You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
I wanted to love this book. I really did. Unfortunately, it just ended up being too problematic for me to truly enjoy. The homophobia and gender roles were strong. The plot wasn’t incredibly compelling and character development was lacking in basically all the characters.
Also, one of the quotes on the back cover “In Praise of” uses a slur - just ugh all around that they chose that quote.
Also, one of the quotes on the back cover “In Praise of” uses a slur - just ugh all around that they chose that quote.
So i read this book many years ago when i was just coming into my identity as a trans man and ooohhh boy
Fuck this BOOKK
It has some good parts but over all. It has a very bad impression on how being trans actually works. Im not saying that how i transitioned is the correct way. Im saying that this book is steeped in neglectful and sad characters that go through an unrealistic world under the guise of being realistic. From J living on his own for weeks with only 80 dollars in his pocket, parents abandoning J with a friend and never speaking to him, to J's hprrific treatment of the girls in his life.
Its sad what J goes through, but how this book goes about telling his story tries to paint his journey like a good thing. Like him hurting those around him and getting hurt by those same people is the only way a trans person can live.
Fuck this BOOKK
It has some good parts but over all. It has a very bad impression on how being trans actually works. Im not saying that how i transitioned is the correct way. Im saying that this book is steeped in neglectful and sad characters that go through an unrealistic world under the guise of being realistic. From J living on his own for weeks with only 80 dollars in his pocket, parents abandoning J with a friend and never speaking to him, to J's hprrific treatment of the girls in his life.
Its sad what J goes through, but how this book goes about telling his story tries to paint his journey like a good thing. Like him hurting those around him and getting hurt by those same people is the only way a trans person can live.
What first struck me about I Am J is that it isn't just about a transgendered teen. It isn't even just about a biracial teen. No, for our protagonist J it's about both. Cris Beam shows us the very realistic life of a teen who is lost in a sea of misunderstandings, all because he happened to be born a girl and Puerto Rican in New York. For J it becomes all about understanding where he fits in over all else. To be honest, even a cisgendered person like myself can feel at least a part of J's struggle. I can only imagine how it feels to know in the deepest part of your soul that your outward appearance does not match who you really are.
I realize that the last paragraph was extremely jumbled, but truth be told it is hard for me to express in words exactly how this book struck me. I finished it almost a full two weeks ago, and yet I've had the hardest time figuring out how to share with all of you what I really thought. I Am J is one of those books that really reached in and grabbed me. I learned so much about transgendered teens and the issues that they face, but for J it was so much more than that. J not only was trying to come to terms with being a boy inside and a girl outside, but also trying to understand why his parents couldn't accept it.
Cris Beam writes such a realistic character in J that I actually became a part of his struggle. Even the smaller and more supporting characters jumped off the page and into my heart. This book is by no means an easy read, although there are definitely happier parts in it. I fully believe that there need to be more books about transgendered and bi-racial teens out there. Books like this help people who are hurting, like J, find someone else who is going through what they went through. Even if it is fiction, that can help. Also even though J isn't a real person per say, he does find some great resources that I'm sure readers can use.
Everything in this book is just purely fantastic, raw and real. I applaud Cris Beam for writing such an important and touching book, I only wish I could do better to sing its praises. It seems every time I'm faced with a truly important and deeply life altering book, I don't know what to say at the end! Nonetheless I highly recommend that you give I Am J a read! It is well worth your time, and you'll probably learn so much that you'll feel all the better for it at the end.
I realize that the last paragraph was extremely jumbled, but truth be told it is hard for me to express in words exactly how this book struck me. I finished it almost a full two weeks ago, and yet I've had the hardest time figuring out how to share with all of you what I really thought. I Am J is one of those books that really reached in and grabbed me. I learned so much about transgendered teens and the issues that they face, but for J it was so much more than that. J not only was trying to come to terms with being a boy inside and a girl outside, but also trying to understand why his parents couldn't accept it.
Cris Beam writes such a realistic character in J that I actually became a part of his struggle. Even the smaller and more supporting characters jumped off the page and into my heart. This book is by no means an easy read, although there are definitely happier parts in it. I fully believe that there need to be more books about transgendered and bi-racial teens out there. Books like this help people who are hurting, like J, find someone else who is going through what they went through. Even if it is fiction, that can help. Also even though J isn't a real person per say, he does find some great resources that I'm sure readers can use.
Everything in this book is just purely fantastic, raw and real. I applaud Cris Beam for writing such an important and touching book, I only wish I could do better to sing its praises. It seems every time I'm faced with a truly important and deeply life altering book, I don't know what to say at the end! Nonetheless I highly recommend that you give I Am J a read! It is well worth your time, and you'll probably learn so much that you'll feel all the better for it at the end.
challenging
dark
hopeful
informative
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I liked this, but I was inevitably comparing it to both Luna and Almost Perfect, both of which I liked better. (And then I realized that this book is first-person, and both of those books are told from the perspective of someone in the trans person's life - watching them go through it, which is obviously different from the interior experience a trans person would have themselves.) J seemed naive about certain things - though I guess this was mostly explained by his fear of admitting the truth to himself. It was okay for me - would probably hold more value for someone who identified more with J.
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
I haven't seen any other books from the perspective of a transgender teen, so I think it's great that this book is out there. It seems like the author did her research and has some knowledge about what it would be like to be in J's shoes. On the other hand, the main storyline is fairly predictable and I'd like it more if the pace was a little faster. Also, the ending is too perfect and fairy-taleish for me. Despite all that, it still held my interest and I'm happy to see a book that touches on this topic.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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
This book was just kind of blah to me. I didn't like J at all but I felt bad for him with everyone that didn't really get him. Melissa was so annoying and she was I guess a good friend but I did like Chantelle.
Wasn't a fan of his parents.
I think teens will be able to relate to this book but not sure if all will like it.
Wasn't a fan of his parents.
I think teens will be able to relate to this book but not sure if all will like it.