I am Jazz By Jazz Jennings

Citation:

Herthel, J., & Jennings, J. (2014). I am Jazz. New York: Penguin Random House.

Lexile Score:  N/A

Summary:

                This story is about the life and struggles of a transgendered girl, Jazz. The book gives an insight on what it is like to be transgendered, as well as what it is like to not be who you truly are.

Evaluation:

                This book is definitely of high quality literature. The author, who is in fact the book is about, tells of the real life struggle she went through about learning who she really is. She talks about how she didn’t feel right being a boy and how her parents helped her figure out whom she is instead of push her away.

                This book is a positive book about an issue that is usually not accepted by many people. In the book they also talk about this issue, but the author shares that she ignores those who are mean to her because those who really know her know how great she really is.

                The illustrations in this book are also great. They are very child friendly and easy to tell what is going on. They depict exactly what is going on in Jazz’s head and they illustrations really enhance writing.

Literary Elements:

 Characters: Jazz

Conflict: Jazz is caught between who she really is and how she was born

Theme: Don’t be afraid of who you really are; don’t judge people because they are different.

Mini Lesson:

                 For this lesson I would teach students all about the different types of family and different people. I would show students that just because someone is considered different doesn’t mean they really are. I would explain that people who are transgendered are just like everyone else and they were simple not born as who they really are.

Age: 3+ (If a child could be/is transgendered this early)