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Biography & Autobiography. LGBTQIA+ (Nonfiction.) Sociology. Young Adult Nonfiction. HTML:Teen advocate and trailblazer Jazz Jenningsâ??named one of â??The 25 Most Influential Teensâ? of the year by Timeâ??shares her very public transgender journey, as she inspires people to accept the differences in others while they embrace their own truths. â??[Jazzâ??s] touching book serves as a rallying cry for understanding and acceptance.â?â??Bustle Jazz Jennings is one of the youngest and most prominent voices in the national discussion about gender identity. At the age of five, Jazz transitioned to life as a girl, with the support of her parents. A year later, her parents allowed her to share her incredible journey in her first Barbara Walters interview, aired at a time when the public was much less knowledgeable or accepting of the transgender community. This groundbreaking interview was followed over the years by other high-profile interviews, a documentary, the launch of her YouTube channel, a picture book, and her own reality TV seriesâ??I Am Jazzâ??making her one of the most recognizable activists for transgender teens, children, and adults. In her remarkable memoir, Jazz reflects on these very public experiences and how they have helped shape the mainstream attitude toward the transgender community. But it hasnâ??t all been easy. Jazz has faced many challenges, bullying, discrimination, and rejection, yet she perseveres as she educates others about her life as a transgender teen. Through it all, her family has been beside her on this journey, standing together against those who don't understand the true meaning of tolerance and unconditional love. Now Jazz must learn to navigate the physical, social, and emotional upheavals of adolescenceâ??particularly high schoolâ??complicated by the unique challenges of being a transgender teen. Making the journey from girl to woman is never easyâ??especially when you began your life in a boyâ??s body. Includes a bonus PDF with family interviews, letters, and Jazz's resources for navigating the transgender experience PRAISE FOR JAZZ JENNINGS: â??Jazz is one of the transgender community's most important activists.â? â??Cosmopolitan â??A role model for teens everywhere.â? â??Seventeen.com … (more)
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I said in my post about Exit, Pursued by a Bear by E. K. Johnston that there are serious books describing various, sometimes debilitating, trauma experienced by victims of rape, bullying, etc. However, similar to Hermione in Exit, Jazz has the benefit of strong family and friend support and so her transgender experience is vastly different and probably vastly better than many young girls and boys in similar situations. Both books are very positive.
In Being Jazz, Jazz describes the early feelings of being a girl in a boyâs body, wanting to wear girlâs clothing and play with dolls instead of trucks. She describes not being able to use the girlâs bathroom (it was interesting that the Orlando Convention Center had several unisex bathrooms), not being allowed to play on the girlâs soccer team. Yet, in the background, her parents were fighting the fights required to change the rules. Iâm sure many (most) parents of transgender youth donât have the knowledge or resources (time and money) to do all that the Jennings did.
She describes the onset of depression and how she handles it. She talks about friendship and shows a lot of spunk and self confidence when saying if someone doesnât love her for who she is, then the friendship isnât worth pursuing. She talks about the awards sheâs won and the people sheâs met.
Despite her experiences and the associated maturity, Being Jazz has the feel of being written by a fifteen year old (thereâs no âwith assistance from ___â in the credits) and thatâs good because maybe other fifteen year olds will be inspired by itâŚmore so than if an adult wrote about being transgender.
No such book would be complete without a resource listing. Being Jazz includes the following: websites, depression outreach services, books for kids, books for teens and adults, educational books for parents of a transgender child and movies/tv.
All in all, Being Jazz was an enjoyable and educational read. It could be and should be a primer about what transgender means and how trans kids are no different than any other kid, having the same hopes and dreams.
Jazz knew she was a girl for as long as she can remember. She wanted to wear girly clothes and just basically be a girl. She knew she wasnât what her body was
There are several takeaways that make this memoir worth reading. First, Jazz doesnât let others âget her down.â She says that she doesnât really have time to have other people judge her. Whatâs important is that she doesnât put others down--she talks about people with excitement. She just wants people to be themselves and be happy and nice to each other. Thatâs a good lesson for all people of all ages. Second, Jazz isnât pushing a political agenda; sheâs telling her story and wanting to demystify something that most people wouldnât understand because statistically, not many people are in her shoes. She doesnât act like she is this amazing person with an ego; she comes across as excited about life and the possibilities it offers. A lot of teens would be arrogant if they were as famous as her. I didnât get that vibe listening to her read her book. Third, Jazzâs parents are very supportive and they have raised her to confide in them. Their relationship is very open, and they tell her about challenges as they see that she is ready. Their main goal is to protect her and make a world that she can live in as the person she is.
Overall, this is an interesting memoir. Thereâs nothing to question or judge; itâs a story of a teen, like any other, who just wants to be herself.
This book is a fascinating look at the life of a transgender child. Beginning with Jazz's early childhood, and continuing up until her
The book was written by Jazz, who was I think 15 at the time. So it is not as polished as some other books. The writing style often sounds like it was written by a teen. I listened to the audio version of the book, narrated by Jazz herself. At times her narration felt a little stilted, but overall, a very enthralling experience to listen to this book.