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niinalukeekirjoi's review against another edition
1.0
Kirjan päähenkilö Sam on ehkä raivostuttavin nulikka ikinä. Niin röyhkeä, ajattelematon ja itsekeskeinen että välillä ihan pahaa teki. Tätä kirjaa on kritisoitu paljon, enkä ihmettele miksi, mutta siihen en ota sen enempää kantaa. Ainoa tähti tulee siitä, että äänikirjan lukijalla oli kiva ääni.
Äänikirja, 5h 25min
Äänikirja, 5h 25min
starkva's review
1.0
The blurb reads, "Sam's known his sister, Jessica, all his life. Tonight is the first time they're going to meet." I thought this was a great sign, despite the problematic title, that the story was going to discuss its topic appropriately.
About fifty pages in, I noticed who the author was, and was surprised. An author who's taken a lot of flack for writing a story that tries to make the author feel sympathy for Nazis, well out of his lane, now writing a story about a young trans woman? I carried on regardless - and honestly wish I didn't. Moving on from humanising Nazis, now we're trying to humanise racists and bigots. What a change.
The book felt more like it was an apologist story for transphobia than an understanding of any trans experiences, entirely justifying the lack of acceptance that Jessica's family showed her (asking for electroshock therapy?!). Aunt Rose was the weirdo for accepting her, and we were constantly reminded of just how weird she was in case we forgot for a second and thought that a 'normal' person could accept Jessica for who she was. The Coach was written as supportive, though he still parroted the "you could be an alien for all I care" trope that completely invalidates gender identity as something flippant and ridiculous.
Even at the end, when we have Sam finally acknowledging Jessica, it's still alongside misgendering her. The first time Jessica brought up her gender to Sam, she said "I'm your sister" and even after all of Sam's "growth" (?!), he still calls her his brother. It is insulting that this book claims to be meaningful and progressive.
About fifty pages in, I noticed who the author was, and was surprised. An author who's taken a lot of flack for writing a story that tries to make the author feel sympathy for Nazis, well out of his lane, now writing a story about a young trans woman? I carried on regardless - and honestly wish I didn't. Moving on from humanising Nazis, now we're trying to humanise racists and bigots. What a change.
The book felt more like it was an apologist story for transphobia than an understanding of any trans experiences, entirely justifying the lack of acceptance that Jessica's family showed her (asking for electroshock therapy?!). Aunt Rose was the weirdo for accepting her, and we were constantly reminded of just how weird she was in case we forgot for a second and thought that a 'normal' person could accept Jessica for who she was. The Coach was written as supportive, though he still parroted the "you could be an alien for all I care" trope that completely invalidates gender identity as something flippant and ridiculous.
Even at the end, when we have Sam finally acknowledging Jessica, it's still alongside misgendering her. The first time Jessica brought up her gender to Sam, she said "I'm your sister" and even after all of Sam's "growth" (?!), he still calls her his brother. It is insulting that this book claims to be meaningful and progressive.
lot26's review against another edition
5.0
This book is so beautiful! I really hated some of the characters and a bit of the redemption arc feels hasty but the message in this book is so important. I've struggled with how my parents view my transgender identity a lot and I wish I had an aunt like Rose but the way this book describes Jessica's journey is beautiful. It is a book full of heartbreak and power. A true and accurate telling of just some of the struggles of a transgender person, told from the perspective of a cisgender boy. I truly, and thoroughly, enjoyed this book!
"Mijn broer heet Jessica."
"Mijn broer heet Jessica."
lara_88's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
jitka597's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
libbydunc4's review
3.0
3.5
Character development was a bit off. Overall, this book was engaging and heartfelt, but the narrator's voice annoyed me somewhat.
Character development was a bit off. Overall, this book was engaging and heartfelt, but the narrator's voice annoyed me somewhat.
apple287's review
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Chapter 2 - WOW! Mum and Dad are completely in denial and their vocabulary and language just explodes from here. It's kind of like a car crash - you know you shouldn't look or watch but you can't help it.
For me, this book validates all of my thoughts and ideologies about the way I have already and want to in the future parent my child. To always be available, have open and honest conversations, guide him to discover things for himself and to truely be want he wants to be. Most of all, I want him to know that he is loved absolutely unconditionally.
Gender discrimination surrounding women, mothers, ideologies on parenting (approx. page 224 in my edition of the print book):
"Even those newspapers who were supportive of my brother Jason still found small ways to blame Mum, as if her being ambitious and having a career somehow meant that she should be held responsible." (...for the 'issues' experienced by her first-born child).
"The strange thing was that it didn't matter who wrote the column - a man or a woman - the line was always the same. That Mum was at fault and Dad was a weakling because he was Mum's private secretary. That if she'd stayed at home all these years and made a few shepherd's pies, then everything would have turned out differently."
Let's spearhead this stigma and allow women to live out their ambitious careers.
For me, this book validates all of my thoughts and ideologies about the way I have already and want to in the future parent my child. To always be available, have open and honest conversations, guide him to discover things for himself and to truely be want he wants to be. Most of all, I want him to know that he is loved absolutely unconditionally.
Gender discrimination surrounding women, mothers, ideologies on parenting (approx. page 224 in my edition of the print book):
"Even those newspapers who were supportive of my brother Jason still found small ways to blame Mum, as if her being ambitious and having a career somehow meant that she should be held responsible." (...for the 'issues' experienced by her first-born child).
"The strange thing was that it didn't matter who wrote the column - a man or a woman - the line was always the same. That Mum was at fault and Dad was a weakling because he was Mum's private secretary. That if she'd stayed at home all these years and made a few shepherd's pies, then everything would have turned out differently."
Let's spearhead this stigma and allow women to live out their ambitious careers.
susannacantele's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Habe das Buch als Klassenlektüre mit 13jährigen gelesen. Ihnen hat es sehr gut gefallen und mir auch. Das Thema transgender wird liebevoll erzählt, das Buch ist lustig und geht viel mehr über Familie als über Sexualität.
cheekycherry05's review
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
hithereimleah's review against another edition
5.0
I firmly believe that if everyone were to read this book, the world would become a kinder and far more understanding place. Such an honest, heartbreaking, and enlightening story discussing some of the most important issues that are dealt with daily - gender, relationships, family, politics and freedom.
An already volatile family is thrown into chaos when Sam's older brother, Jason, gains the confidence to tell her family that she is actually Jessica. Their parents are convinced that 'Jason' is just unwell, and Sam refuses to accept that his big brother is actually his big sister. With multiple problems along the way and the help of a wonderfully open-minded Aunt, this story is ultimately about the freedom that acceptance and inclusivity can bring.
An already volatile family is thrown into chaos when Sam's older brother, Jason, gains the confidence to tell her family that she is actually Jessica. Their parents are convinced that 'Jason' is just unwell, and Sam refuses to accept that his big brother is actually his big sister. With multiple problems along the way and the help of a wonderfully open-minded Aunt, this story is ultimately about the freedom that acceptance and inclusivity can bring.