Welcome to my new feature called Forbidden Reads! Join me in celebrating our freedom to read. My goal for this feature is to highlight challenged and/or banned books from each literary audience: children, YA, and adult. Not only will I be doing a review of the book, I will also include information as to where and why the book was challenged/banned. Today I'll be reviewing one of the top 10 books most challenged books in 2015 and 2016, I Am Jazz by Jessica Herthel, Jazz Jennings, and Shelagh McNicholas.

Description: From the time she was two years old, Jazz knew that she had a girl's brain in a boy's body. She loved pink and dressing up as a mermaid and didn't feel like herself in boys' clothing. This confused her family, until they took her to a doctor who said that Jazz was transgender and that she was born that way. Jazz's story is based on her real-life experience and she tells it in a simple, clear way that will be appreciated by picture book readers, their parents, and teachers.


Review: I am Jazz is an enlightening autobiographical picture book of Jazz Jennings, a transgendered activist. The book is very straightforward, upbeat, and positive. Jazz proclaims in the opening sentences that she has "a girl brain but a boy body" and knew from the time she was two that despite her physical body she wasn't really a boy. Young Jazz was passionate about her love of mermaids, dancing, and dress-up as well as her conviction that her gender identity was female. Readers are taken through her journey including Jazz's family in understanding her real identity as a girl and Jazz's own struggles of being included such as playing soccer on a girl's team. The illustrations are non-explicit, pink-hued watercolor illustrations that are a good complement to the cheerful tone and positive message of the story. Though defining transgendered simplistically, the book does introduce readers to a new concept and to embrace and value differences.


Rating: 4 stars

Why it was challenged: This children’s picture book memoir was challenged and removed because it portrays a transgender child and because of language, sex education, and offensive viewpoints. 

I can see how this book can be a shock to parents who may feel uncomfortable about approaching this subject with their children, but it I don't see why the conversation can't happen at this age. I am Jazz teaches empathy, acceptance, and diversity.

Words of Caution: None.

If you like this book try: Jacob's New Dress by Ian and Sarah Hoffman, Red: A Crayon's Story by Michael Hall, Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress by Christine Baldacchino

 Once again 7 out of the 10 books that are challenged and/or banned contain diverse contest, specifically LGBTQ+ as the vague complaint "sexually explicit" is on the rise. For the first time in the history of ALA's Top 10, a book was challenged solely because of its author.

Of the 10 books listed below, I have read 7 titles and I have linked my review down below:

1. This One Summer written by Mariko Tamaki and illustrated by Jillian Tamaki
   This young adult graphic novel, winner of both a Printz and a Caldecott Honor Award, was restricted, relocated, and banned because it includes LGBT characters, drug use, and profanity, and it was considered sexually explicit with mature themes.


2. Drama written and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier
   Parents, librarians, and administrators banned this Stonewall Honor Award-winning graphic novel for young adults because it includes LGBT characters, was deemed sexually explicit, and was considered to have an offensive political viewpoint.


3. George written by Alex Gino
   Despite winning a Stonewall Award and a Lambda Literary Award, administrators removed this children’s novel because it includes a transgender child, and the “sexuality was not appropriate at elementary levels.”


4. I Am Jazz written by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings, and illustrated by Shelagh McNicholas
   This children’s picture book memoir was challenged and removed because it portrays a transgender child and because of language, sex education, and offensive viewpoints.


5. Two Boys Kissing written by David Levithan
   Included on the National Book Award longlist and designated a Stonewall Honor Book, this young adult novel was challenged because its cover has an image of two boys kissing, and it was considered to include sexually explicit LGBT content.


6. Looking for Alaska written by John Green
   This 2006 Printz Award winner is a young adult novel that was challenged and restricted for a sexually explicit scene that may lead a student to “sexual experimentation.”


7. Big Hard Sex Criminals written by Matt Fraction and illustrated by Chip Zdarsky
   Considered to be sexually explicit by library staff and administrators, this compilation of adult comic books by two prolific award-winning artists was banned and challenged.


8. Make Something Up: Stories You Can’t Unread written by Chuck Palahniuk
   This collection of adult short stories, which received positive reviews from Newsweek and the New York Times, was challenged for profanity, sexual explicitness, and being “disgusting and all around offensive.”


9. Little Bill (series) written by Bill Cosby and illustrated by Varnette P. Honeywood
   This children’s book series was challenged because of criminal sexual allegations against the author.


10. Eleanor & Park written by Rainbow Rowell
    One of seven New York Times Notable Children’s Books and a Printz Honor recipient, this young adult novel was challenged for offensive language.