Sam Waver is 13-years-old and a bit of a loner. Sam looks up to his older brother Jason, who provides him with the much needed attention he does not always get from his cabinet minister mother and his father, who is her adviser. In Samâs eyes, Jessica is always âmy brother Jason.â Heâs âthe best brotherâ and itâs clear that Sam idolizes him. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 19, 2019. The story was actually very sweet and I would recommend it. I read this book despite all the bad press so that I can make my own judgement. In fact, itâs Jessica herself, her being transgender, her acceptance of her own identity, that is set up as the antagonist, the conflict, the obstacle for Sam and his entire family to overcome. At least this will make a good fire starter. A bit of a loner, he struggles to make friends, and his busy parents often make him feel invisible. My Rating: 2/5. * Daily Express * A sincere and very readable attempt to educate young people about the trans experience and foster acceptance * … Itâs not about her winning people over to accept who she is, or her coming out better or stronger. Could the author please talk to an actual trans person before writing another book like this? It doesnât belong to her. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in. eBooks. If you're looking to read up on the trans community and trans experiences, there are so many other books out there that are respectful and honest and are out there for the benefit of the community and not as a cash grab, like Gender Outlaw, Trans-Kin (if you're looking specifically for the point of view of a family member) and Trans Bodies, Trans Selves. The parent's reaction to Jessica's coming out is very extreme; they seemed so ignorant and reactionary as to have stepped out of a different era. My Brother’s Name is Jessica – Book Review – Spoilers. After all, itâs hard enough being the other in everyone elseâs books, never mind those that are supposed to be yours. He finds time for Sam, helping him with his reading, which he finds tough due to Dyslexia. The central conflict of the book isnât centered around Jessicaâs journey, or her character development. Sam Waver's life has always been pretty quiet. But it's passable. First, I must say that Boyne's actions to promote the book were outright harmful. The story itself is technically well written. Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video! Please make sure to choose a rating. This House is Haunted: A Novel by the Author of The Heart's Invisible Furies, The Absolutist: A Novel by the Author of The Heart's Invisible Furies, A Traveler at the Gates of Wisdom: A Novel. Top subscription boxes – right to your door, © 1996-2021, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Loved this book. Answered Questions (4) I'd love to hear thoughts on this book from trans readers! This book needs a lot of work. My Brother's Name is Jessica '…this poignant and disarming story is full of heart and its crescendo will give you tingles' Attitude Magazine 'Outstanding' Irish Examiner Sam has known his sister Jessica all his life. That difficulty and that gap in understanding experience is very real, and any honest portrayal of a trans character in modern society would have to address it in some way. Most of these are shoehorned in, either by Sam or Jessica proclaiming how âgoodâ or âsupportiveâ their parents are (without those traits ever being demonstrated), or by Mom and Dad Waver admitting, as if it were a great confession, that their jobs and feelings might not be the most important thing after all, given the bigger picture. My brother's name is Jessica, if anything, provided young readers who perhaps are uneducated on this subject to learn more about the subject, and hopefully they'll be able to understand it, so their generation won't be similar to previous generations who had been against transexuals. My Brother's Name is Jessica. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Completely incorrect and misrepresentative of what it means to be trans. Ratings and Book Reviews (0 10 star ratings 0 reviews ) Overall rating. It is an optimistic cover, yet in true John Boyne style, the content is substantial and addresses issues of remarkable importance. Books related to My Brother's Name is Jessica. My Brother's Name is Jessica. Transitioning is hard for anyone and is just as hard for the family, Boyne really captures that in this honest and heartbreaking books. My Brother’s Name is Jessica. My Brother's Name is Jessica by John Boyne, 9780241376164, available at Book Depository with free delivery worldwide. This is just an insulting, terrible, ill-conceived trash fire of a novel. (If you already wrote a review and you are trans I apologize, I missed it.) Sam Waver's life has always been pretty quiet. The plot makes sense, the characters are somewhat believable and relatable. A great book - but aimed at a younger audience, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 4, 2019. Read an in-depth analysis of Tim Meeker. Tonight is the first time they're going to meet.Sam Waver has always been a loner: bullied, struggling at school, with parents who have very little time for him. If you're going to write a story about a community you're not a part of, you need to do everything in your power to get it right. Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2019. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. And of course, Aunt Rose is a stereotypical hippie liberal who dresses up in trash bags and takes in homeless people off the street, marries them, then divorces them, you know, the way we hippie left-wing bleeding hearts do. Boyne’s new novel for young readers, My Brother’s Name is Jessica, was attacked on social media and the novelist was criticised for writing about an issue with which he is unfamiliar. Not a subject I know a lot about but would definitely like to read more on. Please try your request again later. Synopsis: “You’re the best brother in the world, Jason, you know that.” “But that’s just it, Sam. I wish that the ending wasn't so vague. My brother's name is Jessica, if anything, provided young readers who perhaps are uneducated on this subject to learn more about the subject, and hopefully they'll be able to understand it, so their generation won't be similar to previous generations who had been against transexuals. Boyne doesn't. I thought some of the key characters (the parents) were almost pantomime villains - akin to the DUP, when in fact most UK politicians of all persuasions actually fall over themselves to out PC (Political Correct) each other. Sam has known his sister Jessica all his life. Create a … I was immensely proud of them, though I admit there was a large element of self-interest in encouraging them to early literacy. Sadly not. Penguin presents the audiobook edition of My Brother's Name is Jessica written by John Boyne, read by Joe Jameson. Because it seems the only three people who can understand Jessicaâs struggle at all are her psychotherapist â whose only defining feature is that he looks like a guy in a band; her football coach â who could care less about gender, so long as the team keeps winning; and Aunt Rose. To ask other readers questions about My Brother's Name is Jessica, please sign up. Tonight is the first time they're going to meet.Sam Waver has always been a loner: bullied, struggling at school, … My brother's name is Jessica, if anything, provided young readers who perhaps are uneducated on this subject to learn more about the subject, and hopefully they'll be able to understand it, so their generation won't be similar to previous generations who had been against transexuals. Penguin RandomHouse UK. This book has been heavily criticised by transgender community for its allegedly insensitive title and there are numerous one star reviews on GR from people who admit to have never even read the book! Full content visible, double tap to read brief content. Share your thoughts Complete your review. 4.10. But perhaps the most frustrating and damning aspect in all of this is the portrayal of Jessica herself — or Jason, as she is referred to as throughout … There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. Rate it * You Rated it * 0. A bit of a loner, he struggles to make friends, and his busy parents often make him feel invisible. Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2019. We see none of her interior world, none of her struggle, and itâs not her strength or her perseverance that wins out by the end of the book. My Brother's Name is Jessica : John Boyne : 9780241376164 We use cookies to give you the best possible experience. www.reallifeventures.blog, Squeeze the Book: Reading for Comprehension and Retention, The Ethics of Social Reform in Crime and Punishment, Book review: Melinda Gatesâ The Moment of Lift, 4 Addictive Books That Make Reading Fiction Productive and Escapist, The Unexpected Twist That Makes Mary Shelleyâs Frankenstein A Bold, Experimental Work Far Ahead ofâ¦. Jason, who is older than Sam by four years is a popular kid at school, unlike Sam. 'John Boyne made his name with The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas and he's on stellar form in My Brother's Name is Jessica. by John Boyne. My Brother's Name is Jessica. A stunning and timely new novel from the bestselling and award-winning author of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas. More by John Boyne Skip this list. Passed on to a friend who has a trans daughter and she loved it too. A sensitive subject handled with well balanced humour, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 16, 2019. I have a 13-year-old child who is transgender and I live in London and therefore should have found something in common with the characters in the book. I absolutely do think a Non trans person can write about trans issues. If you're trans, would you let me know what you thought? Try. But Sam is not sympathetic to Jessicaâs struggles. Before the book was even released, this book - by people who ask for freedom of speech and who preach their rights - tell people to boycott an authors' novel because he's not transexual himself. The story is told from the point of view of thirteen-year-old Sam, who has always looked up to his older brother Jason. Let’s start with the title. My Brother’s Name is Jessica – John Boyne. Pretty much all of the characters are awful, and I even found it difficult to root for Jessica, for reasons that weâll get to in a minute. This World Book Day costume for brothers and sisters couldn’t be easier – just choose between the jumpsuit and dress versions, both of which come with Thing 1 and Thing 2 patches. R 260.00. For anyone who understands the destructive and completely disrespectful act of misgendering or deadnaming a trans person, this title is a big red flag. Itâs only when Jessica offers to give up her identity and live her life as a lie for her family that the plot is resolved (even if that resolution does, eventually, involve her family supporting her transition). Of course, they then return to ignoring Sam and lying about Jessica in the next scene. Luckily for Sam, his older brother, Jason, has always been there for him. John Boyne made his name with The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas and he's on stellar form in My Brother's Name is Jessica. 1 Star - I hated it 2 Stars - I didn't like it 3 Stars - It was OK 4 Stars - I liked it 5 Stars - I loved it. Transgender activists have criticised author John Boyne over his latest novel, My Brother’s Name is Jessica, a story about a transgender girl. It is told by 13-year-old Sam, brother of the 17-year-old Jessica. Tim's older brother, he is sixteen at the beginning of the story. Please try again. John Boyne; Extract. John Boyne’s 2019 young adult novel My Brother’s Name is Jessica is at first glance eye-catching in rainbow printed cover with white raised lettering. Luckily for Sam, his older brother, Jason, has always been there for him. You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition. But perhaps the most frustrating and damning aspect in all of this is the portrayal of Jessica herself â or Jason, as she is referred to as throughout the novel, up until the very last chapter of the book. A sensitively written and timely tale. Would have saved me a lot of time. On the one hand, I understand Boyneâs urge to portray the difficulty that many people have in learning to accept and understand trans folk. Secondly, the transgender person does not have to be the main character as many TRAs would state ~ the story is from the brothers perspective and why shouldn’t we hear that! And John, it doesn’t seem like you’ve done that here at all with your latest book, My Brother’s Name is Jessica. Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2019. The Cat in the Hat. One day, Jason announces he was born in the wrong body and is in fact a girl. It gets *everything* wrong. Brief content visible, double tap to read full content. Reviewed in the United States on May 12, 2019. The Waver family in England follow the political journey of Secretary of State, Deborah Waver as she climbs the ‘greasy pole’ … barely. Skip this list. I wish this story focused on Jessica. A bit of a loner, he struggles to make friends, and his busy parents often make him feel invisible. A sensitively written and timely … There’s a story I’ve heard many times about how my brother Jason got the scar that runs above his left eye, almost parallel with his eyebrow. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. To get the free app, enter your mobile phone number. Last but not least is Thing 1 and Thing 2 from the Dr Seuss classic The Cat in the Hat! Best suited to under 10 years old, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 3, 2019. Firstly, I do believe a child would say his brother was called Jessica ~ especially in the early days of transitioning. 10. A bit of a loner, he struggles to make friends, and his busy parents often make him feel invisible. And when you look at it like that, itâs not hard to see why the trans community has refused to embrace it as theirs. My Brother’s Name is Jessica (2019) by John Boyne. Itâs about everyone else but her. Luckily for Sam, his older brother, Jason, has always been there for him. I was keen to read this book, and didn’t initially realise it wasn’t primarily aimed at an adult audience. Girls want to date him and boys want to b e his best mate. This book is a return to young adult fiction and as the title makes clear it is about a young teenage boy’s journey towards acceptance of his sister Jessica, who transitions from male to female. I wish this story was more for exploring the harm the actions of the main character and the parents caused, rather than glossing over it. It's hard to judge a book from cis folks's reviews. Tim greatly admires his older brother and longs to be more involved in the excitement and danger of the war. Please don't support. Skip to main content.ca Hello, Sign in. My Brother's Name is Jessica - Kindle edition by Boyne, John. A great read, whatever the Twitterati (a tiny section of trans voices) say. First off, let me put one thing out there before anything else â I went into reading this book with the best intentions and only the fullest sympathy for John Boyne as an author. Please try again. Books. Sam is not terribly interesting or likable and his parents are even worse. Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free. First sentence: There’s a story I’ve heard many times about how my brother Jason got the scar that runs above his left eye, almost parallel with his eyebrow. As for the others, Sam, our narrator, is a thirteen-year-old boy who spends most of the novel either blaming Jessica for the way his classmates bully him, or worried that he might âcatchâ being transgender. Something went wrong. The backlash surrounding this book is hypocritical and unfair. My Brother's Name is Jessica. Posts navigation. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading My Brother's Name is Jessica. It's never been a requirement of FICTION authors to have lived the narrative they write about, and it isn't now. Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2019, Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2019, Shoulda just let your sibling write their own story. ‘My Brother’s Name is Jessica’ by John Boyne I had no problem teaching my children to read pre-school or in nurturing their love of reading fiction. Sam has known his sister Jessica all his life. Even the title of the book shows how little commitment this book has to respecting the trans community; as soon as Jessica comes out, she's a sister, not a brother. Luckily for Sam, his older brother, Jason, has always been there for him. Review by felicityfeiner 12/09/2019 15/09/2019. But this is a review of his work, not of him. Like, "political correctness" issues aside, it's just flat-out wrong. Just like he captured a realistic vision of Auschwitz in The Boy in the Striped Pajamas despite never being a prisoner of war himself, here he creates more realistic and honest characters, despite not being trans himself. The trans community does not need Boyne to tell their story, they're already out there telling it. Enter your mobile number or email address below and we'll send you a link to download the free Kindle App. On the other hand, at one point, Dad Waver seriously asks a psychotherapist if electroshock therapy is âsomething that still goes onâ and might âget results.â This is played, in the text, as if the author is making an inside joke. Prime Cart. Putting aside the bookâs representation of trans issues for a moment (yes, we will get to it), even just in terms of Jessica as a story, there is very little that I found I could enjoy. I don’t think I’m your brother at all. In fact, I’m pretty sure I’m your sister.” Sam Waver has always idolised his big brother, Jason. By John Boyne. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 23, 2019. Beautifully written book from Boyne, as always. Which brings me to the most important point in all of this. John Boyne made his name with The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas and he's on stellar form in My Brother's Name is Jessica. This novel is aimed at teenagers, however I believe that many cisgender adults can learn something valuable from reading it, too. My Brother's Name is Jessica: 9780241376171: Books - Amazon.ca. Amy V Borg is a memoir and teen fiction writer, avid reader, sometime adventurer and full-time bookseller. Sam Waver's life has always been pretty quiet. My Brothers Name is Jessica by John Boyne Sam Wavers life has always been pretty quiet. There was a problem loading your book clubs. In short, this book is not Jessicaâs. Please try again. The only glimpses we get of Jessicaâs take on all of this are pithy, generic quotes that seem designed to encapsulate the âtrans struggleâ (âIâve always felt this way.â âJust because I feel that Iâm a girl doesnât mean I have to like everything that girls likeâ¦â âDonât you realize that my gender has absolutely nothing to do with whatâs going on in my pants?â), and a lot of crying. Then you can start reading Kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required. 4.1 out of 5. A bit of a loner, he struggles to make friends, and his busy parents often make him feel invisible. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. 'Daily Express. I knew about the controversy that had erupted on twitter and social media (as it does), and I picked up our shopâs ARC of the book fully intending to focus on what Boyne got right. There are very few moments when they are shown to be at all sympathetic to their kids. Some furious critics have taken to social media to claim the title of Boyne's … Unable to add item to List. Penguin presents the audiobook of My Brother's Name Is Jessica, written by John Boyne, read by Joe Jameson. Account & Lists Account Returns & Orders. I know it caused some controversy online but I loved it. Sam Waver's life has always been pretty quiet. The one person he has always been able to rely on is his beloved older sibling - but when they announce that they are transitioning, Sam's life is thrown upside down. Their parents are a conservative MP and her secretary, both of whom spend most of the novel being racist, bigoted, or cuthroatedly ambitious, all while openly claiming theyâre none of those things. The narrator, he is fourteen at the beginning of the story. A short book, doesn’t teach you much. MY BROTHER'S NAME IS JESSICA (191 JEUNESSE). Tell readers what you thought by rating and reviewing this book. It also analyzes reviews to verify trustworthiness. TRANSGENDER activists have called for a boycott of Irish novelist John Boyne and his "offensive" new book My Brother's Name is Jessica.. Boyne, best-known for his 2006 Holocaust novel The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, has been accused of "misrepresenting" trans people in his latest work – which is out this week.. 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