unaffectedly that I never doubted his authenticity. He is sympathetic when the situation calls for it (which is throughout most of the story) and witty in a way that you could expect from an actual high-schooler (rather than a thirty-something author channeling her own voice through her youthful character). Gabe is one of the few young adult narrators I’ve come across who I would be glad to call my friend, and so it was difficult to accept the fact that Cronn-Mills again took the road less traveled in the progression of Gabe’s story, because while it might have served as a realistic conclusion (in the sense that it isn’t really a conclusion at all), I would have liked to see Gabe get a little extra payoff at the end.

Unlike so many young adult books nowadays, the secondary characters in Beautiful Music for Ugly Children were wonderfully three-dimensional and, shockingly, didn’t broadcast their intentions, so I was as on the fence as Gabe most of the time. Some characters who likely would have played the villain in another story remained delightfully ambiguous, whereas others never achieved the self-actualization that would have allowed for a more complete resolution. We are left hanging because the characters don’t have all their issues together by the end, and it’s messy, but it’s also much more indicative of real life than the gift-wrapped happy endings that fiction so often delivers.
Ultimately, Beautiful Music for Ugly Children is a true coming-of-age tale in that the story doesn’t reside in the conclusion to Gabe’s high school career or even in the start to his future, but rather in the journey he is forced to take along the path to adulthood. It’s heartwearming without being saccharine, and will likely be an important book for many young readers who are lucky enough to stumble upon it. I eagerly await the next story Cronn-Mills chooses to tell, and hope that she continues to push the bounds of young adult fiction into areas that dearly need to be explored.

http://abookandashortlatte.wordpress....(less)

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May 21, 2012 Cyndy Aleo rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, netgalley, young-adult, lgbt

Every so often, an opportunity comes along for me to review a book on NetGalley that I select because I'm not sure the author could really get it right. R.J. Palacio's Wonder was one of those books, and Kirstin Cronn-Mills' Beautiful Music for Ugly Children was another. Both succeeded, despite my initial doubts.

Beautiful Music for Ugly Children is Gabe's story. Gabe was born Elizabeth, and as the end of senior year approaches, Gabe has landed himself his own late-night show on the local commu...more

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Mar 02, 2013 Margo rated it 5 of 5 stars

Beautiful Music For Ugly Children by Kirsten Cronn-Mills is one of the best young adult books I’ve read in the past ten years. Mills tells the story of a young woman who feels she is actually a guy trapped in a girl’s body. The story is told from the point of view of Elizabeth/Gabe as the teen struggles both to understand the feelings trapped in his/her body, and the trauma of trying to communicate what he, as Elizabeth/Gabe would prefer to be known, is feeling to his parents, his best friend to...more

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May 25, 2012 Abby Johnson rated it 4 of 5 stars

Gabe is finally embracing his B side. Born Elizabeth, Gabe has always known he was a boy. Now that graduation is looming, he's decided to live as Gabe full-time. His parents are having a hard time dealing with it, but he's got the support of his BFF (and, incidentally, his crush) Paige. Plus, there's his weekly radio show, Beautiful Music for Ugly Children, where he surprisingly connects with a community of listeners, despite the late air time. Not everyone in his small Minnesota town is support...more

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Jun 01, 2013 Heidi rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-2013, ya

Gabe, born Elizabeth, is getting ready to graduate from high school. He tells himself that he will be more honest with those around him once he graduates (meaning he will be "out" to everyone, not just his best friend Paige and his family). His gig as a DJ on a local radio station brings Gabe fans he could never imagine; his paying job at a record store brings surprises. Gabe's musical mentor, his neighbor John, plays a big role in getting Gabe to come to terms with who he is and what he wants t...more

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Oct 29, 2012 Zabet The Dark Empress of Dark Chocolate rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-books, contemporary-fiction, trans-gendered

This and other reviews can be found on Reading Between Classes

Cover Impressions: The cover grabbed me enough to make me take a look at the synopsis, so that is something. I like the graffiti feel of it, but would prefer for it to be a little more gritty, like an image taken from an overpass - raw and real.

The Gist: Beautiful Music for Ugly Children chronicles a few, particularly eventful months in the life of Gabe, a teenaged transexual boy. Gabe was born Elizabeth and has recently "come out" to...more

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Jul 02, 2012 Elena rated it 3 of 5 stars

Recommended to Elena by: NetGalley

Shelves: ya-fiction, 2012

NB: I was provided with a free download of this book via NetGalley.

I enjoyed this book, but I found some things that were a little problematic for me. I found it very difficult to track the passing of time and had a lot of muddled ideas of characters in my head, as I thought the characterisation could have had a little more continuity. I didn't find myself connecting with Gabe in the way I would have liked to, and I found a lot of the dialogue very stilted, as well as quite a lot of things that...more

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Feb 15, 2013 Eliana rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, should-be-required-reading

Beautiful Music for Ugly Children was on the ALA Rainbow List for 2013 for being a "quality [book] with significant and authentic GLBTQ content, which [is] recommended for people from birth through eighteen years of age" (from http://glbtrt.ala.org/rainbowbooks/about). And after finishing the book last night, I can honestly say that it totally deserved to be on the list.

As you can see from the shelf I put it on, I think this is the kind of book that should be required reading in schools. (The a...more

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Nov 29, 2012 Serena rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: readin2012, teen, transgender, young-adult, bullying, violence, made-me-cry, lgbt

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Feb 11, 2013 Jess (Gone with the Words) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-2013, young-adult, contemp, lgbt, male-narrator

Read this review on my blog! --> Beautiful Music for Ugly Children by Kirstin Cronn-Mills

I loved that I knew who Gabe was without a doubt. He never once made me feel confused about the identity of the character I was reading. His voice was rang so true. Even with his certainty though, he’s very shy about it. This book is more about Gabe dealing with acceptance and about being more open and out.

His public radio program, Beautiful Music for Ugly Children, is a huge help in getting Gabe out of h...more

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Jan 27, 2013 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebook, four-star-reviews

See the full review at Short & Sweet Reviews.

I am always anxious when reading "issues" books that have anything to do with gender, sexuality, or mental illness. They're issues which are close to me personally and which I feel are really important to get right. Getting them wrong is a disservice to readers in general, and to people who may identify with those characters in specific. So I was understandably a bit nervous when beginning Beautiful Music for Ugly Children. YA books featuring tran...more See the full review at Short & Sweet Reviews.

I am always anxious when reading "issues" books that have anything to do with gender, sexuality, or mental illness. They're issues which are close to me personally and which I feel are really important to get right. Getting them wrong is a disservice to readers in general, and to people who may identify with those characters in specific. So I was understandably a bit nervous when beginning Beautiful Music for Ugly Children. YA books featuring transgender narrators (or trans characters in general) are few and far between, and the story was handled well, it could be beautiful, but if it was handled poorly, I would have had to drag out the soapbox for a lot of complaining.

Fortunately, Beautiful Music for Ugly Children handles Gabe's story quite well. It's not a perfect story, but it is told in a sensitive, realistic manner. The book is written as if Gabe is partly speaking to the reader, and his story is told in a no-nonsense, no-fuss sort of way. Gabe's feelings about being trans, about having been born into the wrong body, are presented in an easy to understand manner, even for readers who may not have any exposure to the subject matter before.

I enjoyed reading about Gabe's journey -- well, enjoyed is a strong word, whenever so much of his life goes awry because people don't understand him, but you know what I mean. He is a cool guy who just needs people to accept him as he is. As a radio DJ myself, I really loved the bits where Gabe is learning to do his show. Gabe has a couple of "oh crap!!" moments that every new DJ has which I could really identify with. Music was a really important part of the story, and Gabe's eclectic music tastes really made me happy.

Like most contemporary issues books, I found the ending to be a bit too easy -- things wrapped up very neatly, bad people are punished, good people are celebrated, etc. That's now how life usually is, however, especially for a transperson, who is statistically more likely to experience bullying, harassment, and assault and is more likely to have attempted suicide. So the fact that things just all end on a relatively positive note is great for providing hope to readers, but is not particularly realistic in light of the situation. (less)

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Mar 29, 2013 Laura (booksnob) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, young-adult

Gabe, the main character in Beautiful Music for Ugly Children, is a radio Dj. I am going to write my review like one of Gabe's radio shows.

"Hello and welcome to the book review / radio show, Beautiful Music for Ugly Children. My name is Laura but you can me Booksnob and I'm your host on this lovely night. For you listening pleasure, let's start with a hometown favorite of mine, Prince. Get ready to dance like it's 1999"
The song plays.

"Next up is a song by Madonna, the pop queen." Madonna sings...more Gabe, the main character in Beautiful Music for Ugly Children, is a radio Dj. I am going to write my review like one of Gabe's radio shows.

"Hello and welcome to the book review / radio show, Beautiful Music for Ugly Children. My name is Laura but you can me Booksnob and I'm your host on this lovely night. For you listening pleasure, let's start with a hometown favorite of mine, Prince. Get ready to dance like it's 1999"
The song plays.

"Next up is a song by Madonna, the pop queen." Madonna sings and we listeners get into the groove.

"OK fans, back on the air now. A good friend of mine, John recommends that I tell my story and let listeners (I mean readers) get to know me. Well instead of talking about myself, which I do so much of (inject sarcasm here), I am going to tell you about a radio show host, I admire whose name is Gabe. Gabe recommends rocking your B side. What is a B side you say? Well back when music came in vinyl record form, 45's had an A and a B side. B sides weren't played much by radio dj's but sometimes they became big hits. Since people come in a variety of shapes, sizes and personalities, it means we all have an A side and a B side. By day, Gabe is really a female whose name is Liz (his A side), by night he is Gabe, the true self that he has to hide from most of the world( B side). In honor of Gabe's B side, I am going to play one of his favorite musical artists, Elvis." So get out your blue suede shoes.

"Back to business, let's take a caller. Caller, your on Beautiful Music for Ugly Children, what say you?
Yeah so is Gabe a guy or a girl?
Good question, caller. Gabe is transgender, someone who doesn't fit in the body he was given. He suffers at home because his parents want to keep their daughter and aren't sure how to handle Liz as she transitions to Gabe. Now that he is out to the public, he is getting bullied and threatened. Music means a lot to Gabe as well as his two best friends. Let's play another song, How bout' some Bob Marley to lighten the mood."

"Welcome back folks. As the review/radio show, Beautiful Music for Ugly Children comes to an end, I'd like to say thanks for listening and if you like what you've heard or read tonight please tell all your friends about Gabe and his story. Gabe's story is for music lovers, book lovers and for people who respect differences and embrace all types of people. Gabe's story also gives a voice to teens in the GLBTQ community who are bullied for wanting to live their life outside the bounds of a particular gender."

"Let's end our show with Katy Perry's I Kissed a Girl. Please sit back, relax, contemplate, listen, read and expand your horizons. This is Booksnob, rocking her B side."

(less)

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Jan 16, 2013 Vanessa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, lgbtq, favorites

Beautiful Music for Ugly Children is an amazing, beautiful novel. The more I think about it, the more I love it.

The book is about Gabe and not just about his coming out as transgender. It's about his passionate love for music, his relationships, and his anxieties and fears. There are scenes in the book that make you laugh out loud and others that make your eyes all teary. I love Gabe as a character and really like the different artists and songs that are brought up in the story. I'm a huge musi...more

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Aug 02, 2012 Valerie Dieter rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-books

With all the hoopla in the press about LGBT rights, this book couldn't come at a better time.

Liz/Gabe is a boy born in a girl's body and emphatically knows it. Gabe is also an aspiring DJ with an intense passion for music. With the help of his neighbor John, also a DJ, Gabe begins hosting a late night radio show at a small local station and gains the attention of a group of fans, the Ugly Children's Brigade.

Unfortunately for Gabe, it's a small enough area that some of his fans discover that Gab...more

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Feb 18, 2013 Inge rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, lgbtq

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Dec 19, 2012 Ms.P rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, young-adult, sexuality

Elizabeth is finishing up senior year of high school. Elizabeth recently came out as Gabe, a boy, and is dealing with the reactions from parents and friends.
Gabe has a night time radio show, which becomes quite popular, but when someone "outs" Gabe, there are repercussions. I loved the Minnesota setting of this story, and I also liked the realistic nature. Coming out as trans* is difficult, and Gabe's struggles with himself, with his family, and with his best friends seem realistic and sympathet...more

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Sep 20, 2012 Britt Marczak rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Everyone, trans

A must-read book for everyone.

I don't care if you're trans, cis, questioning, unsure, all of the above, or none of the above. Everyone should read BEAUTIFUL MUSIC FOR UGLY CHILDREN.

Being cis, but an ally to everyone and wanting to educate myself, I loved this book. You really empathize with Gabe, want to root for him, and support him. There are ups and downs, just like real life.

The ending felt too quick, too good, but it's really only a side complaint. This should be a book full of hope for a...more

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Mar 25, 2013 Anne rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, lgbt, realistic-fiction, young-adult

3.5 stars
Even though she was born Elizabeth, she identifies as Gabe; she knows her parents and the rest of the world think she's crazy, but she knows she is really a guy. As a music afficionado, Gabe sees himself as a record - Elizabeth is the A side and Gabe is the B side. He starts to DJ a night show on the local radio station and gathers a large following. However, once word gets out that Gabe is really Elizabeth, some people get really upset and violent.

A mature middle schooler could handle...more

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Dec 02, 2012 jiawei Ong rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: advisory-2012-2013

"When you think about it, I'm like a record. Elizabeth is my A side, the song everybody knows, and Gabe is my B side- not heard as often, but just as good." In Beautiful Music for Ugly Children, the protagonist, Gabe, is a transgender, because he is a boy with a girl's body. He is known as Elizabeth to everyone at home and at school, but Gabe resists his identity and creates Gabe, a popular DJ of the community radio. His future is threatened when Gabe and Elizabeth are exposed to be the same pe...more

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Apr 10, 2013 Jay Aronson rated it 4 of 5 stars

A bit violent for my taste, and definitely ascribing to the dreadful tendency of fiction with trans* characters towards unrelenting tragedy; the trope is problematic, and no less so in this instance given Beautiful Music is aimed at a young adult audience. However, the voice is genuine and frequently very charming. There were several lines which made me laugh, and one which I committed to memory involving a turn-table joke. Over all, Beautiful Music does do a good job at portraying a character t...more

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May 02, 2013 Lisa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Liz is really Gabe inside. This story of a transgender teen is heartwarming and realistic. His family has trouble accepting the fact that their daughter isn't really Elizabeth, but his best friend and his neighbor both support him. He's a music nerd and is mentored by his neighbor John, who used to be a DJ. Gabe gets a late-night gig on a local radio station he calls "Beautiful Music for Ugly Children", and he's a big hit with listeners. However, one of his listeners is a fellow student who went...more

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Dec 25, 2012 Deborah rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Nancy, Vern, music lovers

Shelves: realistic, young-adult

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...more

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Glbt

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Glbt > Queer

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