This Ordinary Life

October 1, 2015

Gr 9 Up-A smart YA romance with real heart. Jasmine is having one terrifically horrible day. Running late and hoping for a ride, she walks into her boyfriend's bedroom to find him with another girl. At the same moment, her mom calls to tell her that her brother had another seizure and is being taken to the hospital. Jasmine misses the school trip to a New York City radio station and potentially the chance at a summer internship to start her dream radio career. In the hospital, her brother, Danny, is roommates with a cute high school junior, Wes. Despite their instant chemistry, Jasmine is scared of being hurt again and fights her attraction to Wes, leading to a fun, banter-filled friendship. Told in first person with a mix of text messages and radio broadcasts, this novel weaves a story of love and hope. Jasmine takes on the care of Danny in the midst of their single mother's alcoholism. The book often involves Jasmine's romance with Wes, but the true beauty is in her love for Danny and the hope for a better life that resonates throughout the novel. Jasmine is inherently relatable to teens, especially those who have had to grow up too quickly. VERDICT A great addition to YA collections that will attract more than just teen romance readers.-Cyndi Hamann, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

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