"My Brother’s Name is Jessica", a controversial book for some but I definitely enjoyed it: it is very good-humoured i.e. plenty of comedy moments, plenty of interesting (English) historical details and an original perspective on our journey towards greater transgender acceptance.
Straight off the bat, the first things to know about this book is that it is a bit controversial:
John Boyne, the author of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, has hit back at those who criticised him for writing about a boy struggling to cope with the transitioning of his sibling. Boyne’s new novel for young readers, My Brother’s Name is Jessica, was attacked on social media and the novelist was criticised for writing about an issue with which he is unfamiliar. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/may/31/john-boyne-hits-back-at-critics-of-transgender-novel
and YES he is tackling one of the defining questions for our age: over my lifetime acceptance of Gays and Lesbians has got dramatically better: when I grew up (80s) being gay was still vilified in the mainstream media: that aids was a "gay plague" and senior politicians were happy to full the "moral panic" affirming that we deserved to die in hell. This is from 1987 Hansard records (official report of all Parliamentary debates):
"On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I heard the honourable Member for Lancaster (Kellett-Bowman) say that it was quite right that Capital Gay should have been fire—", at which point he was interrupted by a point of order. Kellett-Bowman responded, "I am quite prepared to affirm that it is quite right that there should be an intolerance of evil." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elaine_Kellett-Bowman#Capital_Gay_arson_attack
and is one of several low points for LGBTQIA+ acceptance in the homophobic backlash of the late 80s. I hope in 2021 this sort of shameful statement would be illegal under Hate speech laws?
However, the 1980s were very different times and Mrs. Thatcher's reaction was to show her support for Kellett-Bowman by making her a DBE (Dame Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire).
Still, while gay and lesbians in the UK are now much more wildly tolerated, the progress for the bisexual and transgender community seems a lot slower. Many people are deeply sceptical and hostile about transgender teenagers, this seems as controversial as being gay was in the 80s!?
For myself, the most charming character in this novel is the confused dyslexic Sam, the younger brother: less popular and less athletic, plus struggling with his own identity as well as his Jessica's new gender identity. His journey through confusion, denial, acceptance and finally embracing the amazing diversity of life, love and humanity... is the main arc of this novel. Generally, his parents are largely preoccupied with their careers "getting to the top of the greasy pole" i.e. Sam's mother has ambitions to become the PM (Prime Minister). I was drawn towards Sam, often wanting to give a hug and reassure him that everything will be okay, things will get better: either his family need to become more understanding or he needs to break out and meet some more liberal-minded people (like his loveable and empathic hippy Aunt Rose).
I can imagine that many people will see this novel as having "too many thinly drawn caricatures". I was recently hosting an Evelyn Waugh book club event (Decline and Fall - 1928) and this was also a complaint i.e. that Waugh's book has too many thinly drawn caricatures. This was a surprise to me as Evelyn Waugh, as I thought Waugh is now seen as one of the greatest writers of the 20th century? It is true his character is quickly drawn caricatures but for me, Waugh manages to "hits a nerve", he can be very funny and also shines a light on upper-middle English society in his time "warts and all". I think John Boyne's characters are also quickly drawn caricatures (this is a teen novel) but his brilliance is that he also captures the essence of these people and our time..
Sam's parents were believable and even reminded me of a former time (25 years ago) when I was teaching the daughter of an ambitious cabinet secretary who was regular in the news and possibly had her "eye on the top job"!
Also, some of the best moments in the books are when John Boyne plays with our expectation and characters break out from our stereotyped imagination: I particularly enjoyed the football coach and the school nurse, who both show humanity and remind us that there is "there's nowt so queer as folk".
I was at a recent DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) event and the closing comment resonated with me "remember to be kind and gentle", the underlying questions and choices in this YA (young adult) novel are tough for many and it is important to remember some people are more uncomfortable with change, myself included sometimes even if the rest of my family regard me as "extremely woke".
I think the author of "My Brother’s Name is Jessica" has written a novel with the intention of reconciliation and to help all sides move forward, an ambitious target for a book, but he carries off with some humour and some aplomb.
