Being Jazz Author Jazz Jennings Shares Her Top 10 Favorite Page to Screen Reads

In Being Jazz: My Life as a (Transgender) Teen, Jazz Jennings, one of the world’s most visible transgender activists, shares her story of transitioning at the age of five and the inspiring, complicated path she has followed since, illuminating both her struggles for acceptance and her family’s unerring support. Jennings’ moving story will help teens and families embarking on similar journeys, and will foster compassion in readers looking for personal insights on a trending topic.
Jennings isn’t just a badass writer and activist, she’s also a passionate reader (and a bit of a movie geek). In honor of her book’s release, she shared 10 of her favorite books-turned-movies. 

Cloud Atlas is a fascinating book by David Mitchell that explores the interconnections between multiple lives. It’s filled with great morals, similar to those I hold dear to my heart. I love the way the stories are intertwined. What’s also cool about the movie adaptation is the fact that the creators are brothers who both transitioned to women. Lilly and Lana Wachowski are rock stars!

Harry Potter has lovable characters and occurs in a fantasy realm that is unique and mystical. I dream of visiting the world Harry lives in. I love going on journeys with the characters—and let’s face it, who wouldn’t want to be a wizard?

When I was little, my parents told me they were watching Forrest Gump while my older sister was being born, so of course I had to immediately watch a film that was good enough to take the edge off of Mom’s labor pains. I wasn’t disappointed, and Forrest Gump is one of my favorite movies of all time. It’s filled with messages about love and loyalty and transforms an underdog into a popular hero. I can easily relate to Forrest: we’re both unique, unpredictable, and different in good ways, and don’t blend in with society.

Horton Hears a Who! is my favorite Dr. Seuss book, so of course the movie adaptation is one of my favorites. When the small Who’s tiny voice is finally heard by everyone, I drew an analogy to my life. Many trans youth live in fear and often hide their voices. However, with a community like the Whos all working together to convey their message, one tiny voice can speak volumes.

I’m a big Steven Spielberg fan. I must have watched E.T. a dozen times, and I love so many of his films, but Schindler’s List is my favorite. Based on the book by Thomas Keneally, this movie is life-changing. Nothing can erase the horrors of the Holocaust, and the topic makes me very emotional and grateful for the times we live in. Many of my ancestors lost their lives at the hands of the Nazis. However, Schindler showed that simple acts of kindness can turn an enemy into a hero. There’s still so much hate and bigotry in the world, but hearts and minds can be changed through compassion and understanding.

While on the topic of Steven Spielberg, I have to applaud another one of his films for shedding light on a character who has to continually fight for equality. The novel The Color Purple, by Alice Walker, was adapted into a magnificent film starring Whoopi Goldberg as Celie. There’s so much racism, sexism, and injustice throughout the movie, but Celie perseveres. I’m no stranger to bigotry, and naturally the underlying theme resonates with me.

I love animals, and The Jungle Book is filled with them. Rudyard Kipling’s classic book is so captivating it has been adapted for the screen several times. The most recent film was my favorite. The man-cub Mowgli is so endearing. I love the fun friendship between Mowgli and Baloo, and I feel so connected to them as I join them on their adventures through the magic of the screen.

I’ve never been in love, and to be honest, romance is nonexistent in my life. But when I do find “the one,” I want our love story to be as deep and passionate as the love that unfolds in The Notebook, based on the book by Nicholas Sparks. I was mesmerized and enchanted by the love story of Allie and Noah, and cried buckets when I learned about Allie’s Alzheimer’s. It opened my eyes to the severity of this disease, and I feel empathy for those whose lives are affected by it.

There is a bow and arrow sitting in my garage…I think you know where I’m going with this. I read the Hunger Games trilogy faster than I had ever read any books in my life, and I ran to the theater when the first film was released. Katniss is in a league of her own! When I was 12, I was fortunate enough to meet Jennifer Lawrence and let her know that because of her I was the proud owner of a bow and arrow. She made it very clear that she was nothing like Katniss in real life, and we both giggled. Regardless, The Hunger Games is a sci-fi masterpiece I could watch a million times and never get bored of.

The Wizard of Oz is such a classic. My mom said that as a child it was her favorite movie, and she used to anxiously yet patiently wait for it to magically appear on her remoteless TV, because back then they only aired it once a year. From the moment I first watched it, it became one of my favorites, too. I fell in love with Dorothy and her new friends and begged for a dog like Toto—but unlike Dorothy I’ve always known there’s no place like home.
Being Jazz is on sale now.