This week's upcoming release is a realistic fiction, that I am very anxious to read because it highlights a teen issue that I have never read about before.
Author: Cris Beam
Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Release Date: March 1, 2011
"Hola, Jeni."
J spun. His stomach clenched hard, as though he'd been hit. It was just the neighbor lady, Mercedes. J couldn't muster a hello back, not now; he didn't care that she'd tell his mom he'd been rude. She should know better. Nobody calls me Jeni anymore.
J always felt different. He was certain that eventually everyone would understand who he really was: a boy mistakenly born as a girl. Yet as he grew up, his body began to betray him; eventually J stopped praying to wake up a "real boy" and started covering up his body, keeping himself invisible - from his family, from his friends...from the world. But after being deserted by the best friend he thought would always be by his side, J decides that he's done hiding - it's time to be who he really is. And this time he is determined not to give up, no matter the cost.
An inspiring story of self-discovery, of choosing to stand up for yourself, and of finding your own path - readers will recognize a part of themselves in J's struggle to love his true self. (Publisher's summary from Amazon)
About the Author
Cris Beam is the author of Transparent, a Stonewall Honor Book and Lambda Literary Award winner.She has an MFA in writing from Columbia University and teaches creative writing at Columbia, New York University, and The New School. I Am J is her debut novel. While living in LA, Cris volunteered at Eagles, a high school for gay and transgender kids. During the 2.5 years Cris taught there, she became deeply involved with a complex but marginalized tribe of transgender teens who had nowhere to go but the streets, one of whom became her foster daughter.What upcoming books are you anxious to read?
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21 comments:
Soo ...
this sounds fascinating. not sure if I'll read it but I'll be looking forward to seeing some reviews.
This is a new book to me - certainly sounds like a very interesting subject! Great pick!
Great pick. I haven't heard of this book, but it sounds like a powerful story. I'll have to check it out.
This sounds fantastic!! Great pick!
This sounds great and with everything going on in the world lately, we need something with this subject matter to be required reading for kids!
Our pick is at BookSake.
I've never heard of this one before - thanks for pointing it out to me! :)
I hadn't heard of this one and it sounds great! I'm going to add it to my list. =)
I have never read a book on this topic so I am definitely interested in reading I Am J. Great WoW!
Sounds good! Great pick!
I had not heard of this one, but I am adding it to my list. Thanks
~Pixie
Our Wow
I have to say I like the storyline of the book. i don't think i ever read any kind like this. thanks for highlighting this!
Wow this book sounds amazing. I just put it on my tbr list. Thanks for showing this!
Great pick! Fist time hearing about this book :)
This also sounds very new to me - and the subject is definitely an interesting subject that isn't done often. I can only think of one that I've come across dealing with transgender - and it's a book called Luna (forgot the author though!) - Great choice - will also be on the lookout for this!
I am definitely going to keep my eye out for that book, thanks for posting about it.
I have to read this one!!!!!!
I haven't heard of this one. Thx for sharing!
Hope you come by and see my WOW!
this looks really really interesting, i hadn't heard of it before.
I've read a few things about this book. It sounds interesting. I like the cover - although it's hard to tell it's a J.
I agree with Alison, it is hard to tell it's a J at first glance. As for the subject of the book, I'm really glad that it focuses on being transgender. I really can't think of any other YA stories that even discuss it, which is unfortunate.
Great pick! I love that it's a topic relevant to today -- not that kids didn't deal with this issue in the past, it just wasn't discussed openly. I'd definitely read it. Thanks for sharing!
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