Jamie knows they are lucky to have two best friends. Daisy is bossy, but a brilliant organiser and Ash is quiet but extremely loyal. These three do everything together and have been best friends since being lined up next to each other as babies at a mother-baby group. Being at school together has strengthened their bond. It’s only at a special event about high schools that Jamie realises there is no place for them.

There is the Queen Elizabeth High School for Girls or St Joseph’s Academey for Boys. Jamie is non-binary. They are not a boy or a girl, so where are they expected to go? When Jamie raises this with their parents, they brush it off. Sure they seemed okay when Jamie came out to them, but now it’s as if they didn’t hear a word Jamie had told them.

Jamie is told they will have to tick either the F (Female) or M (Male) box on the forms for either school. There is no way they are going to do that. Jamie tells their parents they don’t want to lie, ignore the fact that there is no non-binary option for them, or “just pick one” to keep the peace.

The other problem that comes with boys or girls schools is that Jamie will have to choose one of their friends over the other. Ash is going to St Josephs. Daisy is looking forward to attending Queen Elizabeth’s. How is Jamie expected to choose?

Jamie has spent years keeping the peace, not rocking the boat or just picking one gender to suit everyone else. No more. With some advice from their brother who is gay, the support of their best friends and knowing there must be a line drawn in the sand – Jamie makes a stand with their friends standing beside them. It’s a bumpy journey, sometimes illegal, against their parent’s wishes and requiring a lot of courage. But the time standing up for themselves has come, and Jamie is ready.

Wow! This story made me angry, happy, sad and so proud of the 11 year old characters. Their courage, loyalty and determination to do what was right, no matter the trouble afterwards, is inspiring. Jamie is a wonderful way to learn more about gender equality, what LGBTQ+ really means, and also includes answers for questions the reader may have.

This is not only shared with Jamie’s individual journey through the story, but in boxed sections after each chapter called Jamie Rambeau’s Guide to Words. These include Cisgender / Cis, Transgender / Trans, Discrimination, Gender Dysphoria, Coming Out, Androgyny, Pride, Courage and more. These aren’t just info boxes dumped in the middle of the story. These are informal and remain in Jamie’s voice as they explain in their own words things they have experienced or want readers to know and understand.

The story also takes the reader through some of the negativity that can be experienced by those who identify as LGBTQ+.

eg – they’ll grow out of it, it’s a phase, it’s attention seeking, or selfish. Jamie faces all of these and more from parents, teachers, local government employees and others, but they stand up for themselves.

Themes of friendship, understanding, acceptance and empathy are strong threads within the novel, all weaving a story that will make you frown, gasp, cheer and laugh.

From the author of The Strangeworld’s Travel Agency, who is non-binary themselves, Jamie is a book for everyone.

Author – L D Lapinski

Age – 8+

(2023, Hachette, Hodder & Stoughton, Cisgender, Cis, Transgender, Trans, Discrimination, Gender Dysphoria, Coming Out, Protest, Pride, Courage, Gay, LGBTQ+, Queer, Lesbian, Bisexual, Schools, Family, Androgyny, Gender, Identity, Empathy, Understanding, Acceptance, Friendship, Growing up, Love)