Stage Dreams
History is written by the rule makers, but sometimes the rules are wrong. Author and artist Melanie Gillman works to right those wrongs in their tale of two brave transgender Americans. Stage Dreams is a story of adventure, romance, and acceptance in the Wild West. Set in New Mexico in 1861, this graphic novel details the adventures of an unlikely duo―Ghost Hawk, a stagecoach bandit, and Grace, a Confederate deserter, who work to foil the westward expansion of the Confederate Army.
As Ghost Hawk and Grace plot to secure disguises and sneak into Confederate gala, Grace learns she is not the first gal to run West to escape the expectations of her family and town. The town tailor and Ghost Hawk inform her, “You’d be surprised just how many tall ladies you meet out here.”
Gillman’s work is exciting, beautiful, and inspiring for middle school students. At the end of the novel, the author includes annotations which separate fact from fiction and pay respect to transgender Americans who settled the West, served in the army, and lived in secret to stay safe. This book is the perfect addition to the shelf of any teacher, librarian, or parent, who wishes a child to see beyond the limitations of a history textbook.
