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mehsi's review against another edition
5.0
My third book for the Banned Books Week! A fantastic book! Highly recommended.
applegnreads's review against another edition
3.0
there's some great reviews further down for why it won't get 5 stars from me but it's good that it exists at all.
drbatfcc's review against another edition
5.0
Children's book about a trans kid that many know from TV
kitsuneheart's review against another edition
5.0
Well, I can see why this pissed off some people. Terrible people, but some people. Transphobic people, generally.
Told with the assistance of Jessica Herthel, this is the actual story of Jazz Jennings, a transgirl. It's quite a cheerful book, which is so nice, in a world where parents with trans children often go kind of nuts. Jazz presents a sort of perfect idea of how a family should react to the news: they assure their daughter they love her the same as always and life just goes on. There are a few notes about prejudice in her community, but not all that much. Jazz is just a cheerful girl, enjoying pink and dancing and sports, who just happens to have briefly been seen as a boy.
I actually like how little preparation we're given at the start of the book for the subject matter. No long explanation of what being transgender is, no sub-title to give it away. The only initial clue would be the dust jacket blurb. On the one hand, I can see this having been part of why it was challenged so frequently, as parents would read this and suddenly find themselves faced with explaining what "transgender" means to their child (buck up, do it, it's not hard). On the other hand, it means that kids can be shown what a normal person Jazz is before we learn that she is both normal and transgender (I really had to re-word that sentence, because I kept almost implying she was not normal, which is wrong). This could be especially good for a child who shares Jazz's experiences, whether they and their family are sure about things yet or not. It shows that this is a thing which happens, and you don't have to be bothered by it. (Especially since, generally, there will be plenty of times to be bothered later, but let's focus on getting the young ones comfy in this book, neh?)
Definitely, 100% should not be a banned book. Granted, I am against banned books to start, but this book will save lives, and, with any luck, change the minds of a few people startled to find themselves reading about a loving, energetic girl who happens to be transgender.
Told with the assistance of Jessica Herthel, this is the actual story of Jazz Jennings, a transgirl. It's quite a cheerful book, which is so nice, in a world where parents with trans children often go kind of nuts. Jazz presents a sort of perfect idea of how a family should react to the news: they assure their daughter they love her the same as always and life just goes on. There are a few notes about prejudice in her community, but not all that much. Jazz is just a cheerful girl, enjoying pink and dancing and sports, who just happens to have briefly been seen as a boy.
I actually like how little preparation we're given at the start of the book for the subject matter. No long explanation of what being transgender is, no sub-title to give it away. The only initial clue would be the dust jacket blurb. On the one hand, I can see this having been part of why it was challenged so frequently, as parents would read this and suddenly find themselves faced with explaining what "transgender" means to their child (buck up, do it, it's not hard). On the other hand, it means that kids can be shown what a normal person Jazz is before we learn that she is both normal and transgender (I really had to re-word that sentence, because I kept almost implying she was not normal, which is wrong). This could be especially good for a child who shares Jazz's experiences, whether they and their family are sure about things yet or not. It shows that this is a thing which happens, and you don't have to be bothered by it. (Especially since, generally, there will be plenty of times to be bothered later, but let's focus on getting the young ones comfy in this book, neh?)
Definitely, 100% should not be a banned book. Granted, I am against banned books to start, but this book will save lives, and, with any luck, change the minds of a few people startled to find themselves reading about a loving, energetic girl who happens to be transgender.
alexandrabree's review against another edition
1.0
I disagree with any kind of gender / sexuality information directed at children. This goes for ALL kinds, straight very much included.
I think we have politically and generally gotten obsessed and in a few ways stuck on these troubles (right vs left more so than anything concrete) and these issues are very much adult problems that should not spill into our children’s lives.
While it is great to have a trans character in a children’s book. I don’t appreciate that they changed Jazz’s skin tone and almost shamed stereotypes and non conformity equally which for children is extremely confusing.
On top of inappropriate
I think we have politically and generally gotten obsessed and in a few ways stuck on these troubles (right vs left more so than anything concrete) and these issues are very much adult problems that should not spill into our children’s lives.
While it is great to have a trans character in a children’s book. I don’t appreciate that they changed Jazz’s skin tone and almost shamed stereotypes and non conformity equally which for children is extremely confusing.
On top of inappropriate
voodoo_x_valentine's review against another edition
5.0
If you take issue with this book, you're a soulless monster. Full stop. In reading banned books, I bought this one as a switch to something lighter that would give me a spot of hope in the world. It's a short read and it made me smile.
xsleepyshadows's review against another edition
3.0
This book is on the banned book list this year! Every year I celebrate banned book week by reading a book off the yearly list. At our library we like to have the freedom to read! I thought this book was well spoken and tackled perhaps a confusing subject for kids, very nicely and respectfully. I didn't particularly like the stereotypical society "boy stuff" and "girl stuff" bits, though I felt it still was a good introduction. ~Ashley
It was nicely illustrated, but after reading some reviews it sounds like they have whitewashed Jazz. I could understand if they based a character off of her, but it is literally about her?
It was nicely illustrated, but after reading some reviews it sounds like they have whitewashed Jazz. I could understand if they based a character off of her, but it is literally about her?
johnnymacaroni's review against another edition
4.0
What a much needed book! It seems very thoughtful and sensitive to me and the illustrations are very appealing. If I still worked in a library I would definitely buy this for my collection.