I Am Chris

When I decided to read I Am Chris by R. Kent, I knew I would likely enjoy it. I’ve already read one other book by this author called The Mail Order Bride, and found I really liked their style of writing. Little did I realize exactly how much I would fall in love with this story, and especially the main character, Chris Taylor.

R. Kent’s first novel was set in the Old West, but I Am Chris is a more contemporary Western, since it is set in the year 1994 in a small town in Texas. It is a coming-of-age story for seventeen-year-old Chris.

At the beginning of the book, everything has pretty much fallen apart for Chrissy Taylor. Her father has died, her stepmother has lost everything they had on booze and drugs, and Chrissy is left to take care of herself and her young sister Luce in a small town they have moved to. Chrissy sees only one good thing in all this tragedy, a chance to be who he truly is…Chris Taylor, a young bull rider in the rodeo, and a young man able to help his sister and himself live a better life. Of course in a small, redneck town, that may not be so easy, especially when the not so upstanding sheriff and social services get involved.

The tale is told in First Person POV through the eyes of Chris. Normally I think of this POV as rather limiting since you only see the story through one person, but not with this book. The characters in this story are so real, raw, and human. Even the “good guys” are given flaws and quirks you wouldn’t normally expect of characters who are supposed to be on the “right side” of the tale. The worst of the bad guys are easy to identify since they are ugly in just about every way, which is kind of typical for Westerns. You don’t learn their true motivations until near the end of the book. The author did an amazing job with these folks; creating the perfect characters for this type of novel.

The action and danger in this story is nonstop, from the dangerous bull riding in the rodeo, the risk of Chris being outed, to the threat of the folks who are intent on hurting Chris and others in the tale. There is even a bit of romance in the book. No matter what, I had to keep reading. That’s how exciting I found this book.

This is a terrific story for young adults, especially those who might identify as transgender or know someone who does. It’s a wonderful novel for those of us who are young only in our hearts. It’s also perfect for those who just love exciting westerns. Ah, hell! Just read this novel! It’s great!

Reviewed by Betty Harmon

...This tale is set in current times and focuses on the battle Chris wages to both be true to themselves, and win money in bull riding at local rodeos. But the town is run and controlled by a corrupt, cruel bastard with a badge who has warped reasons for being who he is. In his mind, anyway. He is enabled and assisted by both the local social services worker and the person in charge of the boy's home. So Chris has to survive everything those adults throw at him, as well as make a name for himself in the competitive and bone-breaking sport of bull riding, and navigate new friendships and a growing attraction to one of those friends. Whew, that's a lot!

Chris is an honourable young man born into a body he doesn't feel reflects who he truly is, and yet manages to rise above his circumstances. He has a big heart that he, unfortunately, wears on his sleeve. He's a true survivor that lets love lead him, no matter the crappy world he's been dragged into. The secondary characters all breathe true as well. Every one of them have secrets and motivations that have affected their little town in ways we don't see until close to the end of the book.

The pacing of the story is great, and the world R. Kent has created, the characters that populate the small town and the hurdles that threaten to keep Chris from the life he wants...all of it kept me reading far past bedtime.

The book is well-peppered with true human strength, bravery from even the most unlikely characters, fear, uncertainty and the capacity to reach for dreams that shouldn't exist. The closing chapters will have you cheering for more than just Chris.

I Am Chris is one of my favourite books. It is the story of courage, redemption and hope, and there's a lot to love here.

Read it for the people you'll meet in the book's pages. Read it to be uplifted and shown what courage can achieve.

Just read it.

Reviewed by Carolyn McBride