diff --git a/src/jsonata/utils.py b/src/jsonata/utils.py
index 8b43aea..eaab3e2 100644
--- a/src/jsonata/utils.py
+++ b/src/jsonata/utils.py
@@ -106,9 +106,10 @@ def is_deep_equal(lhs: Optional[Any], rhs: Optional[Any]) -> bool:
                 if not Utils.is_deep_equal(lhs[key], rhs[key]):
                     return False
             return True
-        if lhs == rhs and type(lhs) == type(rhs):
+        if lhs == rhs:
+            if isinstance(lhs, bool) != isinstance(rhs, bool):
+                return False
             return True
-
         return False
 
     class JList(list):
diff --git a/tests/types_test.py b/tests/types_test.py
index 0b8b076..4fbaa33 100644
--- a/tests/types_test.py
+++ b/tests/types_test.py
@@ -47,3 +47,18 @@ def test_fix_issue_21(self):
         """
         assert jsonata.Jsonata("true = 1").evaluate({}) is False
         assert jsonata.Jsonata("false = 0").evaluate({}) is False
+
+    def test_fix_issue_23(self):
+        """
+        https://github.com/rayokota/jsonata-python/issues/23
+        """
+        class PlainScalarString(str):
+            pass
+
+        data = {
+            "foo": [
+                {"some_attr": PlainScalarString("some_value"), "bar": 17},
+                {"some_attr": PlainScalarString("other_value"), "bar": 19},
+            ]
+        }
+        assert jsonata.Jsonata('foo[some_attr="some_value"].bar').evaluate(data) == 17