Essay Questions

What is the significance of the prevalence of mermaid imagery throughout the book?

The very first image of Jazz in the narrative show her sitting with a mermaid doll. She will subsequently be portrayed as a mermaid herself, talking about her love of the mythical creatures, and playing with other mermaid toys. The mermaid is fundamental icon that shows up regularly in trans literature. Becoming Nicole, by trans actress Nicole Maines, for instance, is much more tightly focused specifically on the attraction to Disney’s Little Mermaid, Ariel, who is sort of the queen of the mermaids in the transgender mythology. The reasoning for this prevalence of mermaids in the trans mythos is not just easily enough explained, but perfectly logical in a way that few things ever are: the mermaid looks like girl from the waist up, but is the epitome of gender ambiguity beneath the tail from the waist down.

Why is the negative reaction to Jazz’s focus on fashion misplaced?

Of the few rational (non-hysterically transphobic) reviews of the book expressing negative reactions, a common problem some have with the story is that too much emphasis is given to fashion. The reality is that clothing is generally where the trans experience begins: the desire to dress in what is viewed as gender-inappropriate clothes. An extension of this complaint is the second sentence out of Jazz’s mouth in which she says that pink has been her favorite color for as long as she can remember. Admittedly, this book as well as others documenting the childhood trans experience situates female identity predominantly within conventional gender expectations. To play the devil’s advocate for a moment: this is just about little boys pretending to be girls by liking pink and wearing dresses.

Opponents to the whole trans idea seize onto this like a great victory as if reveals supporting their fundamental position supporting the belief in just two distinct genders. In fact, this recurring experience among trans children only serves to reinforce the idea that gender is built on convention and expectations. These children already know how they feel, but how else are the expected to demonstrate that certitude at such an age except by adopting conventional expectations relative to outward appearance and acceptance?

Why did this book land among the top ten of the most challenged books in the country four years between 2015 and 2019?

Check the book out yourself. Look for profanity, nudity, sexual activity or even—heaven forfend—communist indoctrination. What you will find is none of these things. Nor, for that matter, anything else covered in those warnings given to parents about the content of R-rated movies or TV shows deemed inappropriate for kids. Instead, the book has been faced challenges based upon the following rationales, all of which added together equal the final complaint:

– it confronts a topic that is “sensitive, controversial, and politically charged”

– it addresses gender identity.

– it offers offensive viewpoints

– it is inaccurate and addresses homosexuality, sex education, religious viewpoint, and is unsuited for age group

– it features a transgender character