Being Jazz: My Life as a (Transgender) Teen by Jazz Jennings

“When did you know? I get asked a lot of questions about my life and that’s the one that comes up the most. The answer is easy. Ever since I could form coherent thoughts, I knew I was a girl trapped inside a boy’s body. There was never any confusion in my mind. The confusing part was why no one else could see what was wrong.”

The cover of the book is shown. It is a photo that features the author sitting cross-legged on the floor wearing a cowboy hat. Black-and-white filter.

From the publisher:

“At the age of five, Jazz Jennings’s transition to life as a girl put her in the public spotlight after she shared her story on national television. She’s since become one of the most recognizable and prominent advocates for transgender teens, through her TV show, interviews, and social media.

Jazz’s openness has led to bullying and mistreatment from those who don’t understand her choices. She’s fought for the right to use the girls’ bathroom and to play on a girls’ soccer team, paving the way for others. And in this book, Jazz faces an even greater struggle—dealing with the physical and social stresses of being a teen. But being on the front lines of trans activism doesn’t stop Jazz from experiencing the joys of growing up, from day camp to first dates.

Jazz Jennings is one of the youngest and most prominent voices in the national discussion about gender identity. This remarkable memoir is a testament to the power of accepting yourself, learning to live an authentic life, and helping everyone to embrace their own truths.”

My Review

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First, let me say that this is a book written by a fifteen year old. And it has all the voice and stories and idiosyncrasies that happen when you ask a fifteen-year-old to write about their life. That is not a bad thing! But the reader should go in with appropriate expectations.

That being said, Jazz has had an incredibly unique and interesting life for a sophomore in high school, especially as she transitioned socially at age 3 in 2004. While the incredible amount of wealth and privilege she grew up in is highly unrelatable to most, her upbringing provided (and continues to provide) a much needed blueprint for what raising a non-cisgender child can look like. Jazz, with the help of her litigious parents, was a true trailblazer when it came to having openly trans children in sports and schools. She discusses going to trans camp as a child, something I truly didn’t know existed in the early 2010’s, and is filled with many cute anecdotes. Finally, she talks a lot about growing up in the public spotlight, including her very famous appearances with Barbara Walters and Oprah’s network – appearances which undoubtably impacted the status of trans rights in this country.

And she’s kinda mermaid obsessed. We love to see it.

What I want more than anything is a “Jazz turns 25” update to this book. I want her to update and expand on this memoir with all the new knowledge and hindsight produced by time. How would she view her early years and public life now? What does she wish she could’ve changed about that time in her life? What advice would she offer to trans children growing up in the hostility of todays climate? She has an incredibly unique point of view which I would love to see preserved more in the memoir format. If she does choose to do so, I’ll be first in line to read it. 🙂