About this item
Teen advocate and trailblazer Jazz Jennings - named one of "The 25 Most Influential Teens" of the year by Time - shares her very public transgender journey, as she inspires people to accept the differences in others while they embrace their own truths.
"[Jazzs] touching book serves as a rallying cry for understanding and acceptance." - Bustle
Jazz Jennings is one of the youngest and most prominent voices in the national discussion about gender identity. At the age of five, Jazz transitioned to life as a girl, with the support of her parents. A year later, her parents allowed her to share her incredible journey in her first Barbara Walters interview, aired at a time when the public was much less knowledgeable or accepting of the transgender community. This groundbreaking interview was followed over the years by other high-profile interviews, a documentary, the launch of her YouTube channel, a picture book, and her own reality TV series - I Am Jazz - making her one of the most recognizable activists for transgender teens, children, and adults.
In her remarkable memoir, Jazz reflects on these very public experiences and how they have helped shape the mainstream attitude toward the transgender community. But it hasnt all been easy. Jazz has faced many challenges, bullying, discrimination, and rejection, yet she perseveres as she educates others about her life as a transgender teen. Through it all, her family has been beside her on this journey, standing together against those who dont understand the true meaning of tolerance and unconditional love. Now Jazz must learn to navigate the physical, social, and emotional upheavals of adolescence - particularly high school - complicated by the unique challenges of being a transgender teen. Making the journey from girl to woman is never easy - especially when you began your life in a boys body.
PRAISE FOR JAZZ JENNINGS:
"Jazz is one of the transgender communitys most important activists." - Cosmopolitan
"A role model for teens everywhere." - Seventeen.com
"Wise beyond her years." - Teen Vogue
About the Author
16 year old Jazz Jennings, is an honorary co-founder of the Transkids Purple Rainbow Foundation, an author, a tv personality, Youtube Vlogger, a youth ambassador for the Human Rights Campaign and a passionate transgender advocate. Jazz speaks at universities, medical schools, conferences, conventions and symposiums all over the country.
When she was six, Jazz appeared on 20/20 with Barbara Walters, as one of the youngest transgender children to appear in the media. Since then, she's been featured on a variety of major programs and news outlets, including a 20/20 update with Barbara Walters when she was 11, Katie Couric twice, Oprah: Where are the Now? , Dr. Drew, Nightline, Dateline, MSNBC, 60 Minutes, Dr. Oz, Time Magazine, Teen Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Huffington Post, Elle Magazine, the Rosie Show, The Meredith Vieira show, The View, an Oprah Winfrey Network documentary, "I am Jazz: A family in Transition" and many others. Jazz and her family now have their own GLAAD Award winning docs-series, "I Am Jazz," on TLC. Jazz is the voice of Zadie the first animated transgender character in, Amazon's, "Danger & Eggs". Jazz's doll to be released in the summer of 2017.
Jazz is the youngest recipient of the Colin Higgins Youth Courage Award, the youngest person ever to be recognized in The Advocate Magazine's, "Top Forty Under 40" annual list, OUT Magazine's Top 100 list, the 2014 Trans100 list, and the youngest recipient of the 2014 Equality Florida's, "Voice for Equality" Award. Jazz was honored and recognized at the 2013 GLAAD Awards, where she got to meet former President Bill Clinton. Jazz is the recipient of LogoTV's 2014 youth Trailblazer Award. She was named as one of TIME Magazine's Most Influential Teens for 2014 and 2015. She is also listed on Huffington Post's 14 Most Fearless Teens of 2014. In 2016, Jazz was recognized on Teen Vogue's 21 under 21 list. In March of 2105 Jazz and her family were the recipients of the Ackerman Institute's Gender & Family Project Award, and in May of 2015, Jazz received the Harvey Milk and Pride Center's Diversity Honors Youth Award. In June of 2015, Jazz was invited to the White House where she met President Obama. In October of 2015 she was honored as Miss Teen Pride USA. Jazz is also the recipient of the 2015 TREVOR Youth Courage Award. In December of 2015, she was honored alongside Caitlyn Jenner at the, "Angels of Change" fundraiser through the LA Children's Hospital. In April of 2016, Jazz was a featured inspirational speaker at WE Day which also featured Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato and Charlize Theron. The event was attended by over 16,000 students from Los Angeles area schools who earned their ticket by volunteering and service. Jazz is the recipient of Equality California's 2017 Equality Visibility Award and HRC's Youth Upstander Award for 2017.
