“Change happens through understanding.”

I just really, really enjoyed this book. I enjoyed the positive upbeat attitude of the author, I enjoyed how youthful she sounded while remaining put together and intelligent, I enjoyed the many, many exclamation points, and I absolutely love that that this book is available for tweens and teens to read to help understand other people in their community better.

“Change happens through understanding, and one of my biggest hopes is that our next generation of kids will grow up in a world with more compassion.”

Jazz Jennings, born Jayron, knew almost from the beginning that she was a girl born into a boy’s body. Her parents recognized this, and after a bit of a struggle, embraced it  — probably more quickly than many others would. She talks a lot, in fact, about how lucky she is to have the family that she was born into. Her mother in particular has become an incredible advocate. At age 5, Jazz transitioned to life as a girl. The story talks about the strange disconnect she experienced, growing up in a community where some people knew her one way and some people knew her another way, while also being in the public spotlight as a voice for other kids like her. She’s very bright and very enthusiastic and it comes through on every page how hard she’s worked to help others like herself. She’s also honest about the depression she’s encountered, as well as health-related obstacles and bullying from other and the many other downsides to simply trying to make her outsides match her insides. It’s a quick read, but carries a lot of impact, and I would highly recommend it.