mdettmann's review against another edition
3.0
Likes: Jazz's story is a sweet one and I loved the first half and how it dealt with her figuring out she was transgender, her family accepting, loving, and supporting her no matter what, and some of the obstacles she faced. I loved the mini-interview with her family at the end and loved that the book also included resources such as organizations, websites, books, and tv/movies for further information/awareness/enlightenment.
Dislikes: The last half was just a run through of all the awards, interviews, and famous people she's met and that was actually super boring to me. I also wasn't a huge fan of the writing because it read like it was written by a 15-year-old girl (I know, I know). I also didn't enjoy reading about all the petty teenage drama (and again, I know, I know.)
Overall I think this is a great read for teens because, though the drama and celebrity stories were my dislikes, teens will eat it up. I think they will also connect to Jazz, her struggles, her successes, and her weird obsession with mermaids and making mermaid tales (it was an entire chapter). For transgender teens and their family and friends especially, I hope they read this and have hope. Jazz writes herself that she knows, despite some issues, that her experience as a transgender teen has been an incredibly lucky one and I appreciate what her advocacy and what sharing her story has done for the transgender community.
Dislikes: The last half was just a run through of all the awards, interviews, and famous people she's met and that was actually super boring to me. I also wasn't a huge fan of the writing because it read like it was written by a 15-year-old girl (I know, I know). I also didn't enjoy reading about all the petty teenage drama (and again, I know, I know.)
Overall I think this is a great read for teens because, though the drama and celebrity stories were my dislikes, teens will eat it up. I think they will also connect to Jazz, her struggles, her successes, and her weird obsession with mermaids and making mermaid tales (it was an entire chapter). For transgender teens and their family and friends especially, I hope they read this and have hope. Jazz writes herself that she knows, despite some issues, that her experience as a transgender teen has been an incredibly lucky one and I appreciate what her advocacy and what sharing her story has done for the transgender community.
crsteven's review
4.0
Really more of 3.5 stars. Loved the info from her point of view, but it definitely read like a book written by a 15 year old for other teens.
mxbluet18's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
Trigger warnings for Being Jazz include: suicide, mental illness, and transphobia.
☆
☆
I don't think it's right to rate a book that is so personal and is an autobiography of someone's life and trauma.
~
There were a couple of aspects of things that were detailed in the book that I related to, which isn't really what you want in a nonfiction, especially when the topics being written about are traumatic events, mental illness and statistics around transgender people and suicide and self harm.
~
Every time the statistics around suicide and self harm were mentioned, I felt something. It wasn't a feeling of discomfort, but I'm also not totally sure what it was. In fiction I find that reading about those same topics doesn't typically affect me, but when it's nonfiction, and talking about real, living people, it's different. And I guess, when it's a statistic you are a part of, it makes it a little more challenging to read about I suppose.
~
It was insightful to read about Jazz's early life, the way she figured out she was transgender, and then consequently how she went about telling her family about it too. It also felt a little bittersweet, as I'm sure it would be for many trans people, to hear how her family was and is very accepting of who Jazz is, and how she was able to socially and medically transition at the age she did. For me certainly it felt bittersweet because while I'm happy for her, and I'm glad she was able to access the gender affirming care she felt necessary for her at the age she did, I know that that isn't possible for me, which makes me feel some things. Anyway, a slightly more personal review for this book.
☆
☆
I don't think it's right to rate a book that is so personal and is an autobiography of someone's life and trauma.
~
There were a couple of aspects of things that were detailed in the book that I related to, which isn't really what you want in a nonfiction, especially when the topics being written about are traumatic events, mental illness and statistics around transgender people and suicide and self harm.
~
Every time the statistics around suicide and self harm were mentioned, I felt something. It wasn't a feeling of discomfort, but I'm also not totally sure what it was. In fiction I find that reading about those same topics doesn't typically affect me, but when it's nonfiction, and talking about real, living people, it's different. And I guess, when it's a statistic you are a part of, it makes it a little more challenging to read about I suppose.
~
It was insightful to read about Jazz's early life, the way she figured out she was transgender, and then consequently how she went about telling her family about it too. It also felt a little bittersweet, as I'm sure it would be for many trans people, to hear how her family was and is very accepting of who Jazz is, and how she was able to socially and medically transition at the age she did. For me certainly it felt bittersweet because while I'm happy for her, and I'm glad she was able to access the gender affirming care she felt necessary for her at the age she did, I know that that isn't possible for me, which makes me feel some things. Anyway, a slightly more personal review for this book.
kait_sixcrowsbooks's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
3.0
It’s a sweet memoir when you keep in mind the author was only 15 when she wrote it. The writing was okay — while it was alright, it truly wasn’t anything groundbreaking, and the themes seemed very repetitive. Not a bad read if you and/or your kid want to read about a trans child, though, as a starting point!
ela_lee_'s review against another edition
3.0
A very quick read. Ironically, this book hardly feels like it’s about someone who is trans at times, it’s just about an average, pre-teen girl and her life at school and home amongst family and friends. As Jazzy acknowledges several times, wow, what great parents she us. How fortunate to be a transwoman born into an intelligent, accepting, well-educated family. (I think her dad is a lawyer and her mother studied some branch of counseling.) It is because of them knowing how to navigate the rules and politics of the world that they were able to get so far and go about Jazzy’s transition in the most thoughtful of ways.
Only complaint is that Jazzy is definitely a little self-centered, overconfident, and annoying at times. But what preteen girl isn’t? I wouldn’t say this book was super profound, but it’s a realistic look into the everyday life of Jazzy and gets you to think a bit more about the common struggles of trans kids.
Only complaint is that Jazzy is definitely a little self-centered, overconfident, and annoying at times. But what preteen girl isn’t? I wouldn’t say this book was super profound, but it’s a realistic look into the everyday life of Jazzy and gets you to think a bit more about the common struggles of trans kids.
nborge's review against another edition
5.0
Love love love, Jazz. She’s such an amazing young woman.