
Jamie Rambeau has a secret. People at school start to find out and nothing will ever be the same again.
The end of term looms ahead and Jamie still hasn’t picked which of the two local senior schools they’ll go to. Neither are for them. One’s for boys, the other’s for girls. But what if you’re non-binary? Where do you go then? Jamie’s best friends – Ash and Daisy – have already chosen their schools but it’s not so easy when you don’t feel there’s a welcome place for you. Jamie’s sacred, life-affirming friendship group will be splitting up soon and they’re not looking forward to that one bit!
Frustrated with the lack of options for non-binary pupils, and after a disastrous meeting with both schools headteachers to discuss their needs, Jamie takes matters into their own hands! If Jamie’s school and their parents won’t listen then there’s only one place they can go to be heard…
Jamie, Ash and Daisy have a plan! They descend on the The Council House and ask for the non-binary flag of yellow, white, purple and black stripes, to be flown on the top of the building. With a speech prepared and determination for change urging them on, their visit doesn’t quite go as expected and the trio find themselves front page news before the day is out!
The incredible author, L.D. Lapinski along with brilliant illustrator, Harry Woodgate have created a superb novel about being non-binary in a world that sometimes doesn’t understand or accept the way some people want to live their life. Each chapter end in this book has a fantastic snippet from ‘Jamie Rambeaus Guide To Words’ with facts, a glossary and information about Pride, gender and so much more.
Raising awareness is key and books like ‘Jamie’ belong on every shelf so that there is a celebration of difference rather than a reluctance to listen, learn and include.