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All She Wanted
Explores the controversial life and violent death of Teena Brandon, who posed as a man and had romantic relationships with several young women before she was exposed and murderd
336 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 1, 1996
305 people are currently reading
1688 people want to read
About the author
Aphrodite Jones
13 books396 followersAphrodite Jones is an award-winning American reporter and author who writes about murder. Her knack for detail allows her to dissect bizarre murder cases and bring readers into the heart of darkness. Now, the author has taken her career to TV as the executive producer and TV host of the ID series, True Crime with Aphrodite Jones, which airs on Investigation Discovery.
Jones is now filming her sixth season, uncovering secrets about riveting cases across America. The series follows Jones, who's written a string of best-selling true crime books, as she unravels new mysteries lurking behind cases that shocked America: O.J. Simpson, Scott Peterson, Jon Benet Ramsey, Phil Spector, and the list goes on.
Jones is now filming her sixth season, uncovering secrets about riveting cases across America. The series follows Jones, who's written a string of best-selling true crime books, as she unravels new mysteries lurking behind cases that shocked America: O.J. Simpson, Scott Peterson, Jon Benet Ramsey, Phil Spector, and the list goes on.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
March 18, 2020
"In that sense, this book is a tribute to Brandon who just wanted to love and BE loved, as well all do".
All She Wanted by Aphrodite Jones
Warning: this is a very emotionally upsetting book.
So I knew very little of the story when I first read this. That was a number of years ago. The book has stayed with me and I'd like to do a reread.
I was a bit shaken reading this. I, like I am sure, just about anyone who read this, felt deeply for Brandon. It was a tough book to read. That is the problem with some true crime. There is just so much cruelty involved in reading them.
But this was extremely well written, heartbreakingly sad and just such a bleak read. It is hard to say I "enjoyed" reading this but anyone interested in the story may want to check it out. I have yet to see "Boys don't cry". I know some people who have who describe it as a wonderful film but I honestly do not know if I could sit through it.
Anyway..most true crime books I like I give a 3 to. I thin k this is more like 3.5 stars but is just so sad. Maybe best read in small doses but a touching and soul stirring story.
All She Wanted by Aphrodite Jones
Warning: this is a very emotionally upsetting book.
So I knew very little of the story when I first read this. That was a number of years ago. The book has stayed with me and I'd like to do a reread.
I was a bit shaken reading this. I, like I am sure, just about anyone who read this, felt deeply for Brandon. It was a tough book to read. That is the problem with some true crime. There is just so much cruelty involved in reading them.
But this was extremely well written, heartbreakingly sad and just such a bleak read. It is hard to say I "enjoyed" reading this but anyone interested in the story may want to check it out. I have yet to see "Boys don't cry". I know some people who have who describe it as a wonderful film but I honestly do not know if I could sit through it.
Anyway..most true crime books I like I give a 3 to. I thin k this is more like 3.5 stars but is just so sad. Maybe best read in small doses but a touching and soul stirring story.
February 14, 2015
Misgendering in the fucking blurb. Good thing he's dead and can't defend himself, huh?
June 30, 2024
This work is a nonfiction book about the life, rape and murder of the transgender man Brandon Teena in 1993.
The problem is that the book was published in 1996, almost thirty years ago, when the way of looking at things was very different from today. At that time, transgender people were usually still defined in society by their assigned sex. That’s why Brandon Teena was clearly a trans man from today’s point of view, but wasn’t perceived as a man any more back then as soon as people around him found out that he had breasts and a vulva. The crucial factor seemed to be that he didn’t have a penis, so that also his girlfriends felt betrayed when they finally realized that he was biologically female and even started to wonder whether they might be lesbians because they wanted to be with him.
So it’s no wonder that Aphrodite Jones was obviously confused as well: In the book, Brandon is called “Brandon” (or “Billy,” as he called himself for a while) and “he” as often as he’s called “Teena” and “she,” which is as confusing as annoying.
Unfortunately, these are not the only things that cause confusion.
In addition, the author often mentions names and circumstances without really revealing them to the reader, which means that you have to gather everything from the few facts available.
What’s more, facts are always mixed with opinions (the author’s own beliefs as well as the views of others) in an unrecognizable and incomprehensible way, which made me rack my brains constantly as to who’s talking here in each case.
It’s an interesting text about a fascinating, albeit luckless young man with many touching, distressing and devastating details, but despite all these aspects, I think that the journalistic work here still leaves a lot to be desired, although the author is a professional reporter. What a shame!
3 stars.
The problem is that the book was published in 1996, almost thirty years ago, when the way of looking at things was very different from today. At that time, transgender people were usually still defined in society by their assigned sex. That’s why Brandon Teena was clearly a trans man from today’s point of view, but wasn’t perceived as a man any more back then as soon as people around him found out that he had breasts and a vulva. The crucial factor seemed to be that he didn’t have a penis, so that also his girlfriends felt betrayed when they finally realized that he was biologically female and even started to wonder whether they might be lesbians because they wanted to be with him.
So it’s no wonder that Aphrodite Jones was obviously confused as well: In the book, Brandon is called “Brandon” (or “Billy,” as he called himself for a while) and “he” as often as he’s called “Teena” and “she,” which is as confusing as annoying.
Unfortunately, these are not the only things that cause confusion.
In addition, the author often mentions names and circumstances without really revealing them to the reader, which means that you have to gather everything from the few facts available.
What’s more, facts are always mixed with opinions (the author’s own beliefs as well as the views of others) in an unrecognizable and incomprehensible way, which made me rack my brains constantly as to who’s talking here in each case.
It’s an interesting text about a fascinating, albeit luckless young man with many touching, distressing and devastating details, but despite all these aspects, I think that the journalistic work here still leaves a lot to be desired, although the author is a professional reporter. What a shame!
3 stars.
March 2, 2017
Terrible people including without a doubt the victim. Lying, stealing, even stealing from friends, manipulating but she was not the only one. Wow and so many of them living together in small towns. Arguing, drinking,fighting, having sex then making many babies who they hardly are able to raise.
Also the author was so very biased. I do not believe that creep who blamed it all on the other guy.
What I think happened was that John Lotter was the only one who did not accept what this author offered. Apparently she came into town telling people only to talk to her and making them sign it. ot sure if any money was involved. This is why she is trying to make Nissen human but she is not succeeding.
He blamed Lotter for killing all 3 but later he admitted that he was the one killing all 3 and I believe that is more truthful.
Why? because Nissen was scum and because Brandon when talking about the rape said Nissen was the one who began, who hit her who began raping her.
So it is hardly fair that Nissen will keep his life but Lotter is (still on death row). I think nissen should be on death row.
Another thing I noticed was this author was constantly referring to Brandon as he, but not so when she was raped. Then she was all of a sudden a woman.
Brandon did not deserve to be murdered but the other 2 were much bigger victims. They were killed because they were there at the time.
Also the author was so very biased. I do not believe that creep who blamed it all on the other guy.
What I think happened was that John Lotter was the only one who did not accept what this author offered. Apparently she came into town telling people only to talk to her and making them sign it. ot sure if any money was involved. This is why she is trying to make Nissen human but she is not succeeding.
He blamed Lotter for killing all 3 but later he admitted that he was the one killing all 3 and I believe that is more truthful.
Why? because Nissen was scum and because Brandon when talking about the rape said Nissen was the one who began, who hit her who began raping her.
So it is hardly fair that Nissen will keep his life but Lotter is (still on death row). I think nissen should be on death row.
Another thing I noticed was this author was constantly referring to Brandon as he, but not so when she was raped. Then she was all of a sudden a woman.
Brandon did not deserve to be murdered but the other 2 were much bigger victims. They were killed because they were there at the time.
May 10, 2018
Hire a proofreader!!!
Throughout this book, you couldn't go more than two pages without screwed up punctuation, misspellings, people being called by the wrong names. These things make the book extremely hard to follow and very disappointing.
Throughout this book, you couldn't go more than two pages without screwed up punctuation, misspellings, people being called by the wrong names. These things make the book extremely hard to follow and very disappointing.
February 8, 2010
After seeing the lifetime movie, Boys Don't Cry I needed to know more. After scouring the IMDB message boards, still did not satisfy my curiousity I stumbled across this book and read it cover to cover and then watched the documentary. I am still wondering what 'Lana's' part was in all this though..
November 18, 2020
I am shocked at the level of blatant transphobia displayed throughout the book. No matter how many times I remind myself that this was written and published in the 1990s, I can't bring myself to find any of it justifiable. After Brandon comes out to his family, for example, and asks to be called by his preferred name they act as though he is committing some type of crime. They say it is an exhausting ordeal, comparable to being a on trash TV talk show.
"Later when it came to actvists' attention that JoAnn Brandon had set up a trust fund for the purpose of getting her child's headstone, some were willing to help out, but not if the stone read Teena Brandon. Really, all that mattered was that the activists had their martyr. For them, Brandon Teena was a latter-day Joan of Arc."
The above is a direct quote from the book after Brandon's death. Jones goes out of her way to vilify the LGB community and transgender community, who wanted to be there to honor Brandon's memory. He asks numerous times throughout the book to be referred to as Brandon -- it was obviously his preferred name. As much as cishet people might seem to think that it is, it is NOT a crime to want to be buried under your preferred name.
As a trans man and rape survivor myself, I feel that I relate to Brandon on some innate level. This is intensified by the fact that I grew up HEARING about Brandon Teena and seeing clips of Boys Don't Cry that helped me realize who I am. I remember being told by family members that stories like Brandon's are the reason, transgender people should not transition -- it was too dangerous. The level of discomfort we feel in our own bodies did not matter. If you defied society's gender conformities, then you would be punished for it.
Brandon certainly was.
"Later when it came to actvists' attention that JoAnn Brandon had set up a trust fund for the purpose of getting her child's headstone, some were willing to help out, but not if the stone read Teena Brandon. Really, all that mattered was that the activists had their martyr. For them, Brandon Teena was a latter-day Joan of Arc."
The above is a direct quote from the book after Brandon's death. Jones goes out of her way to vilify the LGB community and transgender community, who wanted to be there to honor Brandon's memory. He asks numerous times throughout the book to be referred to as Brandon -- it was obviously his preferred name. As much as cishet people might seem to think that it is, it is NOT a crime to want to be buried under your preferred name.
As a trans man and rape survivor myself, I feel that I relate to Brandon on some innate level. This is intensified by the fact that I grew up HEARING about Brandon Teena and seeing clips of Boys Don't Cry that helped me realize who I am. I remember being told by family members that stories like Brandon's are the reason, transgender people should not transition -- it was too dangerous. The level of discomfort we feel in our own bodies did not matter. If you defied society's gender conformities, then you would be punished for it.
Brandon certainly was.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 8, 2008
This is the "Brandon Teena" story, which the agonizing movie Boys Dont' Cry was based on. I first learned about Teena Brandon when the documentary about him was aired on like Discovery Channel or something like that. I was still in my first year of recovery and just beginning to really think about the consequences of my own sexuality, and I cried and cried to my boyfriend at the time after watching it because of the realization of how deadly it could be for both of us if he was a woman...
September 1, 2016
Needs a proofreader
This is a typical true crime book, written in a just-the-facts-ma'am style. But I have never ever read a book with more typos. The word "had" is written throughout the book as "bad." I have no idea how this happened, but this book should never have been released in this condition. I struggled to read it, almost quit several times, and ended feeling as though I wasted my time. The story itself is interesting but it is wasted in this publication.
This is a typical true crime book, written in a just-the-facts-ma'am style. But I have never ever read a book with more typos. The word "had" is written throughout the book as "bad." I have no idea how this happened, but this book should never have been released in this condition. I struggled to read it, almost quit several times, and ended feeling as though I wasted my time. The story itself is interesting but it is wasted in this publication.
January 11, 2009
This was just ok. I did get swept up in the descriptions of Brandon's personal life, but dear God, he had a LOT of girlfriends, one right after the other, or often overlapping, and by halfway through the book, I had completely lost track of who was who. I needed a chart! (This is a true crime book about the murder of Brandon Teena--Hillary Swank played him in a movie about it a while back.) The description of the trial was alright, but what possesses these true crime authors to include even the details that have nothing to do with the trial or the crimes? I found myself skimming quite a bit in the second half of the book. Anyone want my copy?
October 19, 2015
I read this years ago because I was interested in Brandon's story after seeing the documentary. The book misgenders him through the entire narrative and it drove me batshit. I went back to look at the preview of the book on Amazon to see if it was as bad as I remember and it was actually worse, hence 1 star.
November 13, 2017
Very slow & confusing. Jumped around a lot & this made it hard to keep the people involved straight. Lots of grammatical & spelling errors also distracted from the story. Very sad story & possibly a preventable murder if only the officers had looked beyond the person & taken her claim seriously.
July 24, 2023
This story examines the true horrendous murder of Brandon Teena, whose story was turned into the Academy Award winning film 'Boys Don't Cry'. Unfortunately this book suffered from mid-90s-true-crime-itis where it desperately needs a good editor and a different narrative flow to captivate me.
June 9, 2010
Very well written. She makes a point of telling the story from everyone's point of view. It's sad when people are treated badly simply because they're different.
November 21, 2015
I found the story itself very sad. The story is unforgettable, the writing - meh. An okay read. This is the only book by this author that I have read because I don't really find her writing style engaging - at least not consistently. You get to know the people more through a regurgitation of occurrences and facts rather than through story telling. I like character development in my true crime, and I want the story to develop more in the style of a mystery. The author does do this. If you do not know the story, you will not know the story until the end of the book. If you like this author's writing style, then I definitely recommend that you read this. If not, the movie Boys Don't Cry is the Academy Award winning docudrama about this case and I think it is excellent.
March 28, 2011
The shocking and sad true story of “Brandon Teena,” who was immortalized in the film “Boy Don’t Cry,” is told in this true crime offering.
Like many entries in this genre, the writing is lacking. The author’s choice of words is often overly casual and amateurish, and there are multiple distracting typos.
Readers will, however, get an eye-opening look at the young woman who posed as a man and paid the ultimate price. Brandon was no angel, certainly—he ran through an incredible number of girlfriends and did time for theft and forgery. However, all will agree he didn’t deserve the cruel fate doled out to him by two men consumed by hate.
Like many entries in this genre, the writing is lacking. The author’s choice of words is often overly casual and amateurish, and there are multiple distracting typos.
Readers will, however, get an eye-opening look at the young woman who posed as a man and paid the ultimate price. Brandon was no angel, certainly—he ran through an incredible number of girlfriends and did time for theft and forgery. However, all will agree he didn’t deserve the cruel fate doled out to him by two men consumed by hate.
August 4, 2008
This was such a sad story- to know it really happened makes it all the more so. The writing is so-so from what I remember, I read this years ago, but the story has stayed with me. I even remember her name, Teena and I remember thinking about just how confused this person was and how awful times must have been for her to not only be that confused but to have to lie and hide everything for fear of retribution. What happened to her is a shame because it shows just how far people still need to come in terms of dealing with something they themselves know nothing about.
December 19, 2023
I was hoping this book would do justice at telling Brandon's story. The original title was "All she wanted," and later got changed to "All he wanted." Throughout the whole book Brandon is misgendered always refered to as "she" I dont know if that was intentional because of Brandons mother always calling Brandon "she"or Teena or because of the original title and the editing just never took place in the new title edition. Never the less this story and this case is always a heartbreaking one for me, and unfortunately, this book just didn't do Brandon's story and justice.
November 24, 2009
i read this years ago and before the movie came out. i didnt even know they were making it into a movie. then we went to see the movie and i had NO idea this was the book i had read. it all seemed so familiar until finally i was sitting there i said "omg, this is that book i read!" that was odd. i am glad i read it first, both were good. too long ago to remember too much detail other than my movie surprise though, right now.
September 14, 2010
Gripping, and I have to say it was well written quite objectively too. It's shown that Teena Brandon was no saint but nobody deserved to be treated that way. It's amazing how so many ladies were besotted with Brandon, and he touched many people's lives during his short life.
October 26, 2011
After seeing the film "Boys Don't Cry " I was intrested to fond out who Brandon Teena really was , the film is slightly different to the book but reading this i felt so sorry for Brandon , it was wrote with the help of ex girlfriends her Mother Sister and the police . .
June 21, 2017
This short article gives more information than the 300+ pages of the book does.
https://www.theatlantic.com/national/...
https://www.theatlantic.com/national/...
December 29, 2015
This Kindle edition was full of typos. All the 'h' were written as 'b' and Li as 'u'. Full stops in the middle of sentences. Atrocious. The writing itself was appalling as well,
June 13, 2017
So sad
Thank you for this book. What Brandon went through in life both as Teena and as the man he really was defies belief. All he wanted was to find peace with who he was and someone to accept the man he knew he was. This world is such a terrible hateful place at times and I know where ever he is now he has the acceptance he so craved for in life. As a race we need to stop and listen before acting in such a hateful way. As a woman who has been through the ordeal of rape herself and felt the indignities of unsympathetic cops I can only imagine how it must have been even worse for Brandon the ultimate insult to her very masculinity . He lived with the constant fear of being discovered of loosing those he loved when ultimately the truth came out and he was once again ridiculed abused and treated like a lesbian. Brandon was not a lesbian to all intent and purpose weather he had the anatomy of not he was a man and by all accounts the kind all girls dream of. How I long for a world when we are free to be who we are without persecution and hate. R.I.P Brandon I hope in death you found the peace you couldn't in life...
Thank you for this book. What Brandon went through in life both as Teena and as the man he really was defies belief. All he wanted was to find peace with who he was and someone to accept the man he knew he was. This world is such a terrible hateful place at times and I know where ever he is now he has the acceptance he so craved for in life. As a race we need to stop and listen before acting in such a hateful way. As a woman who has been through the ordeal of rape herself and felt the indignities of unsympathetic cops I can only imagine how it must have been even worse for Brandon the ultimate insult to her very masculinity . He lived with the constant fear of being discovered of loosing those he loved when ultimately the truth came out and he was once again ridiculed abused and treated like a lesbian. Brandon was not a lesbian to all intent and purpose weather he had the anatomy of not he was a man and by all accounts the kind all girls dream of. How I long for a world when we are free to be who we are without persecution and hate. R.I.P Brandon I hope in death you found the peace you couldn't in life...
March 22, 2021
Living as a man, 21-year-old Teena Brandon Hit the dust bowl town of Fall City, Nebraska, on the run from her family in Lincoln - and from the law for forging checks. handsome and sophisticated, Brandon was an incident success with young women hanging all over him. But when Brandon started to date the beautiful blonde Lana Tisdel, her luck ran out. In a terrifying incident on Christmas Eve, Brandon's true sexual identity was unmasked. On New Year's Eve, Brandon, her roommate, and a friend were found shot to death and isolated farmhouse. (From the back cover of the book)
🌞🌞🌞 (3/5 Stars) I'm giving this three out of five stars only because I felt like there was a lot of information that was repeated several times. For me it kind of took away from the story. Regardless of that it's a sad story. I feel like Brandon was just having a hard time with his identity and that may have led to some of the unfortunate choices that he made. That doesn't mean that he deserve to die though.
#allshewanted #aphroditejones #tabbyslibrary
#truecrimereads
🌞🌞🌞 (3/5 Stars) I'm giving this three out of five stars only because I felt like there was a lot of information that was repeated several times. For me it kind of took away from the story. Regardless of that it's a sad story. I feel like Brandon was just having a hard time with his identity and that may have led to some of the unfortunate choices that he made. That doesn't mean that he deserve to die though.
#allshewanted #aphroditejones #tabbyslibrary
#truecrimereads
September 25, 2023
I freely admit I didn’t make it through this book. I saw this book on Kindle Unlimited and picked it up, because I thought it could teach me more about the case.
I barely made it through the forward where Aphrodite Jones spends several pages whinging about how those transgenders are the real meanies what with them getting onto her for constantly misgendering and deadnaming Brandon. Because that’s what matters most: her hurt feelings and not the trans man who was raped and murdered for being who they are.
I didn’t read any further. I know, I know, bad form, but I stand by it. If Jones had acknowledged the shortcomings of the book in the forward, admitted that she wrote the book when she was less informed about issues related to being transgender, I might have been willing to let her off the hook.
She didn’t do those things. Needless to say, I have no intention of reading any future writings by Ms. Jones.
I barely made it through the forward where Aphrodite Jones spends several pages whinging about how those transgenders are the real meanies what with them getting onto her for constantly misgendering and deadnaming Brandon. Because that’s what matters most: her hurt feelings and not the trans man who was raped and murdered for being who they are.
I didn’t read any further. I know, I know, bad form, but I stand by it. If Jones had acknowledged the shortcomings of the book in the forward, admitted that she wrote the book when she was less informed about issues related to being transgender, I might have been willing to let her off the hook.
She didn’t do those things. Needless to say, I have no intention of reading any future writings by Ms. Jones.
April 8, 2019
Aphrodite Jones is a very talented author and while she doesn't have as many books as a lot of authors do, that just makes the ones she does right about that much better! Also I've noticed her books are more detailed, easier to follow, and actually the research she does is amazing!! While I would love to be able to read another true crime book of hers I've already read all of the ones she has out, so while I would love to read a new one I also know that she takes her time to research, study, and get to know all angles of a case so that takes time...... So I'll gladly just keep checking and looking out for more!
But if you like true crime books she is an amazing author and I believe you would love her work as much as I do! So it's definitely worth paying for!!! You won't be disappointed at all!!!
But if you like true crime books she is an amazing author and I believe you would love her work as much as I do! So it's definitely worth paying for!!! You won't be disappointed at all!!!
May 19, 2025
I usually hate rating books 1 star but god this book was absolutely terrible - my first impression with this book was the summary which completely misgenders Brandon. my question is why?? other reviews have pointed it out already so why not fix it - anyways - I still decided to read the book even though of the summary. (a choice that I regret)
While the story of Brandon Teena is extremely interesting and in my opinion - a important part of trans history this story did not reflect the importance of him. The writing was off, and there were far too many spelling mistakes.
If you truly want to learn about Brandon and his life then i definitely wouldn't recommend this book.
While the story of Brandon Teena is extremely interesting and in my opinion - a important part of trans history this story did not reflect the importance of him. The writing was off, and there were far too many spelling mistakes.
If you truly want to learn about Brandon and his life then i definitely wouldn't recommend this book.
Read
July 25, 2024Could have been better, but not bad
Some typos that even a beginner editor or high school student could have caught, such really bothers me when i see that an author is asking for money for their books. That's not fair unless the book is completely error free.
I love this author, too, which is a big disappointment.
I think I've read this story before which is why I'm not thrilled with it. I many he comparing it to the other one I read. It just didn't seem to follow well once it hit the actual trial portion.
Some typos that even a beginner editor or high school student could have caught, such really bothers me when i see that an author is asking for money for their books. That's not fair unless the book is completely error free.
I love this author, too, which is a big disappointment.
I think I've read this story before which is why I'm not thrilled with it. I many he comparing it to the other one I read. It just didn't seem to follow well once it hit the actual trial portion.
May 1, 2021
It was okay; fairly straight forward account of a triple murder case in the States. There was background provided on all 3 victims and their trajectory toward the night of the murder and some details about the trial of the two men convicted for the murders.
It was a clear portrait of families struggling with poverty, addictions, and family violence as well as vulnerability of transgender community members; made into the successful film, Boys Don't Cry.
It was a clear portrait of families struggling with poverty, addictions, and family violence as well as vulnerability of transgender community members; made into the successful film, Boys Don't Cry.
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