Name: ​Elide Grande ​ Book Analysis

1. selecting a text.
Social Issue/ Topic: ​Gender identity

Title of Text: ​I am Jazz

Author: ​Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings
Year of Publication: ​2014
Select one: ​Children’s Literature Non- Fiction Other (explain):

2. Quantitative level of text:

● Website used to determine quantitative level of text:
https://www.lexile.com/analyzer/
● Quantitative level (Lexile Level and/ or Age Range):​ 600L-700L
● For what grade(s) us this level of text appropriate? : ​third grade

3. Qualitative Features:

Meaning/ Purpose Structure

Rubric Category:
1. Meaning: Slightly Complex
Reasoning/ Examples:
The book only talks about on topic, which is
Jazz’s journey to discovering she was born
transgender.
“I have a girl brain but a boy body. This is
called transgender. I was born this way!
(Herthel & Jennings 2014).
Rubric Category:
1. Organization: Slightly Complex
2. Use of Graphics: Moderately Complex
Reasoning/ Examples:
The organization of the story falls under
slightly complex because it has a clear and
chronological storyline.
Frist, Jazz likes to play with things that
society considers for girls. Then she
understands she was born transgender. Next,
she explains some of the struggles she faces
as a transgender person. Finally, she shares
how happy she is being Jazz.

The use of graphics falls under moderately

complex because some of the images support
the text, while others are not as clear without
the text.

This image supports the text:


Language
Rubric Category:
1. Conventionality: Moderately​ ​Complex
2. Vocabulary: Slightly Complex
3. Sentence structure: Moderately
complex
Reasoning/ Examples:
For conventionality, this book falls under
moderately complex because most parts are
the sort are easy to understand but some parts
of the story have a complex meaning, such as
when the teachers were confused.
Why were the confused? Was it because Jazz
was dressed like a girl, was transgender, or
because they did not know what transgender
was? Or are they confused on how to
approach Jazz now that she is embracing who
For this image readers need the text to
understand what is occurring:
Knowledge/ Demands
Rubric Category:
1. Life Experience: Moderately Complex
2. Intertextuality and cultural
3. Knowledge: Slightly Complex
Reasoning/ Examples:
For this book, life experience falls under
moderately complex because experiences
portrayed are common to many readers. For
instance, Jazz explains some of things she
likes and does, which students can relate too,
such as playing soccer or liking mermaids.
Under intertextuality and cultural knowledge,
 she actually is? this book is slightly complex because there
“Being Jazz caused some other people to be are no references or allusions to other text.
confused too, like the teachers at school.” The book is about Jazz telling her own story
(Herthel & Jennings 2014).
and not connecting it to any other story or
The vocabulary in the book falls under text.
slightly complex because it uses familiar and
conversational language.
“Even today, there are kids who tease me, or
ignore me altogether. This makes me feel
crummy” (Herthel & Jennings 2014).

The sentence structure of the book falls under

moderately complex because the sentences
are primarily simple with some complex
constructions.
“At the beginning of the year they wanted me
to use the boys’ bathroom, and play on the
boys’ team in gym class, but that didn’t feel
normal to me at ALL.” (Herthel & Jennings
2014).

4. Analysis of Grade Level Appropriateness:

- What would students find easy about the text?

Both the quantitative and qualitative data show that I am Jazz by Herthel & Jennings (2014) has
primarily simple sentences and uses familiar and conversational vocabulary allowing students,
reading at a third grade level and above, to read the book independently. Furthermore, the book
has images to support the reader’s understanding, which combined with the text helps make the
point of the story clear for students.

- What would students find challenging about this text?

A challenge a student might encounter, when reading the text of I am Jazz, is understanding the
definition of the word transgender because the story only provides a glimpse of what it means.
Another challenge a student might encounter is being able to connect with how Jazz felt because
they may not be going through anything similar or know anyone who is.