Scan barcode
A review by starkva
My Brother's Name is Jessica by John Boyne
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.