“I Write the System” is a glance into our faulty system through the eyes of a transgender/non-binary, and bipolar artist with Complex PTSD. It examines the trauma of erasure from being born intersex in a binary gender society. There are themes of self esteem, friendship, school, sexuality, spirituality, mental illness, addiction, and more. Dark humor and inspirational stories help balance the trauma. This book is for the people who always feel like they’re on the outside looking in.
“A well written book that takes you on an incredible journey.” – K.H
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“I just finished reading this powerful life story, written by artist and activist Jymi Cliche. His writing is brave, honest, and riveting. This book will resonate with anyone who has experienced a wide range of life traumas and struggled to persevere and recover themselves. ” – First Review
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“This is a brave, honest story about on-going struggles, strength, confusion, and persistence in the quest for self-identity, coping skills, and mental stability. It made me think and care in many directions at once.
You can dip into any page and be drawn into a memory that could be a movie all on its own. Jymi is an artist and storyteller who is brave enough to testify on behalf of all who struggle to find their identity, sanity and safety, and to be accepted for who they are… in all their myriad personality parts!
Touching and inspiring!” – Suli Nee
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“After I read this, I had to stop and breathe.
It’s an amazing autobiographical account of a journey through life as a person who gathered courage throughout trauma to become the person they always knew they are.
In this age of acceptance, but also disdain at using pronouns to describe a person as they wish to be described, the animosity and violence that accompanies those who identify as other than what society deems them to be, this book is a window for society to get a peek of the pain, but also the courage and beauty of finding one’s true self.
This is a must read for others who feel similar, and for any one else who would wishes to know what being human is all about. 5 stars!” – Emily M
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“I highly HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who just likes books, collects them, or has a mental illness, has a friend or loved one with one or more and/or PTSD to help understand what hell all those are like to live with. Everyone needs to know what people with learning disabilities are put through in unsupportive schools. What it’s like to be raised by family that just never saw or seemed to love the real you, but who they wanted you to be. No one talks about emotional/psychological abuse nearly enough but luckily Jymi is out here putting it all out there from his story to try to help anyone who may have went through a similar, very hard life or still is. Hopefully “I write the system” is seen by enough to make some changes in society for people of all shapes, ages, LGBTQ people as well to way more easily live as their true selves.
I’m also glad he added this thing at the beginning that it’s OK to take breaks if you need to, since its…well, there’s very harrowing and angering moments that he went through that no one should.” – Unknown
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“This book has had me laughing and crying. I was taken back to the 80s and 90s of my own childhood through Jymi’s stories. As someone who has questioned their own sexuality and gender, I found it healing to learn that I really wasn’t alone in the universe. I recommend it for anyone, and especially for someone who doesn’t know what it’s like to question their personhood. I haven’t struggled with addiction of alcohol or drugs, but hearing this firsthand account gives me a more compassionate perspective.” – Coriander R.
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“Very interesting life story. Some parts kind of make you want to cry or hug the writer. Totally worth the read. A great story about overcoming struggles.” – AN
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“Jymi’s writing keeps on improving with every book he writes. His work is both insightful and immediate and his stories are boldly personal. He exposes weaknesses in the mental health system and in society in general. I highly recommend checking this book out!” – Prospero E
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“Jymi is an amazing writer.
I Write The System is an eye into his life and the struggles and triumphs he has had over the years.
It touches on so many topics including the mental health system, and its massive failures, and being intersex in a world that expects everyone is just binary, doctors included.
I Write The System is a book everyone needs to read at least once.” – Tobey
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“This book is the detailed memoir of Jymi Cliche’s childhood being raised female in a middle class, predominantly white town in suburban Massachusetts. Jymi was born intersex, but his parents operated on him at birth to conform to the gender they chose for him (female). He did not learn about his intersex condition until 2001, at the age of 23. He is now a successful artist, rapper, and openly-queer, non-binary, trans man.
Jymi went through a horrifying amount of trauma in his young life from constant bullying, parents that didn’t understand, substance abuse, and physical and sexual abuse. Jymi “writes the system to fight the system so he may right the system.” I imagine he holds some personal grudges, but this does not come across in the book. The book is written so that folks within and outside of “the system” can hear what he went through and try to change it. Although the subject matter is dark and difficult to read, the overall tone is positive and meant to inspire people and connect with them.
I think most people can connect with a portion of Jymi’s story. I am so thankful for Jymi and authors like him that are willing to be so open and honest about their stories and their struggles. It makes people like me feel less alone.
I read Jymi’s first book, The Godchild Pt. 1 in 2020. That book was similar but focused more specifically on a string of strange events that have happened during his time through “the system.” I found this book to be much easier to follow. But I look forward to reading the Godchild series again, as Jymi is planning on re-releasing it after some edits.” – Emily C
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“An important story the world needs to hear.” – Gretchen
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You can help me out by sharing this page and reading and reviewing my book “I Write the System” on Amazon and Goodreads. The reviews help a lot.
My new children’s book, “Be the Best You” is out now too; about a non-binary, Bipolar child who loves music and poetry. It was written and illustrated by me, but under the name Jymi Lynn.