250 Hours

August 15, 2015
Manitoba teens Jess and Sara Jean both know the terrible feelings of loss and doubt a child faces from having a parent abandon them. Both are torn between staying put in the communities they have grown up in and playing the roles they have dutifully played all their lives, and leaving all they've known behind to explore what else the world has to offer. This is where their similarities end. Sara Jean is a Caucasian young woman who dreams of going to university and following her dream of writing. Jess is a Metis young man with a history of arson, for which he is serving the titular 250 hours of community service, starting with cleaning up Sara Jean's family's garage. Forced together, these two discover clues to secrets that may lead to answers both their communities need to move on in harmony, and they must decide whether to stand up for what they believe in. The saving grace of the narrative-the truth of the town's past that supposedly becomes unraveled at the end-is overshadowed by the forced star-crossed-love story of Jess and Sara Jean. The dialogue between characters feels as contrived as the chemistry between the leads, a failing that goes hand in hand with uneven storytelling that is at times heavy-handed and at other times not powerful enough to drive home its point. A potentially intriguing tale hampered by a romance that never really lights a spark. (Mystery. 14-18)

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October 1, 2015

Gr 7 Up-A young adult novel of an unlikely friendship rising from the ashes of life's numerous adversities. Sara Jean and Jess appear to be as different as two teens can be. Sara Jean escapes the hardships of her life caring for her obese grandmother by sneaking time to write. Jess has a complicated past, filled with a history of pyromania. When the story begins, Jess is sentenced to serve 250 hours of community service for his latest crime. He is sent to clean the garage belonging to Sara Jean's grandmother. Initially, both think the task involves a lot of garbage, but the contents of the garage may not be trash at all. And the teens might not be that different after all. Nelson's novel captures the various hardships of growing up and the experiences associated with being thrust into a life filled with mature responsibilities. The protagonists' desire for escape unites them. The chapters alternate between Sara Jean's first-person perspective and Jess's story, written in third person. Nelson deepens the dimensions of the characters through this unique approach. This work will appeal to those who have struggled with family issues such as parental abandonment and loved ones suffering from illnesses. VERDICT This touching story about friendship, forgiveness, and redemption deserves a place in most teen fiction collections.-Kevin McGuire, Woodland Hills School District, PA

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