I Am Jazz by Jessica Herthel, Jazz Jennings, and Shelagh McNicholas

 I Am Jazz by Jessica Herthel, Jazz Jennings,  (Authors) and Shelagh McNicholas (Illustrator)

Genre

Children's Banned or Challenged Book

Target Age Group

PreK- 3 grade

Summary

I Am Jazz tells the story of Jazz Jennings, a reality tv and social media personality, and their childhood experiences growing up transgender. This children’s book provides a unique perspective about what life is like for trans kids. 

Justification for Choosing

I selected this book because it was on the ALA’s top 10 most challenged/banned books in 2015 and 2017. Even though this book has faced extreme backlash, I selected it after being pleasantly surprised to see that it was available for checkout as an e-book from my local library. Additionally, it was one of the few LGBTQIA+ children’s books available at the library since children’s stories featuring LGBTQIA+ topics are rare and often challenged.  

Evaluation

For this review, I will be evaluating the book's plot, language, and illustrations. 

Plot: 

I Am Jazz has a naturally flowing plot as the reader follows Jazz through her childhood. As the story follows Jazz who is transgender, the story may not be relatable for all children, but it will be for some children who do not often see stories similar to their own commonly told. There are aspects of this story that all children will be able to relate to, and they will be able to gain new perspectives from reading this book. Additionally, the story develops fluidly as readers learn more about Jazz as she learns more about herself. The story has a satisfying conclusion as Jazz is able to be her true self by the end of the story. 

Language: 

The language used in this book is suitable for a young audience. The authors have chosen words and phrases that are easy for children to understand, making the book accessible and engaging. Despite being a children's book, the authors handle this potentially sensitive topic with great maturity and thoughtfulness. The book address the subject matter in a respectful and age-appropriate manner, making it a good resource for introducing complex issues to children in a gentle and understandable manner.

Illustrations: 

The illustrations in this book are eye-catching and detailed which will easily grasp the attention of young readers. The illustrations strengthen the plot of the story as readers are able to visualize Jazz’s transition. As the book discusses a unique subject matter that may be unfamiliar to some children, it is integral that the illustrations further explain what is being said in the story’s exposition, which the illustrations in this book successfully do. 

Overall Rating: 4/5

References 

Herthel, J & Jennings, J. (2014). I Am Jazz (S. McNicholas, Illus.). Dial Books.