Review #89: Confessions of a Teenage Hermaphrodite- Lianne Simon

Summary: From the heart of an intersex teen, one who must ultimately choose male or female—family or true love—comes the story of a deeply emotional and perilous journey home. This is a young adult novel unlike any other—an authentic portrayal of the issues faced by a child growing up with a sexually ambiguous body.

Jameson can be like other boys after minor surgery and a few years on testosterone Well, at least that’s what his parents always say. But Jamie sees an elfin princess in the mirror, and male hormones would only ruin her pretty face. For him to become the man his parents expect, Jameson must leave behind the hopes and dreams of a little girl. But what is so wrong with Jamie’s dreams that they can’t be her life?

Title: Confessions of a Teenage Hermaphrodite

Author: Lianne Simon

Pages: 234

Rating: 4/5 Stars
Review: I received this book free from the author in a Read 4 Review in exchange for an honest review. This book peaked my interest from the very beginning. I am in the healthcare profession and honestly I have always been curious about conditions such as hermaphrodites. Then out jumped this book and I knew that I had to read it. This novel is a sweet coming of age story that really hit a nerve with me. I hated that Jamie's parents didn't accept her and wanted her to be something that she wasn't just to please them. I'm glad that there were people present in Jamie's life that cared enough to give her that support that she needed during this trying time. I found this book to be very well written and I liked how the author bounced around between Jamie's two personalities. This book was both sad and exciting to read. There were so many emotions expressed by each and every character. 

I really loved reading about Jamie's story. It was such a emotional roller coaster for both Jaime and the reader. She is such a brave and strong character because of all of the ordeals she went through. Despite not having 100% support from her parents , Jaime still did what made her happy. I feel bad that Jamie's mother would not stick up for her even though she knew that Jaime should have been raised a girl, all because of her jerk husband. 

Overall, this was a great read. Hopefully it gets more awareness out there for these types of conditions. I'm sure there are lots of people who have had to deal with similar issues. I would recommend this book to those readers who may be curious about gender issues and also to those looking for a great realistic read.

About this author

Lianne Simon’s father was a dairy farmer and an engineer, her mother a nurse. She grew up in a home filled with love and good books.

Tiny and frail, Lianne struggled physically, but excelled at her studies. In 1970, she was awarded a scholarship to the University of Miami, from which she graduated in 1973. Fond memories of her time there remain with her.

Some years later, after living in several states, and spending time abroad, Lianne settled in to the suburbs north of Atlanta, where she now lives with her husband and their cat.

While seeking answers to her own genetic anomalies, Lianne met a family whose daughter was born with one testis and one ovary. As a result of that encounter, she spent more than a decade answering inquiries on behalf of a support group for the parents of such children.

Lianne hopes that writing this book will, in some small way, contribute to the welfare of children born between the sexes.