in Joss and Colman's relationship due to the fact that Colman was not as successful as his father. Their relationship is noticeably difficult starting from Colman's adolescence, the time when typical secondary physical characteristics emerge and, in males, the body becomes physically "masculine". This tension increased upon Joss's death and Colman's discovery that his father was a trans man. At a certain point in the book, coinciding with Colman's narration of a conspicuous part of his adolescence, Joss was said to develop a sort of envy for Colman's body, potentially seeing attributes in him that he does not himself possess. However, the narrative is this part is from Colman's point of view. The novel ends with Colman reading a letter Joss left for him, which talks about his own father. Race and gender The novel also explores issues around race and gender. Both Joss and Colman provide insights into the experiences of Black people in Britain and Scotland and the prejudices they experience. For instance, Millie's mother initially objects to their marriage on account of Joss's race. Joss not only had to learn how to navigate the world as a biracial Black person, but also as a transgender man. He had to learn how to pass as a man, and went to great lengths to ensure that no one found out he was trans besides Millie. The novel also explores the fluidity of gender perception, as characters frequently describe Joss's face transforming, becoming more feminine upon learning his identity as transgender, despite their previously perceiving him wholly as male. Public vs. Private The novel explores issues of fame and the invasion of privacy through the media, resulting in private life turning "horribly public". This clash is illustrated through the paparazzi and media who exploit Millie's grief, forcing her to flee from her home. Colman's interviews with Sophie turn private memories public, and the novel's chapters are titled in the style of media headings and newspaper sections, mirroring the invasion of Joss's privacy and identity for public gaze. Reception In an interview, Kay spoke about her desire to make her story read like music, specifically echoing the structure of jazz music. Critics have acclaimed her for accomplishing this in a powerful and intricate narrative without melodrama. In an article for the Boston Phoenix, David Valdes Greenwood wrote that "in the hands of a less graceful writer, Jackie Kay's Trumpet would have