I am Jazz
by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings
Reasons for challenges: Inaccurate, homosexuality, sex education, religious viewpoint, and unsuited for age group.
This children’s book is the story of Jazz Jennings, a transgender young woman, who knew from a very young age that the body she was born with was not the right body for her. Her doctor diagnosed her with Gender Identity Disorder, and her life as Jazz began.
It’s an important book, and the topic is well handled in a sensitive and very age-appropriate way. But that hasn’t stopped the challenges, in Wisconsin an elementary school canceled their reading of the book because of the threat of a lawsuit from the Liberty Counsel- a group that the Southern Poverty Law Center has classified as a hate group.
What’s beautiful about this particular challenge is the community response. This is such an affirming and wonderful way to respond to the restriction.
I think about the people I have known in various points during my life who are born in bodies that don’t fit who their real identity. People who could really have benefited from having books to read when they were kids that they could see themselves in.
Representation matters. Being able to see yourself in the books that you read is important, and being able to hear stories like this can go a long way for helping to encourage compassion and care for others.
Eclectic Alli 
The people challenging this book don’t seem to notice or care about the difference between being gay and being transgender.
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