My Brother's Name Is Jessica in Turning Pages by Penguin Books NZ

Mar 26, 2019 Aimee rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: sent-from-publishers, read-in-2019

Review to come.

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Apr 27, 2019 Bridget rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: khs-books

Well isn't this a political hotcake! I am going to write very little here about the story at this time. John Boyne is one of my absolute favourite authors and I admire his ability to tackle controversial subjects, to do it well and to make me feel things. This book is an uncomfortable read because of the reactions to a young persons decision to tell her family that she is transgender. She is moving from her life as Jason to a new life as Jessica. The book is not from her point of view, it is fro ...more

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Mar 17, 2019 Maddie rated it liked it · review of another edition

Review to come April 16th

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Jul 24, 2019 Chelsea rated it really liked it

Really enjoyed this book despite the controversy. I feel the author had genuinely good intentions. My only criticism would be that Jessica is perhaps too understanding and nice to those around her

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Mar 29, 2019 Kylie rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2019

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I was given an advanced copy by Penguin Books NZ in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Written from the perspective of Jessica’s younger brother Sam, I found this to be a great way to introduce the views and emotions of family who have a loved one discovering their true self, and transitioning.

Written for younger readers, as well as written from the point of view of a young teenager – I found the language throughout to be simple, making it an easy and fast read. However at times I felt that S I was given an advanced copy by Penguin Books NZ in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Written from the perspective of Jessica’s younger brother Sam, I found this to be a great way to introduce the views and emotions of family who have a loved one discovering their true self, and transitioning.

Written for younger readers, as well as written from the point of view of a young teenager – I found the language throughout to be simple, making it an easy and fast read. However at times I felt that Sam said things beyond his years, and at other times acted more immature and younger than 13, although having never been a 13 year old boy this may be exactly how he would act and think.
Sam’s need to repeat the words “my brother Jason” became frustrating and although I understood the point being made I thought the character/author could have had the same impact with half the number of “my brother Jason” being said.

The parents behaviour irritated me throughout the story and felt unbelievable and although I do realise that people do parent this way, and many are met with resistance from their loved ones when coming out or sharing their true self, I didn’t feel like both parents would resist so strongly. The parents behaviour is quite possibly exaggerated being that it is written from the perspective of a 13 year old boy who would see and feel things in a different way than adults.
The sudden change of feelings by the parents also seemed unbelievable and I would have thought this change would have been more gradual, although again, this isn’t to say that’s just my point of view and not exactly how some people respond and react.

I’m happy for my pre teen daughter to read it and hope that she will come away having learnt compassion and acceptance can go a long way in making someone else feel safe and happy. There are only a couple of vulgar words I would rather her not read but feel the message and story outweighs those few words.
Overall a well written, interesting and thought provoking book on a topic that I have not had first hand experience with. ...more

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Mar 19, 2019 Mon rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher Penguin Books NZ in exchange for an honest review

I'll post a full review closer to release date but I just wanted to quickly say I really enjoyed this book. Easily a one sit read, John Boyne has done a wonderful job of crafting a transgender youth narrative that is handled both sensitively and with an air of real world truth. Not shying away from complex family issues, the story has its emotional ups and downs that culminate in an uplifting end ...more

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Sep 09, 2019 Laura Hutchinson rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I loved this book. It really honestly deals with the emotional issues of identity and family, speaking through the voice of the younger brother who absolutely adores his older brother... now sister.

I recognise that some LGBTIQ+ activists struggle with this book because of the pronouns used and the negative way that the family initially reacts to the situation. However this book is written for cis gendered people who are looking to gain a greater understanding of gender issues and how it affects ...more

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Apr 22, 2019 Shona rated it liked it

I was given a copy of “My Brother’s Name is Jessica” by Penguin Books NZ in exchange for an honest review. I want to acknowledge upfront that I am a CIS woman, who has via her teenage daughter watched a child go through a similar experience as Jessica. I have read the reviews and accept many of the point of views, this was always going to be a hard topic for Boyne to fit into without controversy.

I felt this story was harsh from Sam's view. From our observations, teenagers relate to transgender w ...more

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Jun 27, 2020 Miz rated it really liked it

Shelves: tearjerker, like-nothing-i-ve-ever-read, young-adult

Firstly, I have no firsthand knowledge of this situation so I bow to those who know. Your voices are stronger than mine and they should be heard and understood.

All I know, from my cis woman viewpoint, is that this is an interesting view of a situation that I have no experience of. I devoured this book in a matter of days, with tears in my eyes. Cis man writer, awful parents portrayed, but still the authenticity of self shone through.

I love young adult books that tackle difficult situations well ...more

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