Beautiful Music for Ugly Children explained

Beautiful Music for Ugly Children
Author:Kirstin Cronn-Mills
Country:United States
Language:English
Subject:Transgender youth
Genre:Young adult fiction
Publisher:North Star Editions
Release Date:October 1, 2012
Media Type:Print
Isbn:9780738732510

Beautiful Music for Ugly Children is a young adult novel by Kirstin Cronn-Mills, published October 8, 2012, by North Star Editions. The book tells the story of Gabe, a transgender high school student. It received various awards and was a finalist for the Lambda Literary Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature.

When Cronn-Mills was writing the book, she frequently visited RECLAIM, "a Twin Cities-based organization that offers counseling and other services to transsexual [''sic''] and LGBT youth." Anyone who donated at least ten dollars to the organization received a copy of Beautiful Music for Ugly Children.[1]

Reception

Reviews

Beautiful Music for Ugly Children was well received by critics. Kirkus Reviews referred to the novel as "a kind and satisfyingly executed portrait of a music-loving teen coming out as transgender".[2] Michael Cart, writing for Booklist, highlighted the "nuggets of humor in an otherwise serious story", noting that "Cronn-Mills' thoughtful book joins a small but growing body of literature that gives faces to this traditionally invisible minority" of transgender youth.[3] Despite the lack of existing literature, Publishers Weekly found that

Cronn-Mills [...] has clearly done her research. Gabe’s difficulties—from dealing with freaked-out parents and bigoted classmates to navigating love, sex, and whether to use the men’s or women’s room—are well documented. So much so, in fact, that the book sometimes feels like a PSA exposing the challenges a trans teen faces. Cronn-Mills never minimizes those challenges (Gabe faces some terrifying abuse), avoiding a too-happy ending, but Gabe and Paige’s supportive friendship and Gabe’s love of music shine through.[4]
Multiple reviews mentioned that readers may have to suspend disbelief a bit while reading, including how "Gabe's radio show becomes an underground hit, generating a difficult-to-believe-but-pleasing-to-imagine cadre of fans calling themselves the Ugly Children Brigade". School Library Journals Betty S. Evans further noted that the novel "wraps up a bit too quickly".[5]

Reviewers also discussed the book's characters, with Cart referring to Gabe as "an always appealing character". However, Kirkus Reviews noted that the book's "show-stealer" is "John, a unique, well-conceived, funny and loving figure whose enthusiasm for music and endless support for Gabe", which "provides solidity and warmth amid the many changes Gabe experiences." Evans similarly found that "he quirky relationship between Gabe and John and their shared music obsession elevates this story above the average problem novel."

Awards and honors

In 2013, the American Library Association included Beautiful Music for Ugly Children on their list of the Best Fiction for Young Adults.[6]

Accolades for Beautiful Music for Ugly Children!Year!Accolade!Result!Ref.
2012Lambda Literary Award for Children's and Young Adult LiteratureFinalist[7]
2013Top Ten[8]
2014Independent Publisher Book Awards for LGBT+ FictionSilver Medal[9]
Stonewall Book AwardWinner[10] [11]
Young Adult Library Service Association's Popular Paperbacks for Young AdultsTop Ten[12] [13]
2015Green Mountain Book AwardNominee[14]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kent . Tanner . September 1, 2014 . A new kind of hero: Cronn-Mills' latest book features a transsexual protagonist . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211224191519/https://www.mankatofreepress.com/news/lifestyles/a-new-kind-of-hero-cronn-mills-latest-book-features-a-transsexual-protagonist/article_c7e6a895-aa0e-5b43-a2ba-89edee645875.html . 2021-12-24 . 2021-12-24 . Mankato Free Press . en.
  2. Web site: August 22, 2012 . Beautiful Music for Ugly Children . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20201014133945/https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/kirstin-cronn-mills/beautiful-music-ugly-children/ . 2020-10-14 . 2021-12-24 . Kirkus Reviews.
  3. Web site: Cart . Michael . November 15, 2012 . Beautiful Music for Ugly Children . subscription . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211224191519/https://www.booklistonline.com/Beautiful-Music-for-Ugly-Children-Kirstin-CronnMills/pid=5543972 . 2021-12-24 . 2021-12-24 . .
  4. Web site: Children's Book Review: Beautiful Music for Ugly Children by Kirstin Cronn-Mills. Flux, $9.95 trade paper (288p) ISBN 978-0-7387-3251-0 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211224191518/https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-7387-3251-0 . 2021-12-24 . 2021-12-24 . . en.
  5. Web site: Evans . Betty S. . 2013-01-01 . Beautiful Music for Ugly Children . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211224191519/https://www.slj.com/?reviewDetail=beautiful-music-for-ugly-children . 2021-12-24 . 2021-12-24 . School Library Journal.
  6. Web site: February 4, 2013 . Beautiful Music for Ugly Children Awards & Grants . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211224191528/https://www.ala.org/awardsgrants/beautiful-music-ugly-children . 2021-12-24 . 2021-12-24 . American Library Association.
  7. Web site: 2013-06-04 . 25th Annual Lambda Literary Award Winners Announced! . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220108192318/https://lambdaliterary.org/2013/06/25th-annual-lambda-literary-award-winners-announced/ . 2022-01-08 . 2021-12-24 . Lambda Literary . en.
  8. Web site: lvs2read . January 28, 2013 . 2013 Rainbow Book List . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210512123158/https://glbtrt.ala.org/rainbowbooks/archives/1025 . 2021-05-12 . 2021-12-24 . Rainbow Book List . en-US.
  9. Web site: 2014 Medalists . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211224191519/https://ippyawards.com/115/medalists/2014-medalists . 2021-12-24 . 2021-12-24 . IPPY Awards.
  10. Web site: January 29, 2014 . Beautiful Music for Ugly Children Awards & Grants . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211224191539/https://www.ala.org/awardsgrants/beautiful-music-ugly-children-0 . 2021-12-24 . 2021-12-24 . American Library Association.
  11. Web site: Morales . Macey . 2014-01-27 . 'Beautiful Music for Ugly Children' and 'Fat Angie' win 2014 Stonewall Children's and Young Adult Literature Award . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211224191528/https://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2014/01/beautiful-music-ugly-children-and-fat-angie-win-2014-stonewall-children-s-and . 2021-12-24 . 2021-12-24 . American Library Association . en.
  12. Web site: 2014-01-30 . 2014 Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults Top Ten . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211025160642/https://www.ala.org/yalsa/2014-popular-paperbacks-young-adults-top-ten . 2021-10-25 . 2021-12-24 . Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) . en.
  13. Web site: Finneke . Jaclyn . 2014-02-04 . YALSA names 2014 Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211224191528/https://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2014/02/yalsa-names-2014-popular-paperbacks-young-adults . 2021-12-24 . 2021-12-24 . American Library Association . en.
  14. Web site: Beautiful Music for Ugly Children . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211224193020/https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13221769-beautiful-music-for-ugly-children?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=SldPd2mc2F&rank=1 . 2021-12-24 . 2021-12-24 . Goodreads.

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