My Brother's Name is Jessica

My Brother's Name is Jessica | John Boyne

pick

While this isn‘t a perfect book, I can see and appreciate what Boyne tried to do. In his afterword, Boyne writes about the bravery of transgender kids and teens, and he manages to portray that in the text. However, I felt like the development in Jessica‘s family was rushed and not explored enough. And considering Sam, Jessica‘s brother, is the MC, it felt weird not to dive deeper into his thoughts and feelings. ⬇️⬇️

Kalalalatja Everything came together a bit too neatly, and too quickly, for it to feel realistic. And the parents‘ attitude and behaviour were just appalling and so over the top. It read like a stereotype and was lacking nuance. 4y

Kalalalatja #RedWhiteorBlueTypeonCover #Booked2020 @4thhouseontheleft @BarbaraTheBibliophage @Cinfhen #BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks 4y

TheAromaofBooks Great progress! 4y

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TrishB Great review 👍🏻 he got a lot of criticism for writing this book. 4y

Cinfhen Great review 🥳I haven‘t done well with Boyne and his MG/YA books but I‘m SUPER EXCITED about his new book

Traveler at the Gates of Wisdom

Kalalalatja @TrishB yeah, I know. I made me hesitant to read it. I definitely think there are better books out there if you want to learn about being transgender, and while I see what Boyne tried to do, I‘m not sure he succeeded completely. It felt too simple and like it only scratched the surface of things. And now I‘m writing myself into giving a book a lower rating again. Second time this week! 4y

Kalalalatja @Cinfhen do you know when it is being published???? The blurb sounds great! 4y

Cinfhen I think it‘s already out!!!! 4y

Kalalalatja @Cinfhen I‘m soooo far behind on new releases 😅 4y

Cinfhen I think it just came out last Tuesday 🤔 4y

BarbaraTheBibliophage I agree that it‘s really hard to write about the trans experience if you aren‘t either trans yourself or very close to someone who is. I‘ve read a couple in the last year that I loved. Good Boy: My Life in Seven Dogs by Jennifer Finney Boylan is great. As is Lauri Frankel‘s This is How it Always Is. Both have personal experiences. 4y

britt_brooke I‘ve been wondering about this one. #stacked 4y

62 likes1 stack add12 comments

JesByrne

My Brother's Name is Jessica | John Boyne

Time to finish up this book. It is giving me a perspective of the challenges it can have on the family of a transgender teenager. Sometimes we do not know the best way to support those we love as they try to identify with their inner feelings.

2 likes

suvata

My Brother's Name is Jessica | John Boyne

pick

I bought this book for one reason only; it was written by John Boyne and that was enough for me. I know there is a lot of controversy over this book but I think Boyne handled a difficult “sexual identity“ issue with compassion. I will keep reading everything he writes because he writes with empathy and a gentle understanding. After reading this book I just wanted to give Sam and Jessica a big hug — That is how real his characters seem to me.

Amiable I love John Boyne too. 🥰 5y

Alfoster Oh my, didn‘t know there was another one out there! I love him too! Thanks👏! 5y

suvata @Alfoster @Amiable It‘s an awesome book. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did. 5y

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erzascarletbookgasm I love Boyne too. I‘ll still read it to judge for myself. 🙂 5y

suvata @erzascarletbookgasm you should. I hate it when people judge a book before they have even read it. 5y

Nute Thoughtful review! I‘m intrigued by this author‘s writing. I didn‘t know he had a new book. Stacking! 5y

55 likes4 stack adds6 comments

Tove_Reads

My Brother's Name is Jessica | John Boyne

Never heard so many complains about a Boyne book... Well, I still want to read it!

suvata Me too! As a matter of fact, I am reading it next. 5y

34 likes1 comment

Tove_Reads

My Brother's Name is Jessica | John Boyne

Has anyone read it?

suvata Reading it now. 5y

Tove_Reads @suvata How are you liking it? 5y

suvata @Tove_Reads Loved it!!! 5y

Tove_Reads @suvata 👍🏽 5y

37 likes2 stack adds4 comments

WanderingBookaneer

My Brother's Name is Jessica | John Boyne

Was excited to read this one... until I saw the 33% rating here on Litsy. Let‘s see how I fare.

Peddler410 This is on my TBR. I‘ll be very interested in hearing what you think. 5y

Clare-Dragonfly Not too many actual reviews on Litsy, but the two substantive posts are not promising. 😑 5y

Bookwomble @Peddler410 @Clare-Dragonfly There's a number of reviews on Goodreads by trans people, none of which (that I've seen) having anything good to say about how this book describes their experience (which they say it doesn't). I thought this review a clear, heartfelt and moving one: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2769337878?book_show_action=true&from_revi... 5y

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Peddler410 @Bookwomble Thanks, I‘ve actually read many of the Goodreads reviews — including this one. 5y

Bookwomble @Peddler410 🙂👍🏻 5y

Tove_Reads How did you feel about it in the end? To me this is written from the perspective of his younger brother, so it‘s naturally a bit naive and inconclusive, but it must be hard to understand that your idol is not what you thought he was. 5y

76 likes6 comments

Jeg

My Brother's Name is Jessica | John Boyne

bailed

I had to give up. For me the characters were not conniving at all. Right at the start a 4 year old was saying and doing things no 4 year old I know does. At the end the author does say it‘s written to help young people understand etc. This Afterword the best part of book for me. I did keep trying to finish but decided better books for me to read. Would be interested to hear what other people think. @MrsMalaprop

14 likes

Bookwomble

My Brother's Name is Jessica | John Boyne

So, I was listening to Graham Norton's radio show and it gradually impinged on my awareness that he was talking about trans issues. The interviewee was Boyne and they were talking about this book. The title is hideously transphobic, which could have been saved by the narrative, but alas, based on Boyne's own words, that doesn't happen (he thinks it does, but it doesn't). Sadly, this book is aimed at children and is not a good lesson for them.

Aimeesue Well, that‘s disappointing. 5y

Bookwomble @Aimeesue I'm sure it will sell well based on the author's reputation and mainstream publisher, but it's an example of a well-meaning person (I do believe that) tackling an issue about which they've done too little research, which they then feel the need to defend when called out. It is, indeed, disappointing. 5y

Aimeesue @Bookwomble I'm not a Boyne fan, to be honest. I haven't read a lot of his stuff, but what I have hasn't wowed me. 5y

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Bookwomble @Aimeesue I didn't recognise his name, but did recognise a couple of his book titles, so I know he's quite popular. Doubtful I'd have ever read him, but certain that I won't now. 5y

Arbol Thanks for this review - I wasn't going to read it simply based on title. I was shocked (and not) to see such a gross title and the many other issues get past editing. Clearly Boyne does now have the range and no one who actually works with his product said as much to him. 5y

Bookwomble @Arbol I think it compounds the issue that it is being marketed as pro-trans, which could result in well intentioned people looking for information to take on its cis-centred views. I want to believe that's not intentional. 5y

14 likes6 comments

Missusb

My Brother's Name is Jessica | John Boyne

This looks interesting. Or is it just band wagon jumping? Also the #batflower is showing off again. #currentlyreading #preview #mayrso2019 #lgbtqia #johnboyne #ukya

28 likes2 stack adds

Missusb

My Brother's Name is Jessica | John Boyne

My #tbrpile just exploded. #mayrso2019 #preview books have arrived. Mix of international and Australian titles. Hopefully not all heavy and/or dark themes.

39 likes

Tove_Reads

My Brother's Name is Jessica | John Boyne

JennyM 🖐 😃 🤚 5y

AmyG Ahhhh....I have to read the last one! Wow he wrotes fast. 5y

TheBookStacker Interested simply by the title! 5y

51 likes1 stack add3 comments

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