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A review by katykelly
My Brother's Name is Jessica by John Boyne
4.0
Gender identity tale from the sibling's viewpoint.
Boyne has created some unforgettable characters and stories, for both adults and younger readers, some modern classics. He has never shied away from some very heart-rending themes.
This latest didn't quite hit the spot for me. In many ways, Sam's viewpoint is authentic - his confusion, anger and inability to comprehend his brother's metamorphosis. In others, the almost stereotypical way that their parents, school-friends and the media/society at large seem to view their matter is out-of-date, overblown and unrealistic.
Sam is 13, the second child of a Cabinet Minister and her assistant, brother to a popular football star. When 17-year-old Jason reveals to the family that he is in fact now identifying as a girl, Sam and his parents alike are bewildered, indignant.
With their parents trying to force normality back on the family and Jason resisting, Sam struggles with his agitation and ignorance (seriously - would this generation have learnt nothing of transgender issues in the 21st century classroom?), whilst undergoing some rather shocking clichéd bullying at school.
I really felt for Jason/Jessica, contending with the rampant intolerance and misinformation displayed here, most of which seemed incredibly old-fashioned. I actually wanted to hear from from her. Sam veered between naivety and just plain selfish/unenlightened. At thirteen, I felt he should have been more worldly, their parents definitely so, in the world of government and political posturing.
The parents are both grating and unsympathetic - focused on their careers over family most of the time, wanting to cover over problems to maintain appearances, but that storyline does yield some reward.
Sam himself has room for character growth. Jason/Jessica disappears for a large section of the book, leaving Sam to work through things without the influence of the person who has started his path towards maturity.
The audiobook gives Sam as narrator a young-sounding voice, more the child than the future man, which fits. As a reader/listener, I found his point of view more gullible than I would have expected from a modern-day teenager, but the format did suit the story and its telling. The voices of Sam's family come across as individuals that you can picture and it's a straightforward book to follow aurally.
This may prove a positive source narrative for basing gender identity discussions on with teenagers, for parents and teachers. It raises points that can help dispel myths and misconceptions, though I would be interested to know how the attitudes in here measure up to those of real teenagers, and how transgender individuals see their own experiences of opening up and how it compares.
For ages 12/13 and older.
With thanks to Nudge Books for providing a sample Audible copy.
Boyne has created some unforgettable characters and stories, for both adults and younger readers, some modern classics. He has never shied away from some very heart-rending themes.
This latest didn't quite hit the spot for me. In many ways, Sam's viewpoint is authentic - his confusion, anger and inability to comprehend his brother's metamorphosis. In others, the almost stereotypical way that their parents, school-friends and the media/society at large seem to view their matter is out-of-date, overblown and unrealistic.
Sam is 13, the second child of a Cabinet Minister and her assistant, brother to a popular football star. When 17-year-old Jason reveals to the family that he is in fact now identifying as a girl, Sam and his parents alike are bewildered, indignant.
With their parents trying to force normality back on the family and Jason resisting, Sam struggles with his agitation and ignorance (seriously - would this generation have learnt nothing of transgender issues in the 21st century classroom?), whilst undergoing some rather shocking clichéd bullying at school.
I really felt for Jason/Jessica, contending with the rampant intolerance and misinformation displayed here, most of which seemed incredibly old-fashioned. I actually wanted to hear from from her. Sam veered between naivety and just plain selfish/unenlightened. At thirteen, I felt he should have been more worldly, their parents definitely so, in the world of government and political posturing.
The parents are both grating and unsympathetic - focused on their careers over family most of the time, wanting to cover over problems to maintain appearances, but that storyline does yield some reward.
Sam himself has room for character growth. Jason/Jessica disappears for a large section of the book, leaving Sam to work through things without the influence of the person who has started his path towards maturity.
The audiobook gives Sam as narrator a young-sounding voice, more the child than the future man, which fits. As a reader/listener, I found his point of view more gullible than I would have expected from a modern-day teenager, but the format did suit the story and its telling. The voices of Sam's family come across as individuals that you can picture and it's a straightforward book to follow aurally.
This may prove a positive source narrative for basing gender identity discussions on with teenagers, for parents and teachers. It raises points that can help dispel myths and misconceptions, though I would be interested to know how the attitudes in here measure up to those of real teenagers, and how transgender individuals see their own experiences of opening up and how it compares.
For ages 12/13 and older.
With thanks to Nudge Books for providing a sample Audible copy.