Friday, March 18, 2011
I Am J: Boy Meets World
Posted by Gina at 9:34 AM
http://skipthemakeup.blogspot.com/2011/03/i-am-j-new-young-adult-novel-by-cris.htmlI Am J, a new young adult novel by Cris Beam, concerns a trans boy coming to terms with his identity and the realities of dealing with transition, school, his self-expression, disclosure of trans status, housing, family, friends and his love life. It's a lot to cram into one quickly read book and there are times when Beam's work comes across as a somewhat rote listing about "what trans teens go through" as written by a well-intentioned social worker or counselor. Fortunately, the novel is written with a compelling directness and clear prose which vividly projects the packed story forward. It's a story most teens (and the book is perfectly enjoyable by adults as well) will gobble up—it could be a gritty Afterschool Special on T and steroids. And Beam, more than most non-trans writers, clearly knows the world and youth she's depicting.
