Sweethearts by Sara Zarr is a brilliant novel for young adults. Zarr's second work of young adult literature, her first was the much acclaimed Story of a Girl, is the story of Jennifer Harris. Jennifer was an outcast in grade school, constantly ridiculed for being chubby, not having the right clothes, and not having any friends. She was completely alone. Her mother worked and went to school, and she did not know her father. Jennifer took care of herself day in and day out. That is until Cameron Quick came along. Cameron was the one person that understood Jennifer and was able to look beyond what she was on the outside to the person she was on the inside. Constantly clicking, Jennifer and Cameron spent all of their free time together and had a special bond. But Cameron struggles with his own problems, like an abusive father and a mother who refuses to leave him. Jennifer and Cameron form a life-long bond that is special beyond words, and they help each other through difficult times, only getting by on the wings of their friendship. Then the news comes...Cameron is dead. Jennifer is overcome with grief, and believes that she has lost the one person that "loves" her. The only way for Jennifer to get through the tragedy is to reinvent herself. Jennifer becomes "Jenna", and the novel catches up with skinny, popular "Jenna" during her senior year in high school. "Jenna" has a boyfriend that other girls would die for, and friends that "love" her. However, "Jenna" has never shared with anybody that she was once the chubby outcast that other kids would not talk to...that is everybody except Cameron Quick. The only person that knows of her past is Cameron, and he is dead so she has nothing to worry about, right? That is what she thinks until she receives a letter from her "dead" former best friend and childhood sweetheart. This is when everything in her life is turned upside down. Just when "Jenna" thinks she has everything figured out she learns that life simply is not that simple.
Sweethearts by Sara Zarr provides readers into a glimpse of the life of a girl who is facing issues that most young adults face. The book touches on issues of neglect, abuse, bullying, search for identity, friendship, and more. I believe it offers something for all readers out there, and you will not be disappointed! I think that the issues dealt with by Zarr in this novel make it a great book for junior high and high school depending on the reading levels of the students. This novel is what young adult literature is all about, touching upon issues that all young adults may face and providing them with a "character" that is striving to learn about herself in the face of all of these issues. A great read!
Sweethearts by Sara Zarr is a Best Books for Young Adults 2009 nominee. For the complete list of nominees please use this link:
1 comment:
oooh! I want to read this! If you liked this book you will probably like I Heart You, You Haunt Me. Sounds similar. IHYYHM, however, is written in verse. I like that you put "Jenna" in in quotation marks...is her new life really a dream and "dead Cameron" is writing her to tell her to be happy with who she is because her friends "love" her for her looks not her? Does she wake up and realize she is great no matter what she looks like and that her best friend is still alive?
I don't know...I'm probably way off, but as you can see you got me very interested in the book.
nice!!
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