Being Jazz. My Life as a (Transgender) Teen. Published Crown. New York, 2016. ISBN 978-0-399-55464-3
The first question most will be asking is, what could a 15 year old girl have done with her life to be writing an autobiography?
The oblique answer is, this is Jazz Jennings. She took on the world at 6 years old by coming out as transgender. She has successfully stood up to and over came the United States Soccer Federation, successive schools, the press. Co-founded a national organisation, TransKids Purple Rainbow Foundation, promoting tolerance and acceptance for transgender children everywhere. She has appeared in a number of TV shows to discuss her issues, including two seasons of a series dedicated to her personally, I Am Jazz. Been granted numerous awards, including Time Magazine's "The 25 Most Influential Teens of 2014". Appeared in TV commercials. Appointed a Grand Marshal in New York City's Gay Pride Parade, Met the President of the United States, written 2 books and somehow managed to achieve first class marks in her school work.
So, this young woman has quite a lot to write about.
Along with the rest of the world, I first saw her as a typically cute 6 year old girl telling her story on TV. She was starting a remarkable story.
She has inspired so many, not just other young people. She's set standards of expectation for society to match up to. A standard of respect and rights for all transgender people. She's taken more flak that most could or should. She's defied convention and shown that those very conventions are grounded, not in any social standard of decency or necessity, but in ignorance and intolerance.
The book consists of 20 chapters, each dealing, more or less, with an issue. Many are typical for young people everywhere, such as being subjected to a period of isolation bullying, though it somehow seems more unfair when it happens to someone else.
Others, understandably, more personal to her life.
It begins describing her struggle to convince, first her mother, then everyone else that she is indeed a girl. Her struggles at school to be accepted. Her meetings with journalists and ultimately, Barbara Walters and the broadcast which brought little Jazz to the world.
It goes onto describe her battles to be permitted to play soccer, make friends and be the figurehead behind a major Transgender group, Transkids, Purple Rainbow Foundation.
At every stage in her struggles, at ever disappointment, every success, every plan, every surprise, are her mother and father, backing her up, demonstrating what all good parents instinctively know, that children thrive when encouraged and supported.
The writing isn't high brow, it's more chatty. Its easy to read, never self indulgent, nor self pitying or overly opinionated. There are times of sudden fun and humour, and times of sudden sadness and sorrow. It is a feel good book, a story of success.
More importantly, it's a book about a loving, insightful mother who will go the extra mile for her children, a dad, cautious, thoughtful and who rises like a lion to defend his own and a family that is there for each other.
And it's about Jazz.
