The Back Channel

May 23, 2016
Coming out as transgender, especially as a child or teen, often means declaring oneself in two arenas. The first is the intimate world of one's family; next comes the broader world of school, teams, and other institutions. Fifteen-year-old Jazz Jennings, a transgender activist and reality-show star who transitioned at age five, knows firsthand how much the first world matters: it makes it possible to take on the second. Her memoir doesn't downplay the teasing, the pain of being forbidden to play on the girls' soccer team, or the difficulty of finding romance, but it always circles back to her family's support. Jennings's account of how they listened to her, educated themselves, let her choose her clothes and toys, formed a nonprofit to support trans kids, and let her become a public face of trans life is both touching and inspiring. The upbeat and sometimes humorous narrative moves swiftly through the details of Jennings's upbringing; for readers looking for a candid introduction to some of the issues facing trans children and teens, this book is an excellent start. Ages 12âup. Agent: Joseph Veltre, Gersh Agency.

From a diplomat and former secretary of state who was on the scene as the Cold War ended, and as the world changed again after the 9/11 attacks, comes an audiobook that effectively details the recent history of American foreign policy and the key role it played, and plays, in the world. Burns narrates the prologue, and his voice has the gravitas and expression you might expect from a great negotiator. Mark Bramhall takes over for the rest of the audiobook, and his expressive, accessible voice continues the tone set by the author. Bramhall doesn't have great range, and sometimes he swallows words, but he is able to alter his tone to capture the emotions inherent in significant negotiations. R.I.G. � AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine