What is Fineboy's radio?

The radio Fineboy recalls from his youth is a symbol of his greatest aspiration - to become a famous DJ. The narrator explains that Fineboy did not attend school because there was a dearth of teachers in the area, so "School had been a transistor radio, kept in a box and draped in protective cloth" (232). He learned about Western culture from the radio, "milkshakes and soda pop, jazz and hip-hop, freeways and shopping malls" (232) and mourned its loss like it was a family member. Fineboy's entire personal identity is centered around the radio and his desire to be recognized for his unique voice.