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
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.
babayagareads's review
5.0
I love reading memoirs/bios by youth and knowing, without a doubt, that they actually wrote it themselves. Jazz was so wonderful, had an inviting tone, and did an impressive job of articulating complex concepts for any type of reader, whether they be young or old, LGBTQ knowledgeable or ignorant. The only disappointment I had while reading is that I hadn't read this sooner.
shereadsshedrinks's review against another edition
4.0
Clearly meant for young readers, this was a fast listen on audio. While it didn't move me like Janet Mock's book did, I wasn't really the intended audience. I can see how kids going through what Jazz did would find hope in this book - and perhaps those that need to be educated about transgender children and teens should read it as well.
julianna_clare's review against another edition
4.0
You can definitely tell she wrote this at a younger age, but that’s not a bad thing! She still had way deeper insights into certain aspects of life/advocating for the LGBTQ community than I did at 15. It’s disheartening to think that some people say her parents “brainwashed” her into being trans. You can tell she’s always been her authentic self.