Being Jazz : my life as a (transgender) teen /

*Starred Review* A memoir at the age of 15? Yes, if you happen to be Jazz Jennings, arguably the most well-known trans teen in America and the subject of the reality show I Am Jazz. Though born a boy, Jazz knew from the time she could form a coherent thought that she was a girl. Officially diagnosed at age 3 with what was then called Gender Identity Disorder, Jazz thanks to extraordinarily supportive parents began to come out at age 5. After an article in a local newspaper led to her being interviewed by Barbara Walters (twice!), Jazz became a media presence and, increasingly, an advocate for transgender children's rights. Her stature continued to grow when Time named her (again, twice) one of America's 25 Most Influential Teens. Obviously, Jazz's is not an ordinary life, but it serves as a role model and inspiration for LGBT kids, who will recognize the kinds of problems she has encountered and overcome: not being permitted to use the girls' restroom or to be a member of the girls' soccer team not to mention love troubles. She has survived them gracefully, as her well-written, informative, and accessible memoir evidences. Her story is an important addition to the slender but growing body of transgender literature and belongs in every library.--Cart, Michael Copyright 2016 Booklist

Jennings, the 16-year-old YouTube star who is one of the nation's youngest and most outspoken transgender activists, narrates this brief memoir of her life so far. What's particularly refreshing is how evident it is that she is still a kid-irrepressible, fearless, and at times charmingly immature. She is a very fast talker, whose performance is long on passion and implied italics. The listener can discern her intensity when she discusses some teachers' and coaches' discomfort with her gender identity. Whether she's relating her family's crusade to allow her to play soccer on the girls' team or her frustration at not getting a starring role in a theater production, she is, by her own admission, outspoken and dramatic. She can also be tender when relating the stories of other transgender individuals who have not grown up with the unflagging support she has had from her parents and siblings. But if the performance ever gets too serious, Jennings always brings it back to the bright, upbeat zone of a confident teenager. Overall, this is an entertaining, rapid-fire performance. Ages 12-up. A Crown hardcover. (June) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Gr 6 Up-Jazz Jennings has been in the public eye for a long time, drawing media attention when her family allowed her to transition at a very young age. In this memoir, Jennings (now 15) shares stories and experiences from her life as an openly trans girl. Battles to get her on the girls' soccer team, to allow her access to the girls' restroom at school, and to educate the public at large dominate Jennings's story. The memoir shares a varied and anecdotal account of her life, offering a behind-the-scenes look at being an LGBT celebrity, navigating preteen romance, and treating depression. The narrative flow is choppy, but the voice and tone are genuine and provide an incredibly normalizing view of a trans teen's life. Jennings speaks frankly about things like anatomy and boyfriends, but mentions of her depression and struggles with peers are subtle. Subjects of violence against trans people and the high rates of suicide in the trans community are also kept at an arm's length, helping the book appeal to younger or unfamiliar readers who may not be prepared for the less uplifting stories of trans life. The teen's successes and nearly limitless self-confidence and optimism will be reassuring for the family and friends of trans youth, but older teens may find the book hard to relate to. A very accessible resource list is included, as well as interviews with the Jennings family. VERDICT A great introduction to trans life for middle schoolers and a balancing addition to the more harrowing stories available.-Amy Diegelman, Vineyard Haven Public Library, MA © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

TV personality/activist Jennings writes openly and (very) honestly about her life as a transgender girl (and what that means). In an upbeat, conversational text, Jennings covers the challenges she faces, her family's unconditional support and advocacy work, and her hopes for the future. A black-and-white photo opens each chapter. The back matter includes an extensive list of resources and annotated lists of websites, books, movies, and TV shows. (c) Copyright 2017. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Before she was in preschool, Jazz knew she wasn't a boy, and she didn't understand why no one else did. Her parents took her to meet with a well-versed therapist, who told them Jazz is transgender, and they started on a journey with no map.Obstinate school faculty and officials soon made it clear that there was no protocol for someone like Jazz, and the family's necessary activism began in earnest, by way of an article in the local paper. That article got the attention of producers of a national TV show, who pursued Jazz's family until they agreed to take a leap of faith and do an interview. Jazz's mother became involved in public speaking at conferences, and she and Jazz began their outreach and advocacy work, even starting their own organization and agreeing to do a reality show. As Jennings relates, through it all, she manages to keep it apart from her typical teenage life, replete with summer-camp experiences, cute-but-jerky boys, best friends, and ex-best friends and marked with a passion for art and mermaids. Her outlook is bright, even as she struggles with depressionhereditary and unrelated to being trans. Jazz is fearlessly up front with people about being trans, and her gender meter is pinned on GIRL, but she also touches on gender variations and carefully stresses that not all trans people are like her.Jazz's positivity, honesty, frank explanations, and conversational writing style make this an ideal book for trans kids to hand to worried loved ones after they've finished reading it. (Nonfiction. 12 up) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.