Freakboy

Bibliographic Information
Title: Freakboy
Author: Kristin Elizabeth Clark
Type of Media: text
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Copyright Date: October 22, 2013
ISBN: 978-0374324728
Genre: GLBTQ, Realistic
Curriculum Ties: Acceptance, Self-Esteem, Current Issues
Reading Level: 700 Lexile
Interest Age: 14+






Plot Summary
Brendan is a star athlete with a beautiful girlfriend, Veronica, he seems to have it all. Angel is a transgendered girl who has found a safe place and lives a life of acceptance. When Brendan comes face to face with his struggles of his gender identity he acts out by throwing a rock at the window where Angel hangs out. A web starts to form around the three characters as Brendan begins to work through his love for Veronica and how that either fits in, or contradicts, his own identity. This is the beginning of a journey that Brandan never wanted to take but was not able to escape.

Critical Evaluation
This novel is written in a beautiful prose style which can be hard to blend with a storyline but Clark accomplishes it with what seems like ease. This style allows the story to take a deep look into the characters as they evolve through their individual journeys. If the author had chosen to write in a more traditional style the story would have lost a lot of its depth. I applaud Clark on her choice of writing style.
The conflict within Freakboy exists within each of the characters as well as between them. With the main conflict focusing on the inner struggle of Brendan as he wades through what makes him a male and how it has never really felt right. Clark does a great job of handling such a hot topic. She is able to get across the feelings of someone struggling with being transgender in Brendan while also showing the strong and self confident transgender, Angel. She presents these characters in a respectful way and no matter your personal beliefs on this topic you will fall in love with who they are as people.

Reader's Annotation
The beautiful writing of Clark will have you leaving your biases at the door and falling in love with each character as you grow alongside them.

Author Biography
Kristin Elizabeth Clark lives and writes in the Santa Cruz Mountains, Northern California. She hikes with her dog and reads to her cats… but she’s not one of THOSE people. Really.
She has worked as a child advocate within the juvenile justice system, as a children’s theater producer, and is a proud volunteer at Project Outlet in Mountain View, California.
-Clark, K.E. (n.d.). Bio. Retrieved from http://kristinelizabethclark.com/about/

Book Talk Ideas

• LGBTQ as Social Issue
• Acceptance of self and others
• Self-discovery

Possible Challenges
LGBTQ content

 Defense File

Have the library's selection policy and the Library Bill of Rights ready to hand out

Access to honest reviews from trusted sources

Know the awards, if any, the book has earned

Understand the material so you can explain the use of the book as a good talking point for serious and sensitive issues

A lot of times people just want their concerns heard, so make sure you listen

If they are still persistent be able to offer them a reconsideration form

 
Reason for Inclusion
This book is beautifully written, Clark takes a style that can be difficult for readers and makes it a complete joy. She also takes a topic which could be controversial but instead focuses on the people it affects, making you put aside any biases to walk alongside her characters.