i am j by cris beam


"Okay," the teacher said, smiling just a little. "You might be J in your other classes, but this is photography, we strive for accuracy, for telling the truth in pictures. That's why we're not doing digital work here - so nothing can be altered. So in this class, I think it's important for you to be as honest as the subjects you're photographing. You'll be exactly who you are- no deception, no fooling. In my class, you'll be Jenifer. Roberto will be Roberto, Frances will be Frances. No changes, no alterations, no lies. It's an important part of the learning process. Understood?"
J is a seventeen-year old boy trapped in a girl's body. His best friend, Melissa, has her own set of issues (cutting), and his parents only see him as their daughter. When the myriad motions he goes through every day to hide his unmatched pieces become unbearable, he leaves home in search of a solution. A poignant, captivating, and real portrait of a teen seeking self-acceptance, I Am J is a must read. Grade 8+

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