Four books by local authors that are so good, you'll forget about icy sidewalks and a dead battery
Posted: 01/06/2013 12:01:00 AM CST
Book critic Mary Ann Grossmann
http://www.twincities.com/life/ci_22305688/four-books-by-local-authors-that-are-so"Beautiful Music for Ugly Children" by Kirstin Cronn-Mills (Flux, $9.99): The intriguing title of this book teens will love is the title of a radio show hosted by 18-year-old Gabe Williams. Gabe's best friend is Paige, a smart and hot girl, and he has a great mentor in his neighbor, a former disc jockey who has thousands of records.
Gabe's problem is that rest of the world knows him as Elizabeth. Gabe has known all her life she's in the wrong body, and her struggles to learn to be a guy (with Paige's help) are touching and often funny.
When Gabe's radio show takes off and inspires other teens, he knows he has to go public about being a transsexual, even though he's beat up by bullies.
"Beautiful Music" shows the progression of books about transgendered people that followed the same path as books about gays and lesbians. The first were filled with angst and sorrow, but later ones could find some humor in being an outsider.
