A book written by a local transgender activist has been banned more than almost any other children鈥檚 book in the country, according to , a national advocacy group for literacy and free expression.
The book was written by Jazz Jennings, who grew up in South Florida and graduated from in 2019.
In the picture book, Jennings tells her story of growing up trans and her experience of socially transitioning and making friends.
鈥淢y best friends are Samantha and Casey,鈥� the book . 鈥淲e always have fun together. We like high heels and princess gowns, or cartwheels and trampolines. But I鈥檓 not exactly like Samantha and Casey. I have a girl brain but a boy body. This is called transgender. I was born this way!鈥�
According to PEN America鈥檚 count, I Am Jazz tied with two other titles as the most-banned picture book in the country during the 2021-2022 school year. The other two books are:
- , about the pioneering LGBTQ activist and member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, written by Rob Sanders and Steve Salerno
- , a book about the of two male penguins at New York City鈥檚 Central Park Zoo who raised a baby penguin, written by Peter Parnell, Justin Richardson and Henry Cole
In a of Jennings reading the book produced by the LGBTQ advocacy group the Human Rights Campaign, she says the story is meant to show kids that they can live as their authentic selves.
鈥淚 know it鈥檚 hard living in this world and that sometimes people just don鈥檛 understand. But if you just stay strong and keep moving forward, and just stay true to who you are no matter what, then one day things will get better,鈥� Jennings said. 鈥淵ou are beautiful no matter what.鈥�
According to a published by Kirkus, the book is rated for ages 3 and up and is 鈥淸a]n empowering, timely story with the power to help readers proclaim, in the words of Jazz鈥檚 parents, 鈥淲e understand now."
I Am Jazz is among the that Florida parents and conservative officials are targeting 鈥� many of which focus on queer characters and people of color.
have been taking aim at books that mention LGBTQ topics and books about sex education and human development, claiming they鈥檙e inappropriate or even , with some saying teachers who give the books out are 鈥� echoing conspiracy theories.
At the same time, teachers are gutting their classroom libraries, under pressure from who have warned that educators who give out books that are deemed could be charged with a felony.
