Saturday, May 14, 2011

I am J by Cris Beam YP FIC BEAM

J always felt different, always knew there’d been a mistake. He was supposed to have been born a boy and not have a girl’s body. Now he uses oversize clothes and wraps his body so that he can look how he feels, but it’s starting to cause problems. His best friend just called him a lesbian and threw him out of her life. J decides to start living his life honestly, but isn’t sure he can live with the consequences.

This is a tough and real look at what it is like to be a transgendered teen. J is an amazing character that feels like a real human being and not just a metaphor or stand in for all transgendered kids. His problems and reactions are so genuine that anyone can relate. After all, all teenagers feel trapped in bodies they don’t want or fully understand at one time or another, but J has things even harder. This is a tough sad read. J is rejected by almost everyone he knows after he decides to tell people who he really is. It’s made sadder by how realistic a situation it is. However, the book ends with a positive and hopeful note. I think this is a good read for anyone that would like to understand someone’s life that is different than their own. You may be surprised by how much you have in common.

No comments: