Confessions of a Teenage Hermaphrodite

By: Lianne Simon

Narrated by: Lisa L. Wiley

Length: 7 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's 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?

©2012 Lianne Simon (P)2013 Lianne Simon

Powerful ...

Have you listened to any of Lisa L. Wiley’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I very much enjoyed Ms. Wiley's performance of this book. She has the range to give each character what they need both vocally and emotionally. The lead character of Jamie is so complex. I felt even more drawn into the book by Ms. Wiley's narration.

Any additional comments?

Confessions of a Teenage Hermaphrodite is a compelling look of the life of a 16 year old person who is born intersexed ~ born with both male and female organs. When we are a teenager we are growing up and finding out how to be our own person. In this book, not only is Jamie growing up but she has to figure out who she really is. Is she the boy her parents want her to be or is she the girl that she sees in the mirror and feels inside?

While this is listed as fiction, after researching the author Ms. Simon, I have come to find that this is also a very personal book to the author. Ms. Simon has lead much of the life that is described in the book. I applaud Ms. Simon for being able to share her life with us.

Many times when Christianity and/or Religion is in a book I fear that it will be pushed upon us. While Christianity is present in this book, I felt that it was subtle and genuine to the characters and the situations.

All in all, I was very moved and emotionally connected to Jamie. I would love to see a follow up book about her and where her life is heading next.

I would recommend this book.

Powerful story and great narration!

What made the experience of listening to Confessions of a Teenage Hermaphrodite the most enjoyable?

The story itself was very powerful. The book was recommended by a friend, and I wasn't totally sure what to expect. I was very glad I took her advice and read the book!

What does Lisa L. Wiley bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I appreciated Lisa Wiley's interpretation. She made me feel connected to the characters as though they were my friends and not just characters in a book, which really is one of the joys of reading! Her voice was engaging and easy to listen to. I will look for other books narrated by Lisa.

Good but stereotypical

This was a nice narrative. The overall story is nice, and may encourage readers to consider preconceptions of he gender. What was disturbing to this reader was the stereotypical femininity embraced by the protagonist, the assumption that a mom needs a husband to
a raise a child, and deference to parents. The context, set during Vietnam was helpful but left this reader wanting a more direct confrontation of the protagonist with her parent