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J was born a girl, but knows he's actually a boy. The trouble is in making everyone else understand that--his parents, his best friend, and to a certain extent even himself. As he takes steps to transition to the male body he knows he should have always had, he has to come to terms with his family and friends, as well as himself.
While I can't speak to the realism of the transsexual community, J's angst and fears ring true. This is an excellent portrayal of a sensitive topic.
While I can't speak to the realism of the transsexual community, J's angst and fears ring true. This is an excellent portrayal of a sensitive topic.
Well written for the most part, but it just kept pissing me off with false information and conflicting statements.
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
I was hoping this book would be good. Personally as someone who is questioning their own geder and someone who fights every day to support LGBT rights...
My first thought when reading was, "Okay, an unreliable character. A jerk and not some goodie-two-shoes pixie character."
However, it only took 50 pages for me to realize that this book isn't very good at all. The writing is completely jagged and it would have been more personal if it were written in first person or even second, but not third.
Our main character is a somewhat, grey homophobic, excuse-using teen. I know how teens are and I was one myself, but I think that the mentality that the character has to be "as manly as possible" including trying to show off some completely inappropriate masculinity-based behavior was mind boggling and horrible.
I can say that I liked seeing a character fight their demons such as society and expectations and the future that his parents want for him,but not for who he really is. I like that. I like that he's fighting to be himself and that he's not afraid to fight for his life and to be himself as much as possible.
However....
Our character J constantly put down other characters, treated certain situations horribly and selfishly, and tried to pass off harassment as just "feelings". While some things were good in consideration, the constant backfire of awful decision making and not very good writing put me on a standstill.
He takes "innocent" advantage of his friend while she's sleeping and when she calls him out on it, he says it'snot the way it is, and only focuses on the anger of his friend indirectly calling her a girl, and in the case of J, having a friend tell him like others have, that he's gay. And boy, does this kid hate being called gay. And not in the, "Hey, I'm not gay, I'm male and I feel really uncomfortable being called gay and I wish others would stop saying it" but in the "No I would never be gay, I'm not gay, I don't like girls like that," and constantly dehumanizing the idea all together. It's not pretty.
Maybe someone else can get through this book, maybe someone who feels more related to the main character can take it with a grain of salt. But I really can not, for a single moment, excuse any of J's actions within the first three chapters.
Absolutely DNFing this book.
My first thought when reading was, "Okay, an unreliable character. A jerk and not some goodie-two-shoes pixie character."
However, it only took 50 pages for me to realize that this book isn't very good at all. The writing is completely jagged and it would have been more personal if it were written in first person or even second, but not third.
Our main character is a somewhat, grey homophobic, excuse-using teen. I know how teens are and I was one myself, but I think that the mentality that the character has to be "as manly as possible" including trying to show off some completely inappropriate masculinity-based behavior was mind boggling and horrible.
I can say that I liked seeing a character fight their demons such as society and expectations and the future that his parents want for him,but not for who he really is. I like that. I like that he's fighting to be himself and that he's not afraid to fight for his life and to be himself as much as possible.
However....
Our character J constantly put down other characters, treated certain situations horribly and selfishly, and tried to pass off harassment as just "feelings". While some things were good in consideration, the constant backfire of awful decision making and not very good writing put me on a standstill.
He takes "innocent" advantage of his friend while she's sleeping and when she calls him out on it, he says it'snot the way it is, and only focuses on the anger of his friend indirectly calling her a girl, and in the case of J, having a friend tell him like others have, that he's gay. And boy, does this kid hate being called gay. And not in the, "Hey, I'm not gay, I'm male and I feel really uncomfortable being called gay and I wish others would stop saying it" but in the "No I would never be gay, I'm not gay, I don't like girls like that," and constantly dehumanizing the idea all together. It's not pretty.
Maybe someone else can get through this book, maybe someone who feels more related to the main character can take it with a grain of salt. But I really can not, for a single moment, excuse any of J's actions within the first three chapters.
Absolutely DNFing this book.
The best thing about fiction is that it opens up a world different than your own. We can't really walk in someone else's shoes, but reading a first person narrative lets a reader get into the mind of a character and really feel like you are are experiencing what they are experiencing.
This story is well written, and while I do not know anyone who has gone through J's change, I was glad to know him and spend some time with him. I really think this one may be an award winner this year, and it should win something. I have never read anything like it before, and it was like discovering a whole new planet-and Beam is an excellent guide.
This story is well written, and while I do not know anyone who has gone through J's change, I was glad to know him and spend some time with him. I really think this one may be an award winner this year, and it should win something. I have never read anything like it before, and it was like discovering a whole new planet-and Beam is an excellent guide.
It was really interesting to read. And Js development was amazing to experience
I cannot imagine the struggle of living in a body that you just don't belong in. I will never know the extent of self-loathing that transgender people face, when they despise the parts that make them look like something they've never fitted in with. This is the story of J, born in a female body he never wanted. In this novel, we experience J coming out to his friends, family, and girlfriend; his quest for safety and information; and his journey to taking Testosterone.
J's story was insightful and eye-opening. It is the much-needed story of the turmoil many people face, told in an effective way.
J's story was insightful and eye-opening. It is the much-needed story of the turmoil many people face, told in an effective way.
J dresses like a boy, feels like a boy, thinks of himself as a boy - and yet he was assigned to the gender role of a girl at birth and given the name Jeni. He has been able to get everyone to call him J instead of Jeni and yet it still isn't enough.
Exploring the world of the transgender can be tough, but Beam does a credible job based on her own family's experiences. The reactions of J's parents and friends feel to be very realistic. The writing itself though left me wanting more.
Exploring the world of the transgender can be tough, but Beam does a credible job based on her own family's experiences. The reactions of J's parents and friends feel to be very realistic. The writing itself though left me wanting more.
About a transboy (new word for me) in high school starting to think about the transition process and how to tell the world. I don't have experience with the transgender world so I can't say if it is an accurate depiction of the community, but as a children's librarian in a conservative setting, I would for sure recommend this to any teen who asked me for a book about this. Although I think most kids would be too shy to ask for it. But it is on the TAYSHAS st this year (Texas Library Association's book list for teens) so I felt it was important to read.