Freak Show

by James St. James

Soon to be a major motion picture with Bette Midler, Laverne Cox, Abigail Breslin, and Alex Lawther starring as Billy Bloom

" Freak Show has it all. It's hilarious, sad, sexy, and glamorous—just the way life should be."--Perez Hilton

"Gutsy, funny, over-the-top Billy Bloom is a profile in courage."-- The Washington Post

Meet Billy Bloom, new student at the ultra-white, ultra-rich, ultra-conservative Dwight D. Eisenhower Academy and drag queen extraordinaire. Actually, ?drag queen? does not begin to describe Billy and his fabulousness. Any way you slice it, Billy is not a typical seventeen-year-old, and the Bible Belles, Aberzombies, and Football Heroes at the academy have never seen anyone quite like him before. But thanks to the help and support of one good friend, Billy?s able to take a stand for outcasts and underdogs everywhere in his own outrageous, over-thetop, sad, funny, brilliant, and unique way.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, LGBT, Queer, Humor, Teen, Romance

298 pages, Paperback

First published May 17, 2007

About the author

James St. James (born James Clark), is a former Club Kid of the Manhattan club scene in the late 1980s/early 1990s and the author of Disco Bloodbath (now published under the title Party Monster). He was notorious for a lifestyle of excess that included heavy drug use, partying, and bizarre costumes.

Reviews

[Karin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Billy Bloom has been forced to move to Florida for his Senior year of High School. His mom, a little on the bi-polar side, couldn't take his flamboyant attitude toward life anymore. Billy is a self-proclaimed "Gender Obscurist". A fabulously creative drag queen and a character that is resilient, lovable, and stronger than anyone ever would have imagined, including himself.

After enduring unspeakable torture and bullying from his shell-shocked classmates, Billy ends up in the hospital and has a month long recuperating period. During this time, Billy develops a deep friendship with Flip Kelly, the star and golden boy of the high school. Flip, the one who saved Billy from the angry mob of students and whisked him to the hospital. Flip, who is feeling the pressure to be the best from his family and the entire school. Flip, the guy Billy falls head-over-heels in love with.

Billy relates his experiences at Eisenhower Academy with brutal honesty and laugh-out-loud humor. His decision to run for Homecoming Queen proves to be a true test of his character, strength, and resolve. Billy's message of tolerance and acceptance is important for everyone to hear. After all, "Gender is a choice, not a life sentence."

No matter your gender persuasion, FREAK SHOW by James St. James is a delightful story of bravery, trust, love, and friendship. So, put on your tiara and platform shoes and settle in for a FABULOUS ride.

[Elece · Rating 5 out of 5]

what can i say? it's a beautiful, funny, tragic, wonderful, engaging, enchanting, delicious story.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING STILL READING THIS??? GO! GET THEE TO A BOOKSTORE!!!

READ FREAKSHOW. YOU CAN THANK ME LATER.

[Amina · Rating 3 out of 5]

✰ 2.75 stars ✰

“Always remember this, Junie,” she whispers, “DAM-NAN QUODNON INTELLIGUNT. That’s Latin, dear: THEY CONDEMN WHAT THEY DO NOT UNDERSTAND.”

I will give props for how daring and ambitious this was. 👌🏻 How the author chose to write his narrative in such a bold and exclamatory style of a wild ride of self-discovery. Where seventeen-year-old Self-Entitled Freak, Billy's woes and wows are expressed with such sassy gusto or shock value that you feel every litany of decadence or dismay. It's different. It had flair and flavor and it was compelling to the point where I could be slightly forgiven of the over-the-top flamboyant dramatics in which Billy behaved to see himself heard. 🎀

“Ironic, isn’t it, that at the moment when I could do anything, when the world held limitless possibilities, I saw only responsibility?

It took a million choices to show me I had just one.”

I was drawn by Billy's voice and how he was so flashy in his desire to be expressive as a drag queen, while also trying to fit into the norm, without losing himself. He could be funny, but also self-deprecating; insightful, but still derogatory. A bit weird and annoying at times, but he had guts. And that makes you endear to his turmoil. 💅🌈 It's a struggle for acceptance and preserving your identity, without losing yourself. His passion and quirkiness makes him a threat to the typical cliches; it makes him an itch that can't be ignored.

When he was unable to break that rift by being discriminated against for being different, he rose above those ignoramus rednecks and hate-mongers of the super-conservative private school near Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He was determined and defiant and the ALL-CAPS writing made sure you didn't forget that he was not going to back down without a fight. 💪 It's like taking the song Super-Freak, to a whole other level by reminding us to 'accept the Universal Freak Show in us all - accept what’s different in each other and move on?'

“He loved me enough to catch me tonight, I tell myself.
“I take care of you,” he whispers. “You are mine.”



Challenging the elite that even he could be considered Homecoming Queen, and even snagged the belle of the ball, or in this case star quarterback who has his own shadow of expectations he has to change. His friendship with Flip was adorable, at times. 🥹 It felt believable and natural when they both faced that roadblock, that allowed both of them to find themselves and back to each other, too.

However, it was not without complaints. The hatred and animosity felt a bit outlandish at times, with gay slurs that were a bit off-putting. I liked how comfortable he was cross-dressing, but then the social commentary of transgender also put me at odds, because it felt off. It was not clear or fair to have them both meant as one and the same; they're not. ❎ And the confusion about it regarding Billy, specifically, needed to be more clear-cut. Otherwise, it comes off as offensive and disparaging. Certain comments made me uncomfortable, regarding this likeliness that took away the value and integrity of either side. Which felt unfair. 🙍🏻‍♀️

“So, Billy, stop worrying about what others think.
Stop giving them power over your life.
Then, forgive yourself.”

I also was not expecting the assault; it took a serious turn that threw me for the loop, but, I see how it was the only way to exact justice for Billy's traumatic ordeal he experienced. 🥺 There is a powerful message buried in a narrative that did drag (no pun intended!) at times. One even with its harsh outlook, there is a sliver of truth that begs for change and acceptance. 'I am perhaps not so different from you.' Billy's past with his parents, itself, is such a traumatic one, that it hits hard when it reveals, almost to a bittersweet ache in my heart, what he had to endure. I don't regret reading it, because it was something that defied norms in more ways than one to make it a memorable read, still. 👑

[Mel Steadman Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

EVERYBODY PICK THIS BOOK UP RIGHT NOW. I'm not kidding. People need to read this. This book is so underated and unknown and it needs to become more famous. I listened to this on audible and it was the best decision I've ever made. This audiobook was incredible. The narrator did a BRILLIANT job of bringing Billy's voice to life. I don't think I would've loved this book nearly as much if I had read it rather than listened to it.

I admit in the very beginning it was a bit weird and slow, and I wasn't sure what to think. But after a little while of getting to know Billy's voice, I was hooked. Billy is the character I never knew I needed. A lot of the overly camp, flamboyant, drag type characters I see on tv I find a little irritating, but not Billy. I loved him immediately. The prose in this story makes this book. It's honestly hilarious; I rarely laugh out loud to books but this one really had me laughing, or smiling constantly. It was also super sad, with the bullying and the homophobia. But Billy was such a strong character.

Without spoiling anything, my hands down favourite part of this book was the friendship element. Mainly between him and Flip, but also Billy and Blah Blah Blah too (just one of the hilarious parts of this book was the name Blah Blah Blah, that got me every time!) Flip was such a little precious darling, I adored him, and he's my newest book boyfriend if only he didn't turn out to be gay! But I can't even care, the romance between him and Billy was adorable and I was rooting for them the entire time. .

The ending was brilliant and made me so so happy. People, people, please read this book. You wont' regret it.
Now, I'm off to find the movie, because I NEED to watch it.

[hhhhhhhhh · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Mary Sue, sometimes shortened simply to Sue, is a pejorative term used to describe a fictional character who plays a major role in the plot and is particularly characterized by overly idealized and hackneyed mannerisms, lacking noteworthy flaws, and primarily functioning as wish-fulfillment fantasies for their authors. Perhaps the single underlying feature of all characters described as "Mary Sues" is that they are too ostentatious for the audience's taste, or that the author seems to favor the character too highly. The author may seem to push how exceptional and wonderful the "Mary Sue" character is on his or her audience, sometimes leading the audience to dislike or even resent the character fairly quickly; such a character could be described as an "author's pet" (Mary Sue. (2008, December 3). In Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved December 3, 2008, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Sue/)

If JSJ had concentrated on actually empathizing with teens and not lived out a fantasy wish fulfillment, this book would have been awesome. He's a great writer, fun to read, and can build suspense, and you naturally want to love this character for being a plucky hero/ine, but everyone around him's a flat cartoon stereotype to serve his needs and he comes off as unbearably narcissistic.

That said, I would recommend this to teens who want their own fantasy wish fulfillment, which is why a lot of us read anyway. It's trashy fiction and there's nothing wrong with that, and who doesn't enjoying seeing a transgendered teenager rise above the rednecks and religious nuts? But... it coulda been so awesome! I want him to hang out with some real kids and write a better one; we definitely need more fun lgbtq ya novels.

[Toby · Rating 2 out of 5]

I could tell you why I read this but then again I couldn't really explain it. Apparently James St. James is slightly famous in reality programming but I know him from that movie Party Monster where he was played by Seth Green opposite Macauley Culkin (Mac was good in this role, I thought he could actually act.) I enjoyed the movie and apparently it was based on the true crime anecdote/biography of James St. James - Disco Bloodbath. Knowing what kind of experiences the guy has had in real life gave me a pretty good idea of what to expect from this novel.

So I'm not rating this because of its GLBT content and I'm not rating this because it wasn't violent or crazy like his movie. It gets the low rating because it was DULLSVILLE. Tres tres SHINY but nothing more than that. It was all surface and no feeling, the cliched teen movie story of the outsider being accepted, the geek getting the girl, GLAMMED UP, covered in SPARKLES and given a SUPERFREAK protagonist, with an ending borrowed from SIXTEEN CANDLES.

It got me hooked by being fantastically funny, laugh out loud giggly type of funny, to start with; then I kept waiting for it to get interesting or funny again and it didn't, it just sort of went on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and then thankfully it was over. Still, it was a quick read with massive print and lots of large paragraph breaks meaning 298 pages flew past in the time it might usually take me to read 120.

Maybe it would have worked better as movie, movies work well without any feeling under the shiny shiny surface of thirty year olds pretending that they're 17 but a novel, even in the diary entry format presented here should really offer a little more. It seems that perhaps the extremely funny Emma Stone movie Easy A may have been slightly influenced by the tone and structure of this book (not that its original) but made a lot more straight. Hollywood can take sparkly non-threatening vampires but not Hedwig: The High School Years. And shame on them as James St. James preaches acceptance and inclusion for all, including religious zealots, a message that is frequently proffered but rarely heard it seems. Witness the truly archaic, hate fueled behaviour in North Carolina recently.

[Ulysses Dietz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Billy Bloom may just be the most frustrating character in the history of LGBT/YA novels.

And yet, how could I not love him?

Billy is rich and oblivious. And extremely nelly. And a drag queen. At seventeen. Having been suddenly shipped to southern Florida by his crazy mother to stay with his grouchy, disapproving father in the family’s ancestral mansion, Billy suddenly finds himself in a snooty private school full of blond conformists and jocks.

Not the least of whom is Flip Kelly. Football star. Blond, blue-eyed. The whole nine yards.

But this arch, funny, harrowing and ultimately moving novel is really not about a gay teenager into extreme drag; it’s about agency. James St. James (irritating, assuredly fake name, but OK, I’ll just take a deep breath) has taken a standard LGBT/YA story about a sissy boy falling for a big gentle jock and turned it inside out.

Billy is clueless, but he’s also fierce.He is narcissistic but also kind. He is so oblivious he refers to the one girl in school who’s nice to him as Blah Blah Blah, until he finally learns her name: This is simply one step in Billy’s gradual apotheosis into self-awareness.

“The choice is yours.”

There is violence and teenage meanness of the worst sort in this book. But, as in other YA books, there is redemption and the genuine love of a few good people who literally save Billy’s life. But, in the end, it is Billy who takes charge of his own destiny.

“These moments are going to keep coming, and it’s how you react to them that defines you.”

“But God,” I asked, trembling, “how do I bring reason to the anger and chaos, when its reasons are hidden from me?” And God said: “You forgive.”

Inside the chaotic silliness that is Billy Bloom’s world, there is a powerful soul. It is about survival, not just to survive, but to make the world better with your own insane courage.

Really pretty remarkable.

[Christian · Rating 1 out of 5]

At the beginning of his senior year, Billy Bloom's mother sends him to live with his father in Florida where he is enrolled in an elitist, private school. Moving into a new school before your senior year can just suck. But not for Billy. Because Billy is fabulous. And by fabulous, I mean he is a teen drag queen.

Now. I had issues getting into this book. The writing style isn't so bad. Billy's voice is strong. Very strong. (I guess that's to be expected of a drag queen, truth be told.) But I just don't like Billy. Then again, I have a hard time relating to characters (and, I'm discovering, people) who create their own problems because they just won't get it. Why on earth would anyone think it's a good idea to go to your first day at a new school dressed as a pirate? And not just any pirate, but a pirate that makes Captain Jack Sparrow look straight. So it really shouldn't be any surprise to him that he gets beat nearly to death when he dresses as a swamp bride.

Of course, without such setbacks, we wouldn't get to know Billy, although he really does come across as fairly shallow. The book finally gets interesting toward the end when Billy decides to run for Homecoming Queen. (Hmm. I guess I should have warned you about that being a spoiler, but I think that I might have been less frustrated thoughout the first part of the book had I known that this would be the actual plot element we working toward.) That part actually gets interesting, especially how he manages to manipulate the school political systems, demonstrating that he (or at least his fag hag) has some capacity for strategic planning.

Anyway, it's a good book to read if you want to see a character with a strong voice. But he'll likely just frustrate the hell out of you because of how little common sense he has.

[Book Concierge · Rating 2 out of 5]

Billy Bloom is a gay teenager who has recently moved to Florida. It’s bad enough being the new kid at school when you are a senior, but being an emerging drag queen at an ultra-rich, ultra-conservative school is even more challenging. Billy tries to make friends but the teasing, taunting and bullying he has to endure get out of hand quickly. Deciding that he has to be himself and speak up (and out loud) for all those other “shadow kids” trying to get along by not being noticed, Billy makes a momentous decision – he’s going to run for Homecoming Queen!

There is a nugget of a great story here. Billy’s situation is shared by many teens, who struggle with being themselves and also fitting in (or at least not being bullied, harassed, beaten up). His efforts are sometimes hilariously funny, sometimes incredibly touching, and sometimes so very inappropriate that they took me completely aback. I found myself alternately cheering for Billy and cringing at his antics. He was so over-the-top and the other students such caricatures that the important message here was somewhat lost in the glitter and drama.

The writing is, frankly, not very good. I nearly gave up after just a couple of pages because I am way past the teenage years and not very interested in wallowing in teen angst and self-absorption. But it’s a very fast read, and I flew through it. The young adult audience will probably enjoy it more.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let's just state it flat out: I LOVED this book. I was laughing like a loon and crying piteously on the same page, and that was just during the introduction. God bless all the Billies in this world who refuse to be reshaped and processed until they fit the proper brand. A character of enormous energy and caprice, Billy had me running to keep up with him as he careened through that mausoleum of mediocrity they called a school until I was out of breath, but I kept going because I just could not put the damn book down.

For anyone who has ever been bullied and/or labeled, this book is a must read guide to remaining true to yourself.

Bravo, Mr. (Ms.?) St. James -- you can't see but I'm giving you a standing ovation and a 21-gun salute for an absolutely fabulous read.

[Undomiel Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It was a simple yet heartwarming tale about a gay teen who has already come to terms with his identity, but is strugglng to be accepted by others.

Billy was slightly judgemental towards others at time but I took this to have stemmed from his lifetime of being judged by others, including his own parents who move him between homes when its "their turn to deal with him". Also, he's a teen. We're all a bit judgey at that confusing time in our lives, and so its completely understandable. Billy later however learns that he is not alone, and there are others out there who struggle to fit in just like him, and notes that all teens are "freaks" in their own ways, and so we should embrace and support one another.

The plot was nothing too complex, but that works in the book's favour. Some scenes are very heavy and upsetting to read, and so the light, easy to follow plot still makes it an easy journey for the reader. And I for one LOVED Billy's narration. I can understand why others may not, but I found him to be excellent. So funny, quick-witted and soulful.

A must read coming of age of LGBTQ+ acceptance.

[chan ☆]

ONE OF MY FAVORITE BOOKS OF ALL TIME IS BEING MADE INTO A MOVIE!!!!!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTfrm...

[Allyson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Freak Show is the story of Billy Bloom: Self-Proclaimed Superfreak and his journey through his senior year of high school. Told from the first person point of view, Billy invites the reader to question normalcy and encourage acceptance.

In the beginning of the story, the reader learns that Billy has been banished from his mother’s home for unknown reasons, and he has come to live with his rich father in Florida. However, Billy is not the everyday high school senior boy. He is gay, admittedly un-athletic, and has a tendency to dress in drag. When he arrives at his first day of school at Eisenhower Academy dressed like a pirate (complete with gold tooth and mascara), it is needless to say that Billy is not met with open arms. In fact, after a few days, he is beat into a coma and has to spend the next month recuperating at home. Enter Flip Kelly, star football player who saved Billy from near death and agrees to tutor him while he is out of school. What follows is the uproariously funny and creative account of their developing friendship and Billy’s eventual acceptance of what he has always most feared – himself.

This book is great for anyone looking to read “outside-the-box.” There is certainly some questionable material, but it is not distasteful. (Check with your parents first!) Billy’s character offers the reader a heartfelt connection to anyone who has ever wanted to feel accepted for who they are. I loved Billy’s voice because he is comedic and sarcastic, but also true and intelligent. There were continuous references to pop culture, like when Billy is introducing himself and says, “Seventeen years old. Fabulous beyond fabulous. Total future icon. Gifted, yes, but just short of genius. Mad verbal skills, though. I watch a lot of Gilmore Girls” (9). The fact that St. James included things in the story that are popular right now made Billy’s character and his story even more real.

While I sometimes believed Billy’s actions and choices to be a little over the top, I never doubted the sincerity of what St. James is trying to accomplish with this book. Billy puts it best himself when he says, “We are all freaks. Yes! Alone in our rooms at night, we are all weirdoes and outcasts and losers. That is what being a teenager is all about! Whether you admit it or not, you are all worried that the others won’t accept you, that if they knew the real you, they would recoil in horror. Each of us carries with us a secret shame that we think is somehow unique…And if we are, each of us, freaks – then can’t we accept what’s different in each other and move on?” (247-248). This book is about acceptance and understanding, and what high school student isn’t looking for that?

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Billy Bloom is a fabulous drag queen of a teenager who finds himself out of luck when his mother sends him off to live with his rich father in the rural Florida swamps for his last year of high school. Surrounded by a family who doesn't accept him, students who are horrified by him or praying on his behalf, and constant physical threats, Billy decides to take it upon himself to shake up his private institution and make progress for the GLBTQ community.

I read this book very soon after it came into my collection because I immediately saw the potential for complaints from the more conservative members of the community. The bright pink cover with the cross-dressing boy doll really grabs your attention. This book is definitely meant for the older teen sector; there is a fairly graphic part describing a group attack on Billy that leaves him nearly dead, as well as a fair amount of blue language scattered throughout. Billy himself is 100% over the top (swap queen and Carrie themed outfits, a homecoming float that is literally a 13 foot high purple platform shoe), but as someone who had a Billy of her own as a close friend through the high school years I find his voice to be very authentic of a serious teen queen. The book is able to explore the raw nature of bigotry but still be upbeat. Billy is a drag queen and the focus of the book is on how this community comes to terms with it, but the focus is not as much on gay relationships or sexuality. It's just one eccentric boy's coming of age story.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I see why everyone enjoys this book -- Billy's voice is strong, entertaining, and often laugh-out-loud funny, and there's no doubt that it's high time we get to see a teen drag queen as the main character -- I also found that I could easily put this book down without being compelled to pick it up again. This means a book is less than successful for me, especially when it means I'm immediately drawn into another book and therefore obviously wasn't all that involved in the first title I was reading. That happened to me with this one -- I read the beginning, read another book in the middle, went back, read some more, and was just not compelled to keep going. I admit, I started flipping through the book to see what would happen, which is a "bad" thing to do.

All in all, though, I see why it's entertaining and important just by existing, and I can definitely see a number of teens getting really into it.

[Autumn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super fun story of teen drag queen Billy Bloom, who is stuck in red-state Florida ALAS! Billy is a spunky hero/ine who is estranged from his parents, beaten up at school and also a bit bipolar. But his story is never downbeat -- the saddest events are frankly discussed and summarily dismissed with a La La La and another glob of glitter.

Tucked inside the first person narrative, you will find beauty tips (use surgical glue to attach metal to your skin), outlandish quips and a few canape reciepts. Billy is totally self absorbed, but what teenager isn't? Thanks to James St. James for breaking new ground in YA lit and teaching us about Pensacola Petit Fours at the same time.

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very funny novel about a drag queen in a conservative high school. The protagonist is charming, his voice is unique, and the pace is fast. A refreshing read.

[Dev · Rating 4 out of 5]

the majority of this book was like okay yes queer fabulous fun this is exactly the over the top kind of shit i'd expect from a club kid i'm having a great time and then the like god dream conversation did almost make me cry at the end so thanks for that jamesy i wasn't expecting to get whammied by a fellow freak but here we are. speaking of my main takeaway is that i've gotta get weirder posthaste ty

[Elise · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is over-the-top, drenched in glitter and if you're following all the pop culture references, a great primer in drag and camp. Billy Bloom is the heroine I needed to add, I would say sunshine, but a disco ball is more his style, to a gloomy winter day.

[James · Rating 2 out of 5]

The pop cultural references date the book making an otherwise interesting tale feel old and unrelevant

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has a very distinctive narration style. Very dramatic and flamboyant, to the extent that it almost verges on unreliable narrator territory. Taken literally, there are many aspects to the story that seem far-fetched or even impossible. But I think that’s kind of beside the point. The emotional reality is there, in the sense that the teen experience can be that intense and dramatic at times. That said, I did struggle to connect with Billy a bit — but it makes sense that he’s covering a lot of his true vulnerability with elaborate costumes and an incredibly camp persona. I would describe it as a romp with some extremely heavy moments, and the tension between those aspects made the story waver at times. Also, I was less than enthused with the character of Flip Kelly but you could make the case that he redeems himself I suppose.

[Kassa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I originally picked up this book because I saw a twitter from @booksmugglers that said “this book is fabulous.” That was enough recommendation so I went to pick it up from my local library. Little did I know I was picking a story filled with FABULOUS GLAMOUR, complete with wigs, sequins, glitter, and enough makeup to paint a mansion. Billy is not only outrageous, over the top, ridiculous, and fabulous in every possible meaning of the word, he’s also a young teenager figuring out what he is and how he fits in the world as someone totally different but sensitive, intelligent, funny, and articulate.

The story is Billy’s narrative to the world as he introduces himself as the queen of everything and then tells the heart breaking, laugh out loud funny, witty, and entertaining tale of a few months of his life at a new school. In his senior year of high school, Billy is transferred to his father’s care because his bipolar mother has had “ENOUGH!” Hoping to fit in at the new school, Billy goes all out. He dresses like a pirate (what could be more heterosexual?) and does a full on, in your face, welcome routine that immediately puts him in the danger zone of abuse, taunts, and ridicule. Confused, hurt, but stubborn and above all, true to himself, Billy’s refusal to give in only escalates tensions to a tragic turning point. Yet Billy soon discovers a friend in the super popular, Flip, a young man that likes Billy for all his weirdness and outrageous behavior.

The story is told in first person, present tense as Billy explains his utter fabulousness with an over the top humor. You almost expect glitter to fall from the pages as Billy explains with CAPS, !!!, and a stubborn intelligence that he refuses to be defined by others. Billy’s differences don’t make him less, they make him more and he constantly battles to get this message across that he won’t let anyone change him or make him different. It’s a story that blends the perfect amount of ridiculous – Billy goes to school dressed as the swamp monster, complete with glued on cheerios and tentacles – but also with a touching vulnerability that makes you want to cry – Billy hiding under the sink, depressed and upset.

The narration is simply pitch perfect as Billy describes his frustrations, confusions, and ideals. He’s not stupid at all and understands the anger but at the same time, he doesn’t. He’s just different and why is that bad. Billy is different though and he’s hilarious, entertaining, and outrageous as he details his emergency drag kit (every queen has one) to his utterly wonderful homecoming float (really who could top that). Billy’s insightful intelligence is offset by his youthful immaturity. He sees things so clearly and with an astute cleverness beyond his maturity – such as understanding that the hate and fear directed towards him has nothing to do with him – yet is ignorant and willfully blind to the sacrifices Flip makes to support and befriend him. This mixture of immature and mature creates that perfect in between space of youth and adult, where being brave is sometimes incredibly hard.

There is also narrator instability to the story as you realize that Billy is capable of lying to you, the reader. He’s not always honest you learn, yet he has his own reasons for that and comes clean – as much as he can. We’re reminded in those moments, he’s still a young man learning and growing as he comes to terms with his life, hopes, and the struggles he’ll go through and has gone through. Above it all, he’s simply himself, a fabulous, wonderful drag queen that transcends gender and labels. For Billy the essential statement sums up his feelings “gender is a choice” and Billy uses that choice frequently to the most fabulous results.

From young love to hate crimes, this coming of age story not only rocks but it will make you laugh, cry, and devour your way through Billy’s unique and delightful story. I don’t think it could have been told any better by the author. The blend of vulnerable with strength makes the tale not only inspirational but I doubt there’s anyone that can’t relate to some part of Billy’s struggle. The best gift the story could offer is the truth that there is not that much difference between the “freak” and the “golden boy” if you look closely. I easily recommend this to everyone.

[Kelly Herta · Rating 1 out of 5]

Summary: This story is told by a young man, Billy Bloom, who is sent to live with his father in Florida. We get to read about his most personal thoughts and sarcastic comments. Billy starts to attend a conservative private high school for his senior year. Billy makes heads turn when he shows up dressed as a pirate, which he thought was very masculine and would win his new friends. He ends up getting laughed and and becomes a spitball target. He continues to dress outlandish and the other students are even more rude and mean to him. He ends up in the hospital after one particular beating. Billy gets especially close to a star athlete, Flip, when Flip comes to visit him after the beating but later FLip refuses Billy's advances. School continues to be a nightmare for Billy as he continues to crossdress. Billy decides to run for Homecoming Queen, which attracts national attention. He doesn't win and comes to realize that he was more about winning his classmates over and winning their respect. He realized that it was too big of a leap to expect them to pick him to represent the school. He realized that it really isn't always about him.
I read this book fast because I had to. I couldn't wait to get to the end so I could take it back to the library. I put this in the same class with the Wimpy Kid books, my least favorite required reading ever. I usually don't mind first person accounts but I just really didn't like this book.

[Jackie "the Librarian" · Rating 4 out of 5]

Billy Bloom enjoys dressing in a flamboyant style that seems perfectly normal to him, but to his new fellow students in Florida is shocking.
Billy just gets more and more outrageous in an attempt to win people over, and things come to a head the day he wears a swamp queen get up with tentacles. That's the day the football team attacks him in class, and only the intervention by the star player, Flip, saves him from the beating becoming fatal.
With Flip and a secret friendship with a girl whose name Billy hears as blah blah blah, Billy forms a new plan to win over the hearts of the school - he will run for Homecoming Queen.
Written in a stream of consciousness style, you will root for Billy to keep being his fabulous self, and make the world a little better for all the freaks out there. Because don't we all feel like freaks, sometimes?
Fabulous!

[Alma Zacarias · Rating 5 out of 5]

*By the way I listened to the audiobook and it was the best decision ever, it really made Billy seem unique and real. Totally recommend the audiobook.
OMG! I loved it so much, I had never read book about a character that identified as a drag queen, and this was an amazingly fun story to start with. I’ve trying to expand my reading on the lgbt community besides gay characters. This is a story about courage, confusion and confidence to be yourself even when you can’t change the world around you. I loved Billy Bloom and his journey so much, he was so vulnerable and so bold and fun at the same time. It touches on bullying, discrimination and the angst that a lot of teenagers go through to fit in and find their place in this world.

[Danielle Routh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disagreement of lifestyle aside (why else do we read, really?), this book is amusing, well-written, and chock-full of pop culture references that, if we're being honest, may puzzle the average reader but still provide a nice flavor. Overall, however, it lacks substance, much like its protagonist Billy Bloom. The plot is rambling, cliched, and (even with suspension of disbelief) utterly unbelievable. I have no doubt that it's an important book for the LGBT community, but it's not exactly great literature, either.

2019: It's funny to me how many more references I understand in just three years. This still isn't great literature, but St. James can certainly turn a phrase.

[Devin Tait · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick read, but very fun and at times hilarious, other times saddening but overall it had a great message and the language and dialogue were very vivid and interesting. This book was written way before the whole "it gets better" movement and therefore may have been ahead of its time, as it's very appropriate now that bullying has been in the spotlight. Freakshow handles the themes of bullying and gay teens in such a responsible, thoughtful and insightful way.

[Virginia Osborne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was fabulous. But I had a hard time identifying with the main character and getting into his head. Perhaps this is an intentional effect of the smoke screen of fabulosity that he projects. Very little makes it past the curated exterior. I felt held at arms length as merely an observer through the whole Freak Show. But it was a good read that ended well, despite the earlier episodes that made me worry it would be too stereotypical. It definitely is not.

[Rory · Rating 5 out of 5]

i really liked this book. i really liked the pacing, the language, the tension, the melodrama, and the grit. and the OTT topic, of course: 17-year-old drag queen invades his new Souther Florida prep school with forcible fabulousness. and then gets the shit beat out of him.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

I'm all for a good lgbt book, but this one just missed the mark. It author tried too hard to be funny and cool, with all the pop culture references, but it just didn't work for me. Plus, I found the main character slightly annoying.