
Reach for this book when your teenager is struggling with the weight of social expectations or the fear that their true self is something that needs to be fixed. It is a powerful resource for families navigating conversations about identity, self-acceptance, and the courage it takes to resist peer pressure. Set in 1973, the story follows Jonathan, a boy undergoing conversion therapy who finds a lifeline through the music of David Bowie and a transformative connection with a boy named Web. This is a deeply emotional historical novel that tackles themes of shame and loneliness while offering a path toward hope and healing. It is best suited for older teens (14 and up) due to its honest portrayal of the era's prejudices. Parents will find it a valuable tool for normalizing feelings of being different and celebrating the restorative power of art and authentic friendship.
Your experience helps other parents find the right book.
Sign in to write a reviewDepictions of physical bullying and the harmful nature of 1970s 'treatments'.
Heavy themes of self-loathing, shame, and the fear of being discovered.
Sweet, developing romantic relationship between two boys.
References to smoking and typical 1970s teenage social environments.
The book deals directly and intensely with identity and historical trauma. It depicts conversion therapy, homophobic slurs, and physical violence. The approach is realistic and visceral, reflecting the medical and social standards of the 1970s. However, the resolution is profoundly hopeful and affirming, pivoting from a place of shame to one of self-actualization.
A 15-year-old who feels like an outsider and is looking for a story that validates their struggle with identity while promising that life can get better.
Parents should be prepared for the depiction of 1970s medicalized homophobia. Preview the scenes involving 'treatments' to provide historical context on how much has changed. A parent might notice their child withdrawing, expressing feelings of being 'wrong' or 'broken,' or becoming obsessed with escapist media like music or sci-fi as a way to cope with social anxiety.
Younger teens will focus on the secret romance and the 'cool' factor of the music. Older teens will grasp the systemic oppression and the protagonist's complex psychological journey toward self-love.
Unlike many modern LGBTQ+ stories, this uses the specific, glam-rock aesthetics of David Bowie as a literal and metaphorical escape hatch from a grey, oppressive reality.
Set in 1973, the story follows Jonathan, a teenager who believes he is broken and is undergoing institutionalized conversion therapy to 'cure' his attraction to boys. His world changes when he meets Web, a free-spirited boy who introduces him to the transformative, gender-bending music of David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust persona. Together, they navigate the dangers of a world that treats their existence as a disorder, seeking a sense of belonging in the stars and each other.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.