Young Adult Review: Freakboy by Kristin Elizabeth Clark

Monday was a tough day for me, it was a day that it felt like the world was conspiring against me.  So rather then fight back with everything and be frustrated, I stepped away from the computer and work and pulled out some books I've been wanting to read but aren't for review.  I didn't have anything scheduled for today so I knew I wanted something that would be quick.  But I've had trouble with books lately and have DNF'd them left and right (you don't see it since I schedule my reviews so far in advance usually, but last week I think I only finished one book).  I started out reading something that was funny but strangely enough it wasn't working.  So I decided maybe I needed something emotional, something a little hard hitting and I settled on this book.  And part of that reason was because it's in verse and I knew I could finish it, but I also knew that it was a book that would likely move me, and even though I was depressed it was just what I needed. And while it was emotional, it was the right kind of emotional and it snapped me out of my funk, at least while I was reading it.

 

Freakboy by Kristin Elizabeth Clark

Hardcover, 448 pages

Published: Oct 22nd, 2013 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Source: Library

From the outside, Brendan Chase seems to have it pretty easy. He’s a star wrestler, a video game aficionado, and a loving boyfriend to his seemingly perfect match, Vanessa. But on the inside, Brendan struggles to understand why his body feels so wrong—why he sometimes fantasizes having long hair, soft skin, and gentle curves. Is there even a name for guys like him? Guys who sometimes want to be girls? Or is Brendan just a freak?

In Freakboy's razor-sharp verse, Kristin Clark folds three narratives into one powerful story: Brendan trying to understand his sexual identity, Vanessa fighting to keep her and Brendan’s relationship alive, and Angel struggling to confront her demons.

These kinds of books are important. Not only for those dealing with these issues, or those that know those dealing with them, but for the rest of us that could use learning about it.  Knowing how they feel, the things they go through.  To be able to understand just a little better and maybe help others understand a little better.  Transgender YA books are hard to find.  And personally I feel like it's a subject that is important because so many of us don't really understand it.  As it shows us in the book, it's not something that many teens really understand either.

Brendan is a normal teen boy.  He has an average family and while they have their problems, it's nothing too big or too abnormal.  He's a wrestler and fairly popular and he has a girlfriend he loves.  He's the last person you would suspect of having gender confusion.  But he dreams of being a girl.  It confuses him because he clearly likes girls, so would that make him a lesbian?  It's something he struggles with through the book and is only barely able to even acknowledge.

Angel is transgender and has accepted who she is.  She's in college, she's found her way through some big trials and tribulations.  She has a POV in the book, though it's not as frequent as Brendan's, it was nice to get a different perspective.  She's had a hard life but her knowledge and acceptance of herself brings a lot to the story.  She's suffered through so much, but she got through it.

Vanessa is Brendan's girlfriend and while I would initially think she couldn't really bring much to the story, she actually really did.  Her POV showed us something about friendship and acceptance.  She loves Brendan but doesn't understand what is going on with him.  Why he's so depressed.  She goes through the normal thoughts but she's not moody and dramatic.  She's a real good person and when things do eventually come out she reacts better than some.

I felt horrible for Brendan, for what he was feeling and the turmoil and confusion inside him.  I know that I sometimes felt uncomfortable, but this was good, I think that if we don't push ourselves to get used to new things we're doing something wrong.  Acceptance of all people is important to me, and understanding what Brendan is going through is something I would like to achieve.  I don't think you fully can without being that person, but just understanding the turmoil, pain and confusion can help.

This book is in verse, which isn't a format that works for everyone, but I personally love it. I think it worked well for this story and I felt like I felt the characters emotions quite well.  I was able to get to know them enough to feel a connection, which is a huge achievement when so few words are used. 

I initially felt like the book was a little slow to take off, or that the plot didn't move along as quickly as I would have liked.  I do understand that the author wanted us to get to know Brendan in all his different frames of mind and in his relationship with Vanessa.  I would have liked to see a bit more progression with Brendan in what happens to him next, now that he's sort of accepted who he is, but a lot of it is left up to us.  It's not totally open ended, but it's pretty open ended.  I just really want Brendan to find his way and find some happiness and I think he's on the road to finding that, but it's quite a journey still.

While the strong emotions didn't hit me until the end of the story, I did get them and I did get the tears.  I feel like the last quarter was the best part of the book, but it was a lot of stuff that finally happened. In this kind of book I really need to feel things and I definitely did. 

I know that this book isn't one that will work for everyone, but I think it's an important story and one that will help a lot of people.  I hope that every library and high school classroom will consider having this book on their shelves.