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 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
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Sweethearts
- By Sara Zarr
- Genre: Coming of Age
Common Sense Media says
Mature love story about teens with dark pasts.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this is a mature book. Cameron and Jenna both had lonely lives as children, and endured a horrific event when Cameron's father tried to bully them into playing a sex game. When Cameron reappears in Jenna's life, Jenna begins binge eating and shoplifting again. Cameron, too, has unresolved issues, and is currently living without a home or family. Jenna's stepfather also catches them in bed together. Beyond that, there is also some light swearing, drinking, and kissing.
What's the story?
Jenna Vaughn used to be named Jennifer Harris. She was fat, dirty, and often home alone. At school, she -- and her only friend Cameron -- used to get picked on by their school's mean kids. After Cameron moves away (and, according to the kids at school, dies in an accident), she decides to transform into someone new: a pretty, skinny, happy girl whom everyone likes. But will Jenna be able to keep her unhappy past from resurfacing when years later Cameron moves back to town?
Is it any good?
This is a dark book. Even readers drawn to the carefully crafted story here may be overwhelmed by the mature problems Jenna and Cameron deal with here. Between them they face bullies, homelessness, abuse, shoplifting, binge eating, and more -- Jenna even grows up believing Cameron is dead. The several flashbacks to that fateful day when Cameron's abusive father tries to get the kids to play a sex game is likewise both well drawn and creepy.
Jenna's ability to start dealing with the past -- and become the person she wants to be -- is heroic. And it's convincing, too, thanks to a realistically imperfect cast of secondary characters, especially Jenna's mother. In the end, this is a book for mature readers only, but those who are ready will be moved by this story of Jenna and Cameron's intense attachment. And they will appreciate that Jenna not only accepts herself for who she truly is, but learns to see the strengths she has had all along.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about reinvention. Can you think of other books and movies in which a character goes from nerdy to popular (think even as far back as Cinderella)? Why are we fascinated with this idea in our culture? How do these stories usually end? How is Jenna a different sort of ugly duckling?
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- Teens & kids
Teen, 15 years old
April 12, 2011
AGE
Enthralling love story with different ending keeps you turning pages.
This is a total page-turner! I couldn't put it down! Both with troubled pasts, Cameron's dad was just messed up and Jenna's (Jennifer) food problem, they grew up together until one day Cameron just disappeared... Then years later, he returns to find that the Jennifer he once knew has transformed into a totally different person, Jenna, but he still loves her anyway. Like she says throughout the story, what she and Cameron have is a different kind of love. He knows how to bring out the old her and she still cares deeply for him. Even though she hides her deep fear of her ugly past coming back to haunt her she sticks with Cam. I especially loved the ending... not like every love story.
What other families should know:
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Teen, 15 years old
December 13, 2009
AGE
This book is about discovering who you are, and unlike like most books written for the young adult audience, it doesn't end in a kiss between the two main characters, and them living happily ever after. It involves real life and real life situations. It shows how important friendship is. How one little thing can take everything you've previously known and turn it completely upside down. All in all, a good read for teens
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Teen, 14 years old
March 22, 2009
AGE
im a Teen contributor it was "ok"
it was an ok book it really lost me when she ended up lossing it or giving it to her bf of 2 in a half months but other than that it was ok
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Adult
April 9, 2008
AGE
Very Good book.
This is a very good book for ages 13+. Some language but nothing too bad.
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Parent of 11 year old
April 9, 2008
AGE
A disturbing, yet well-crafted story. The main charaters are stong, independet teens who have faced horrendous situations during childhood.While both have learned to cope, their coping comes at a high cost. A thought provoking novel for older teens.
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Adult
April 28, 2011
AGE
Growing Up Sheltered
I love this book. I first read it when I was 14 and I found that I couldn't put the book down. Jenna is a role model. She faces her troubles head on and she takes responsibility for her actions. That's more than anyone can say for a lot of the "role models" America's children have today. I see that people have issues with the message, as Jenna regains her unhealthy habits, however, they aren't the message. The message is that you can overcome those things, all you need is yourself. More violence can be found on news stations than what was in this book, as well as the drinking and language. People who are concerned about the kissing, watch the television shows your teenager watches. I dare you to find less sexual references in that show than there is in the entire book. Teenagers can handle way more than parents think. Sweethearts shows that there are always choices to be made, and only we can make the right ones.
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Teen, 14 years old
August 11, 2009
AGE
I loved the book! Father is not a good role model.
But a fantastic love story.
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Teen, 16 years old
March 19, 2010
AGE
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Teen, 17 years old
February 14, 2010
AGE
perfect for teenagers facing their first love.
a very good love story, but it also deals with how first loves don't always last.
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Teen, 14 years old
March 30, 2011
AGE
I read it when i was 13 and I loved it so much!! It was a book I could not put down.
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| Author: | Sara Zarr |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Coming of Age |
| Publisher: | Little, Brown and Company |
| Publication date: | February 1, 2008 |
| Number of pages: | 224 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 12 - 12 |
| Read aloud: | 14 - 14 |
| Read alone: | 15 - 15 |
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