by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings
Illustrated by Shelagh McNicholas
5 stars
A sweet story detailing Jazz’s social transition as a girl including changing her name, using the girls’ bathroom, growing her hair long, and playing on the girls’ soccer team.
Her story is told in simple language appropriate for young readers. It focuses on many areas children can relate to such as favorite colors, activities, and interests. It touches on various issues along the way such as her family not initially understanding how she felt, her school not recognizing her as a girl, and people teasing her. Overall, the tone is very positive, focusing on those who supported her and her joy in becoming her true self.
Cute illustrations that pair well with the text.
A historically important book that helped bring trans experiences into the mainstream media. While the book focuses specifically on Jazz’s experience, it does use some dated language. It very much sticks to the boy/girl binary. She describes having “a girl brain but a boy body” and wanting to wear “girl clothes”. The activities and preferences are generally divided into a binary (trucks, tools, and superheroes vs. princesses and mermaid costumes). This is fine as it describes her experience and her and her family’s thinking at the time. But for modern readers, it may be helpful to include a discussion of how interests and activities do not inherently have a gender designation.
Despite its dated language, it still works well as an example of what it means for trans children to transition (changing their name, using different pronouns, etc.).
A wonderful story that shows one girl’s journey to becoming her authentic self.