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If I Tell
Jasmine Evans knows one thing for sure... people make mistakes. After all, she is one. Jaz is the result of a one night stand between a black football player and a blonde princess. Having a young mother who didn't raise her, a father who wants nothing to do with her and living in a small-minded town where she's never fit in hasn't been easy. But she's been surviving.
Until she sees her mom's new boyfriend making out with her own best friend. When do you forgive people for being human or give up on them forever?
Until she sees her mom's new boyfriend making out with her own best friend. When do you forgive people for being human or give up on them forever?
256 pages, Paperback
Published October 1, 2011
60 people are currently reading
3151 people want to read
About the author
Janet Gurtler
36 books649 followersA Rita Award Finalist, Janet Gurtler's young adult books have been chosen for the Junior Literary Guild Selection and as Best Books for Teens from the Canadian Children’s Book Center.
Janet lives in Alberta, Canada, close enough to see the Rocky Mountains on good, clear days. She lives with her best friend, Betty White, a beautiful golden retriever who likes to watch other dogs on TV.
Janet lives in Alberta, Canada, close enough to see the Rocky Mountains on good, clear days. She lives with her best friend, Betty White, a beautiful golden retriever who likes to watch other dogs on TV.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 232 reviews
June 1, 2016
I wrote it so I totally know what happens at the end. ;)
October 24, 2011
My review can also be found on my blog Collections.
2.5 stars
I could relate to the main character Jasmine in a way. I understood why she felt like she never fit in because of her skin color and the way she looks. I know the feeling. But she pretty much annoyed me for the majority of the book. The secret she kept from her mother.... It made me wonder why she even bothered keeping it to herself, since she started taking out her frustrations on the one person she was trying to protect. Telling her mother that unlike her, she wasn't addicted to a color? And that she was a horrible mother? Whoa. Jasmine made unfair assumptions and was as judgmental as everyone else throughout the book. Even though she realizes this by the end and knows she has to change herself and become a stronger person, I can't say I ever went out of my way to root for her.
Another thing that bothered me was the fact that so many other issues were mentioned. There was the gay friend and the friend who was abused growing up and the boy who had a drug past. Every other character had a dead parent (cancer, drunk driving, etc) or a parent who wasn't in their lives. Yes, everyone has problems. But considering the book was already about prejudice and racism and forgiveness, it was too much. I guess I was suppose to feel sorry for the characters, but I honestly never felt much of anything for them. And then the dialogue from some of the characters made me cringe. Things like 'Once you go black, you never go back' and 'You know what they say about black men...' I've heard those jokes before. Who hasn't? It felt very forced. Like I was being reminded and convinced that the character was black. And I wasn't convinced. It didn't sound real or true to me. Just stereotypical things to say.
I liked that If I Tell brought up the issues of race and prejudice. However, I wasn't able to completely connect with the characters, and I think the book had a lot going on with the other issues I mentioned above. While I didn't enjoy If I Tell as much as I wanted to, I don't think it was a bad read at all. And I believe that if you're still interested in reading it you should go for it.
October 12, 2011
When I finished this novel I thought to myself “How come more people didn’t tell me how awesome Janet Gurtler’s writing is?!”. She totally has my favourite type of contemporary voice, a la Sarah Dessen, Elizabeth Scott, and Deb Caletti. And those three are some of my favourite contemp writers, so that is a massive compliment.
‘If I Tell’ originally intrigued me, but its concept didn’t necessarily appeal to me. I mean, the girl sees her Mom’s boyfriend kissing her best friend?! It sounds pretty sketchy. And, well, it is sketchy, but it’s also not exactly what it seems. I think you can view the whole book based on the “it's not all black and white” theme, one which occurs on two levels. First there’s Jasmine (Jaz) grappling with knowing people and figuring out that people aren’t always what they seem. Then secondly there are literal black and white issues, with Jaz trying to deal with her mixed race heritage in a small town where people who are black and people who are white just don’t mix.
Jaz’s identity issues made up a much larger portion of the book than I would have guessed based on the description, but I was very intrigued by the whole scenario. I went to an incredibly racially diverse high school, so it was hard for me to understand why Jaz’s classmates, and even people throughout the town, made such a huge deal out of her being half black and half white. Jaz’s journey to understanding and appreciating her heritage as well as gaining self-esteem was at times difficult to read about, but it was beautifully done.
This book just feels like a perfect example of contemporary YA because it has a little bit of everything. There’s friendship (how cool was Ashley? I loved seeing a character with my name who wasn’t a bitchy cheerleader or ditzy fashionista), romance (Jackson! seriously cute), family, identity issues, and a specific plot point (should Jaz tell?) to wrap the whole thing together. I enjoyed this book so much, and I really felt for Jaz throughout the whole novel. If you’re a fan of contemporary YA, Janet Gurtler is definitely an author to keep an eye on.
‘If I Tell’ originally intrigued me, but its concept didn’t necessarily appeal to me. I mean, the girl sees her Mom’s boyfriend kissing her best friend?! It sounds pretty sketchy. And, well, it is sketchy, but it’s also not exactly what it seems. I think you can view the whole book based on the “it's not all black and white” theme, one which occurs on two levels. First there’s Jasmine (Jaz) grappling with knowing people and figuring out that people aren’t always what they seem. Then secondly there are literal black and white issues, with Jaz trying to deal with her mixed race heritage in a small town where people who are black and people who are white just don’t mix.
Jaz’s identity issues made up a much larger portion of the book than I would have guessed based on the description, but I was very intrigued by the whole scenario. I went to an incredibly racially diverse high school, so it was hard for me to understand why Jaz’s classmates, and even people throughout the town, made such a huge deal out of her being half black and half white. Jaz’s journey to understanding and appreciating her heritage as well as gaining self-esteem was at times difficult to read about, but it was beautifully done.
This book just feels like a perfect example of contemporary YA because it has a little bit of everything. There’s friendship (how cool was Ashley? I loved seeing a character with my name who wasn’t a bitchy cheerleader or ditzy fashionista), romance (Jackson! seriously cute), family, identity issues, and a specific plot point (should Jaz tell?) to wrap the whole thing together. I enjoyed this book so much, and I really felt for Jaz throughout the whole novel. If you’re a fan of contemporary YA, Janet Gurtler is definitely an author to keep an eye on.
October 8, 2011
2.5/5
rac•ism
n.
1. The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or
ability and that a particular race is superior to others.
2. Discrimination or prejudice based on race.
[ dict ]
A half white, half black teen finds herself in a conflicted situation when she sees her pregnant mom's boyfriend hooking up with another woman. Responsibility falls into her hands. Keep the lie or face the facts and confront the truth? As Jaz decides to keep this dirty little secret, her relationship with those around her gets more and more strained.
IF I TELL addresses racism, mobbing, teen pregnancy, single-parent upbringing, postnatal depression and breaking the unwritten rule.
This is a book for colored people. Or just people unjustly discriminated through no fault of their own. I'd even go so far, as to say that it's for all the people (/slash assholes) out there, who've ever said something nasty to someone with a skin color different to their own. Racist remarks are always hard to handle. Even if the racist in question isn't attacking you personally, it doesn't make it ok or less bad.
Discrimination. Racism. Stories like these can never get too old. That's the sad thing. They're timeless.
rac•ism
n.
1. The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or
ability and that a particular race is superior to others.
2. Discrimination or prejudice based on race.
[ dict ]
A half white, half black teen finds herself in a conflicted situation when she sees her pregnant mom's boyfriend hooking up with another woman. Responsibility falls into her hands. Keep the lie or face the facts and confront the truth? As Jaz decides to keep this dirty little secret, her relationship with those around her gets more and more strained.
IF I TELL addresses racism, mobbing, teen pregnancy, single-parent upbringing, postnatal depression and breaking the unwritten rule.
This is a book for colored people. Or just people unjustly discriminated through no fault of their own. I'd even go so far, as to say that it's for all the people (/slash assholes) out there, who've ever said something nasty to someone with a skin color different to their own. Racist remarks are always hard to handle. Even if the racist in question isn't attacking you personally, it doesn't make it ok or less bad.
Discrimination. Racism. Stories like these can never get too old. That's the sad thing. They're timeless.
October 23, 2011
More reviews on Breaking Bookshelves.
eBook from Netgalley.
If I Tell by Janet Gurtler is a story of stereotypes, of discrimination and stigma, of a secret and a lapse in judgement. It is a novel about Jasmine (Jaz) Evans, a “mistake” – a half-white, half-black mutt. She has a young mother, a father who does not want her, and she lives in a town so small and so ignorant that fitting in has not come easy. She sees herself as the stain her classmates have so eloquently told her she was. Yet, she sticks it out. She survives the taunts, the silent treatments, and life seems to be going okay with her mom’s new boyfriend.
However, what happens when she sees her may-soon-to-be stepdad, Simon, locking lips with her best friend? Where does the trust go? How can she forgive them? Better question, is she capable of forgiving them?
If I Tell is a frustrating story to say the least. The characters, the plot, the setting is all so believable that it becomes irksome. There’s something about If I Tell that makes me like it though. That makes me somewhat feel for the characters. I don’t know what word to use to describe this feeling of teetering between liking it and not. I do like it, I really do, but it leaves me feeling a little…meh (cue meh hand gesture).
Well, I guess we could start off with the thing(s) I really liked. Jackson. I LOVE HIM. I emphasize the word love. He is now one of my fictional crushes. In my head, he is my definition of hot. HOT. All capitals. He does not sparkle (as far as I can tell), he is not moody and troubled (currently), but he is indeed a bad-boy type. Jackson is the bad boy most girls want – he’s got a past, he’s a little a-hole-y, but he’s also soft and squishy inside. He’s got this charm, and laid-back feel to him that I really love. He’s also incredibly forgiving and open-minded. I was mirroring Jaz’s reactions to him every time he popped up in the novel. I literally grinned like an idiot whenever he was mentioned. Like Jaz said, he’s beautiful inside, where it counts.
Another thing I liked was how realistically the story was portrayed. The characters are authentic and heartfelt, and so that means they are also extremely frustrating. Jaz irritated me to no end. When her close friend Ashley (whom I love and need to find a twin of in real life) told her to snap out of it, I practically screamed out “YES! YOU TELL HER!” This does not mean I dislike Jaz, though. It only means she irritated me with her selfishness. However, I also like how she develops near the end – the small step she takes to growing up.
As for the writing, it’s alright. I felt like there were many mistakes, but I could ignore them. I think I have the eARC so it makes sense. Another thing I don’t like though, was how sometimes the book didn’t hold my attention like I wanted it to. I was pulled in at some parts, and then let go off at others. This is pretty much the reason why this novel took me so long to read. Or maybe it was just my mood.
Another thing I particularly disliked was the ending. And what I mean by the ending is literally the very last page. I am not a fan of how my copy ended because It seemed so cut off and unfinished. It gave me a bland, and hardly memorable impression. Everything before the ending was great, the resolution. It was going somewhere, but then it just ended abruptly. Maybe it was the words chosen, but I felt so unsatisfied with the ending. I think that’s what gave me the “meh” feeling…the ending. But I guess, like any other book, If I Tell has its highs and lows. I may dislike certain descriptions/situations, but I enjoyed the easy flow of the dialogue. However much I may or may not like something about this novel, I’m glad it was a story that was put to paper. It just shows that there are still people who feel the effects of discrimination and stigma. I liked that this story was more than about that though, that it had a lot to do with growing up and making mistakes. I liked how it shed light on forgiveness, and the struggles that come with the journey through it.
Janet Gurtler is no doubt a talented author. Although I may not have loved this novel, I am still interested in reading other books by her. I can’t really say if this is a light and fluffy read or not because the topics dealt with are far from light. At the same time, the way the story is executed is not heavy enough to weigh down the average reader. I guess I would recommend this to anyone who likes a dose of reality in their diet, something a little angst-y but also incredibly cute.
Anyway, thank you to Sourcebooks Fire and NetGalley for the galley!
eBook from Netgalley.
If I Tell by Janet Gurtler is a story of stereotypes, of discrimination and stigma, of a secret and a lapse in judgement. It is a novel about Jasmine (Jaz) Evans, a “mistake” – a half-white, half-black mutt. She has a young mother, a father who does not want her, and she lives in a town so small and so ignorant that fitting in has not come easy. She sees herself as the stain her classmates have so eloquently told her she was. Yet, she sticks it out. She survives the taunts, the silent treatments, and life seems to be going okay with her mom’s new boyfriend.
However, what happens when she sees her may-soon-to-be stepdad, Simon, locking lips with her best friend? Where does the trust go? How can she forgive them? Better question, is she capable of forgiving them?
If I Tell is a frustrating story to say the least. The characters, the plot, the setting is all so believable that it becomes irksome. There’s something about If I Tell that makes me like it though. That makes me somewhat feel for the characters. I don’t know what word to use to describe this feeling of teetering between liking it and not. I do like it, I really do, but it leaves me feeling a little…meh (cue meh hand gesture).
Well, I guess we could start off with the thing(s) I really liked. Jackson. I LOVE HIM. I emphasize the word love. He is now one of my fictional crushes. In my head, he is my definition of hot. HOT. All capitals. He does not sparkle (as far as I can tell), he is not moody and troubled (currently), but he is indeed a bad-boy type. Jackson is the bad boy most girls want – he’s got a past, he’s a little a-hole-y, but he’s also soft and squishy inside. He’s got this charm, and laid-back feel to him that I really love. He’s also incredibly forgiving and open-minded. I was mirroring Jaz’s reactions to him every time he popped up in the novel. I literally grinned like an idiot whenever he was mentioned. Like Jaz said, he’s beautiful inside, where it counts.
Another thing I liked was how realistically the story was portrayed. The characters are authentic and heartfelt, and so that means they are also extremely frustrating. Jaz irritated me to no end. When her close friend Ashley (whom I love and need to find a twin of in real life) told her to snap out of it, I practically screamed out “YES! YOU TELL HER!” This does not mean I dislike Jaz, though. It only means she irritated me with her selfishness. However, I also like how she develops near the end – the small step she takes to growing up.
As for the writing, it’s alright. I felt like there were many mistakes, but I could ignore them. I think I have the eARC so it makes sense. Another thing I don’t like though, was how sometimes the book didn’t hold my attention like I wanted it to. I was pulled in at some parts, and then let go off at others. This is pretty much the reason why this novel took me so long to read. Or maybe it was just my mood.
Another thing I particularly disliked was the ending. And what I mean by the ending is literally the very last page. I am not a fan of how my copy ended because It seemed so cut off and unfinished. It gave me a bland, and hardly memorable impression. Everything before the ending was great, the resolution. It was going somewhere, but then it just ended abruptly. Maybe it was the words chosen, but I felt so unsatisfied with the ending. I think that’s what gave me the “meh” feeling…the ending. But I guess, like any other book, If I Tell has its highs and lows. I may dislike certain descriptions/situations, but I enjoyed the easy flow of the dialogue. However much I may or may not like something about this novel, I’m glad it was a story that was put to paper. It just shows that there are still people who feel the effects of discrimination and stigma. I liked that this story was more than about that though, that it had a lot to do with growing up and making mistakes. I liked how it shed light on forgiveness, and the struggles that come with the journey through it.
Janet Gurtler is no doubt a talented author. Although I may not have loved this novel, I am still interested in reading other books by her. I can’t really say if this is a light and fluffy read or not because the topics dealt with are far from light. At the same time, the way the story is executed is not heavy enough to weigh down the average reader. I guess I would recommend this to anyone who likes a dose of reality in their diet, something a little angst-y but also incredibly cute.
Anyway, thank you to Sourcebooks Fire and NetGalley for the galley!
July 14, 2023
This was a 3-star book for entertainment, but I could not get over some of the messages in this book which dropped it a star.
Jasmine "Jaz" Evans is one of the only biracial girls in town. Her popular blond mother got knocked up by a black football star during high school. Jaz's mother gave the baby to her parents to raise and Jaz's father left town to concentrate on his football career. Jaz's world is shattered when she sees her almost-stepfather, Simon, making out with her older best friend at a party. She is devastated that he cheated on her mother. Her mother then announces that she's pregnant. Jaz thinks it's better to be cold, angry, and strange to her mother and Simon than to tell either of them what she saw. So of course everyone thinks she is just upset about a new baby. Meanwhile, Jaz is falling for a "bad boy" new coworker.
The things I liked about this book were exploring Jaz's extreme reluctance to open up to anyone (besides her beloved grandfather, who has passed away) and how this has been harmful in her life (and continues to cause conflict throughout the book). I also thought Jaz's family dynamic was incredibly interesting and often explored effectively.
But there were quite a few bits that were painful. I won't get into whether Gurtler's exploration of racism was authentic or not - I did wonder, but I don't have the lived experience to know how much was accurate/realistic.
The painful bits are probably at least partly due to this being published in 2011. The worst was that Jaz is sexually assaulted by a boy who has a crush on her and is her "friend" and then it is completely brushed off. Underage Jaz gets drunk and goes upstairs at a party with the older Nathan, who attempts to rape her until she knees him. He then gets angry with her, telling her that she's a "tease" and that she's lucky because "not everyone would stop after the way you were leading me on." He then tells everyone that they did sleep together. Jaz doesn't tell anyone what Nathan did, and doesn't seem to recognize it as sexual assault. Which could be a trauma reaction - I've read a whole novel about a similar situation that was focused on exploring this idea. But it really feels more that the book itself is not treating this seriously. At the very end, a mutual friend (who does not know about the attempted rape) says, "You know, believe it or not, I think Nathan is really looking for true love." If this issue is going to be explored so shallowly and poorly, it should not have been explored at all.
The other very 2011 aspect is that pretty girls are all shallow and mean (especially pretty blonds) and girls who sleep around are "sluts." That term gets used a lot . The girl-on-girl hate was much more popular in 2010s YA, but still frustrating to read.
Jaz herself is really super judgmental. Even though she spends her life feeling judged for her skin color, she judges others constantly. Not only the whole slut thing, but she also hears a rumor that new boy Jackson was a drug dealer (which did turn out to be true, but she wouldn't have known that) and just decides he's a "druggie." When they get in a fight, she then throws the "druggie" label in his face, even though he's been clean for a while. She really loves getting on her high horse and trampling over everyone else. And it doesn't really seem like she's grown by the end of the book.
And then the final message of the book was "Sometimes keeping secrets was the right thing to do." I just plain disagree. Keeping the secret of adultery is not necessarily the best choice - and it didn't seem like the best long term choice in this case either. Especially since part of the conflict of this book was that Jaz DID keep it secret and it DID hurt her and those she loved because she became volatile and spiteful from keeping the secret.
Even though I didn't care one way or another about the romance (which played quite a large role), this book would have been a solid three stars if not for these issues.
Jasmine "Jaz" Evans is one of the only biracial girls in town. Her popular blond mother got knocked up by a black football star during high school. Jaz's mother gave the baby to her parents to raise and Jaz's father left town to concentrate on his football career. Jaz's world is shattered when she sees her almost-stepfather, Simon, making out with her older best friend at a party. She is devastated that he cheated on her mother. Her mother then announces that she's pregnant. Jaz thinks it's better to be cold, angry, and strange to her mother and Simon than to tell either of them what she saw. So of course everyone thinks she is just upset about a new baby. Meanwhile, Jaz is falling for a "bad boy" new coworker.
The things I liked about this book were exploring Jaz's extreme reluctance to open up to anyone (besides her beloved grandfather, who has passed away) and how this has been harmful in her life (and continues to cause conflict throughout the book). I also thought Jaz's family dynamic was incredibly interesting and often explored effectively.
But there were quite a few bits that were painful. I won't get into whether Gurtler's exploration of racism was authentic or not - I did wonder, but I don't have the lived experience to know how much was accurate/realistic.
The painful bits are probably at least partly due to this being published in 2011. The worst was that Jaz is sexually assaulted by a boy who has a crush on her and is her "friend" and then it is completely brushed off. Underage Jaz gets drunk and goes upstairs at a party with the older Nathan, who attempts to rape her until she knees him. He then gets angry with her, telling her that she's a "tease" and that she's lucky because "not everyone would stop after the way you were leading me on." He then tells everyone that they did sleep together. Jaz doesn't tell anyone what Nathan did, and doesn't seem to recognize it as sexual assault. Which could be a trauma reaction - I've read a whole novel about a similar situation that was focused on exploring this idea. But it really feels more that the book itself is not treating this seriously. At the very end, a mutual friend (who does not know about the attempted rape) says, "You know, believe it or not, I think Nathan is really looking for true love." If this issue is going to be explored so shallowly and poorly, it should not have been explored at all.
The other very 2011 aspect is that pretty girls are all shallow and mean (especially pretty blonds) and girls who sleep around are "sluts." That term gets used a lot . The girl-on-girl hate was much more popular in 2010s YA, but still frustrating to read.
Jaz herself is really super judgmental. Even though she spends her life feeling judged for her skin color, she judges others constantly. Not only the whole slut thing, but she also hears a rumor that new boy Jackson was a drug dealer (which did turn out to be true, but she wouldn't have known that) and just decides he's a "druggie." When they get in a fight, she then throws the "druggie" label in his face, even though he's been clean for a while. She really loves getting on her high horse and trampling over everyone else. And it doesn't really seem like she's grown by the end of the book.
And then the final message of the book was "Sometimes keeping secrets was the right thing to do." I just plain disagree. Keeping the secret of adultery is not necessarily the best choice - and it didn't seem like the best long term choice in this case either. Especially since part of the conflict of this book was that Jaz DID keep it secret and it DID hurt her and those she loved because she became volatile and spiteful from keeping the secret.
Even though I didn't care one way or another about the romance (which played quite a large role), this book would have been a solid three stars if not for these issues.
September 24, 2011
Review also posted on my blog:The Book Barbies
3.5 stars rounded to 4
I didn't really have any opinions or expectation when going into this book. To prove to you how true that is: somehow I read the summary wrong and thought that instead of Jasmine- the MC- catching her mom's boyfriend- Simon- with her bestfriend I though that she caught her MOM with her bestfriend and so I was completely lost at the beginning and when I read the summary again I had an OHHHHH! moment.
Which leads me to, I LOVE WHEN THIS HAPPENS! When I have ZERO expectations about a book and it blows me away (because If I Tell certainly did!) it makes me so happy! It’s the best surprise ever! Sometimes I even hate reading reviews because they get me too excited about a book and excitement ONLY leads to disappointment in my experience.
Jasmine is biracial which is nothing special but if you live in a town where you're either fully black or fully white and your well, the biracial sheep you're subjected to a few not so nice remarks and those remarks definitely scarred Jasmine making her turn to her guitar and one girl as a bestfriend so what do you do when one of those sources betrays you in the worst way possible?
Race and ethnicity is big part of the book, it’s why Jasmine has many problems (even if some of them she created because she was so pitiful) and is so insecure because she believes she doesn’t fit in because she’s not fully black or fully white and no one quite understands her. The whole ethnicity insecurity plays out perfectly I think, it might be the 21st century but I have no doubt in mind people still discriminate and it’s nice to see a book that deals with this. Now I just pick up a book and assume the characters are white so this was nice refresher.
After what she witness, Jasmine basically has no one but Jackson. He comes into town and plays shining knight and along with Ashley (a girl Jasmine gets to become close friends with) they help Jasmine open her eyes about her insecurities and how to get past them and how to deal and accept her ethnicity.
I love how great the romance between Jackson and Jasmine turned out to be, it didn’t happen over the spam of a paragraph but it literally blossomed as I kept reading. All the issues Jasmine is going though are also well handled and patched up reasonably (I’m being vague but I refuse to give anything away!) and the characters are AWESOME! Ashley is blunt and hilarious, Jasmine’s grandma is the best, Jackson is so sweet and amazing I wanted to hug him and even Simon who made a mistake, redeemed himself! BUT I can’t deny how at some parts I hated Jasmine for her ignorance.
Throughout most of the book Jasmine was a pity party, frustrating and a little immature. I mean I understood she’s very insecure and hated how people judged her on how she looks how but wouldn’t you think that would make her not judge people? But she totally judged Jackson and said some very harsh things when all he ever did to her was show her kindness and compassion but she hit him where it hurts: dissed him about his race. But he forgave her, which I think was too easy!! Jasmine couldn’t forgive Lacey (her bestfriend) or Simon all the way but got Jackson forgiveness handed on a silver platter, which was very hypocritical and unfair and I can’t forget how she just assumed the worst of Simon without really trying to figure out what happened or getting his opinion! She went as far as punching him when just like Jackson, all he did was be nice to her!
Besides that, I enjoyed If I Tell. It was a surprise delight that I think everyone should pick up, it deals well with issues of getting over the crap life throws you and handling them the best way fit plus the book has a very cute romance:D
*Thank to Sourcebooks Fire for providing me a copy of this book to review*
-thank you&come again.
3.5 stars rounded to 4
I didn't really have any opinions or expectation when going into this book. To prove to you how true that is: somehow I read the summary wrong and thought that instead of Jasmine- the MC- catching her mom's boyfriend- Simon- with her bestfriend I though that she caught her MOM with her bestfriend and so I was completely lost at the beginning and when I read the summary again I had an OHHHHH! moment.
Which leads me to, I LOVE WHEN THIS HAPPENS! When I have ZERO expectations about a book and it blows me away (because If I Tell certainly did!) it makes me so happy! It’s the best surprise ever! Sometimes I even hate reading reviews because they get me too excited about a book and excitement ONLY leads to disappointment in my experience.
Jasmine is biracial which is nothing special but if you live in a town where you're either fully black or fully white and your well, the biracial sheep you're subjected to a few not so nice remarks and those remarks definitely scarred Jasmine making her turn to her guitar and one girl as a bestfriend so what do you do when one of those sources betrays you in the worst way possible?
Race and ethnicity is big part of the book, it’s why Jasmine has many problems (even if some of them she created because she was so pitiful) and is so insecure because she believes she doesn’t fit in because she’s not fully black or fully white and no one quite understands her. The whole ethnicity insecurity plays out perfectly I think, it might be the 21st century but I have no doubt in mind people still discriminate and it’s nice to see a book that deals with this. Now I just pick up a book and assume the characters are white so this was nice refresher.
After what she witness, Jasmine basically has no one but Jackson. He comes into town and plays shining knight and along with Ashley (a girl Jasmine gets to become close friends with) they help Jasmine open her eyes about her insecurities and how to get past them and how to deal and accept her ethnicity.
I love how great the romance between Jackson and Jasmine turned out to be, it didn’t happen over the spam of a paragraph but it literally blossomed as I kept reading. All the issues Jasmine is going though are also well handled and patched up reasonably (I’m being vague but I refuse to give anything away!) and the characters are AWESOME! Ashley is blunt and hilarious, Jasmine’s grandma is the best, Jackson is so sweet and amazing I wanted to hug him and even Simon who made a mistake, redeemed himself! BUT I can’t deny how at some parts I hated Jasmine for her ignorance.
Throughout most of the book Jasmine was a pity party, frustrating and a little immature. I mean I understood she’s very insecure and hated how people judged her on how she looks how but wouldn’t you think that would make her not judge people? But she totally judged Jackson and said some very harsh things when all he ever did to her was show her kindness and compassion but she hit him where it hurts: dissed him about his race. But he forgave her, which I think was too easy!! Jasmine couldn’t forgive Lacey (her bestfriend) or Simon all the way but got Jackson forgiveness handed on a silver platter, which was very hypocritical and unfair and I can’t forget how she just assumed the worst of Simon without really trying to figure out what happened or getting his opinion! She went as far as punching him when just like Jackson, all he did was be nice to her!
Besides that, I enjoyed If I Tell. It was a surprise delight that I think everyone should pick up, it deals well with issues of getting over the crap life throws you and handling them the best way fit plus the book has a very cute romance:D
*Thank to Sourcebooks Fire for providing me a copy of this book to review*
-thank you&come again.
October 18, 2011
Really, more like 3.5 stars. Goodreads--you need a 1/2 star option.
As someone who is generally wary of contemporary YA reads, simply because it's not a genre that I widely enjoy, I was incredibly intrigued by this story and began rather cautiously. What I discovered: Ms. Gurtler's writing is phenomenal. Her skill with words creates a realistic image of a teenager struggling through a crisis and pulls you along for the ride. I noted early on that this book had the "train wreck" effect--you know that something terrible is going to happen yet you can't make yourself look away. I found myself so incredibly immersed in the story that this was definitely true--I couldn't look away and I had to keep turning the pages.
Jasmine is a more complex character than I expected from the book's description and throughout the course of the story, she is dealing with a lot more than "just" seeing her mom's boyfriend kissing her best friend. She perpetually engaged in a sort-of inner battle about what it really means to be half-black, half-white in a very white school/town. This search for a self-identity really comes to a head throughout the book and is compounded by the event she witnessed because until then Simon, the boyfriend, was there for her, helping her come to terms with her identity.
One of the things that bothered me a little was the way that Jasmine treated her friends, and I'm not talking about the friend who made out with her mom's boyfriend. I'm talking about Ashley and Jackson. Ashley, IMO, is Jaz's REAL best friend. She's a tough chick and I found myself wishing that she would just up and b*tch slap Jaz for me--more than once. Jaz doesn't treat her like the awesome friend that she is, so I was definitely happy to see their friendship take more of a forefront as the story came to a close and Jaz left behind a dysfunctional friendship with Lucie. Jackson is a majorly cute love-interest with a history all his own. I was cheering for him from basically the second that I met him. He goes to such great lengths to really connect with Jaz and he's simply fabulous. Yet here again we have Jaz pushing away a good friend. She goes so far as to completley tear into him at one point and says some incredibly hurtful things. I was so hurt for Jackson.
What really shines in this story, for me, is the emotions that Ms. Gurtler drags you through. You'll experience hurt, hatred, confusion, empathy, sympathy, love--you name it and I bet this story can make you feel it. These intensely real emotions combined with the well-craft, highly engaging story will keep you turning the pages with a real sense of urgency.
As someone who is generally wary of contemporary YA reads, simply because it's not a genre that I widely enjoy, I was incredibly intrigued by this story and began rather cautiously. What I discovered: Ms. Gurtler's writing is phenomenal. Her skill with words creates a realistic image of a teenager struggling through a crisis and pulls you along for the ride. I noted early on that this book had the "train wreck" effect--you know that something terrible is going to happen yet you can't make yourself look away. I found myself so incredibly immersed in the story that this was definitely true--I couldn't look away and I had to keep turning the pages.
Jasmine is a more complex character than I expected from the book's description and throughout the course of the story, she is dealing with a lot more than "just" seeing her mom's boyfriend kissing her best friend. She perpetually engaged in a sort-of inner battle about what it really means to be half-black, half-white in a very white school/town. This search for a self-identity really comes to a head throughout the book and is compounded by the event she witnessed because until then Simon, the boyfriend, was there for her, helping her come to terms with her identity.
One of the things that bothered me a little was the way that Jasmine treated her friends, and I'm not talking about the friend who made out with her mom's boyfriend. I'm talking about Ashley and Jackson. Ashley, IMO, is Jaz's REAL best friend. She's a tough chick and I found myself wishing that she would just up and b*tch slap Jaz for me--more than once. Jaz doesn't treat her like the awesome friend that she is, so I was definitely happy to see their friendship take more of a forefront as the story came to a close and Jaz left behind a dysfunctional friendship with Lucie. Jackson is a majorly cute love-interest with a history all his own. I was cheering for him from basically the second that I met him. He goes to such great lengths to really connect with Jaz and he's simply fabulous. Yet here again we have Jaz pushing away a good friend. She goes so far as to completley tear into him at one point and says some incredibly hurtful things. I was so hurt for Jackson.
What really shines in this story, for me, is the emotions that Ms. Gurtler drags you through. You'll experience hurt, hatred, confusion, empathy, sympathy, love--you name it and I bet this story can make you feel it. These intensely real emotions combined with the well-craft, highly engaging story will keep you turning the pages with a real sense of urgency.
September 11, 2011
IF I TELL is a beautiful and thought-provoking novel that is sure to warm your heart. Gurtler confronts many issues that plague teens and doesn't sugar coat anything. I was shocked by how fast this book pulled me in. I wasn't expecting to love this novel as much as I did. I have to say that IF I TELL is one of my favorite contemporary YA books out there.
Jasmine is an insecure, hurt, and distraught biracial girl whose life is an absolute mess when IF I TELL opens up. Because she is biracial, she has dealt with the criticism from onlookers her entire life. She isn't sure where she fits in, and feels like the black sheep of her town. To make matters worse, her relationship with her young mother isn't very healthy. Her grandmother and grandfather raised her since her mother was 17 when she had Jasmine, and she resents her mother for that. Matters only get worse when she catches her mother's boyfriend kissing her best friend, and when she's about to tell her mother the truth, she finds out she's pregnant!
Thus ensues much drama and pain for Jasmine. I truly felt awful for Jasmine. She feels like she has no one in the world, and isn't really living at all. She has lost one of her only friends, Lacey, because she can't forgive her for doing that to her mom. And then there is Simon, her mom's boyfriend. They have always been so close, but when she catches him with Lacey, she feels so betrayed. If I was in Jasmine's shoes, I wouldn't know what to do either. I did get annoyed at her at times because she did have other friends around her, but she was too blind to see the truth.
My favorite character in IF I TELL was definitely Jackson. He comes into the story and sweeps Jasmine right off her feet. Though Jasmine won't admit it because she has a "few" issues she is working through. I loved how understanding he was about Jasmine's situation. Even if she won't tell him her secrets or open up to him, he respects her. And then there is the fact that he has this mysterious vibe to him. You never know quite what is going on with him, or what is the truth about his past.
IF I TELL is an honest and delightful YA that I can guarantee you will love! I just want to go back and re-read the whole novel, even though I have a ton of other books to read. IF I TELL is a keeper, that's for sure!
Jasmine is an insecure, hurt, and distraught biracial girl whose life is an absolute mess when IF I TELL opens up. Because she is biracial, she has dealt with the criticism from onlookers her entire life. She isn't sure where she fits in, and feels like the black sheep of her town. To make matters worse, her relationship with her young mother isn't very healthy. Her grandmother and grandfather raised her since her mother was 17 when she had Jasmine, and she resents her mother for that. Matters only get worse when she catches her mother's boyfriend kissing her best friend, and when she's about to tell her mother the truth, she finds out she's pregnant!
Thus ensues much drama and pain for Jasmine. I truly felt awful for Jasmine. She feels like she has no one in the world, and isn't really living at all. She has lost one of her only friends, Lacey, because she can't forgive her for doing that to her mom. And then there is Simon, her mom's boyfriend. They have always been so close, but when she catches him with Lacey, she feels so betrayed. If I was in Jasmine's shoes, I wouldn't know what to do either. I did get annoyed at her at times because she did have other friends around her, but she was too blind to see the truth.
My favorite character in IF I TELL was definitely Jackson. He comes into the story and sweeps Jasmine right off her feet. Though Jasmine won't admit it because she has a "few" issues she is working through. I loved how understanding he was about Jasmine's situation. Even if she won't tell him her secrets or open up to him, he respects her. And then there is the fact that he has this mysterious vibe to him. You never know quite what is going on with him, or what is the truth about his past.
IF I TELL is an honest and delightful YA that I can guarantee you will love! I just want to go back and re-read the whole novel, even though I have a ton of other books to read. IF I TELL is a keeper, that's for sure!
September 20, 2011
If I Tell is first and foremost a deeply realistic novel (maybe you can't tell by the summary which at first sounded to me like a soap opera blurb), but given any other setup, any other place and situation, the core of it is as realistic as it can be. The main conflict revolves around an alcohol-induced mistake. If told, it could destroy several lives. As Jasmine struggles with herself weighing the pros and cos of telling the truth,she learns that everyone makes mistakes, but also that some of them have to be forgiven and forgotten.
Janet Gurtler addressees issues such as alcoholism, postpartum depression, racial and sexual identity with honesty and frankness (given that there was a lot of talk recently about making gay characters straight in YA literature, I really appreciated it), which added more depth to the novel and characters.
I loved the characters. They are well-developed, multidimensional, perfectly flawed and so real. To quote from the book-We're human. We're an imperfect species. From characters that are easy to judge in the beginning they grow and spread to unveil the morale of the story; can you dismiss all the good in a person because of one mistake?
I read If I Tell in a day. It made me laugh out loud and filled my eyes with tears more than once. What I loved most about this novel, beside it's emotional charge and strong morale, was the tenderness in voice and compassion Janet wraps her characters in.
Janet Gurtler addressees issues such as alcoholism, postpartum depression, racial and sexual identity with honesty and frankness (given that there was a lot of talk recently about making gay characters straight in YA literature, I really appreciated it), which added more depth to the novel and characters.
I loved the characters. They are well-developed, multidimensional, perfectly flawed and so real. To quote from the book-We're human. We're an imperfect species. From characters that are easy to judge in the beginning they grow and spread to unveil the morale of the story; can you dismiss all the good in a person because of one mistake?
I read If I Tell in a day. It made me laugh out loud and filled my eyes with tears more than once. What I loved most about this novel, beside it's emotional charge and strong morale, was the tenderness in voice and compassion Janet wraps her characters in.
October 20, 2011
I was prepared for a fun, light teen novel about some big questions.
Easy and kind of glazed over.
What I got?
Harsh reality and burning truth.
Social structure, interracial misgivings, identity crisis for the old and the young, lies, half truths, pain, loss, ended friendships, broken promises and shaken trusts, cheating and forgiving, child neglect and peer abuse, tears and ugly words, hugs and love, young hope, bright futures, new beginnings, better tomorrows and tighter bonds, new families and old friends, gay people and convicted people, black people, white people and the ones in limbo, sorted in what ever category of skin, religion, sexual orientation and life in general.
I have learned trough the pain and the sunny times, trough loving some and hating some, only to be turned around and start anew.
This book was worth my wile.
It was not hip or paranormal or full of action, but it went straight for the heart, and I plan to love it to death.
The book was courtesy of NetGalley.
Easy and kind of glazed over.
What I got?
Harsh reality and burning truth.
Social structure, interracial misgivings, identity crisis for the old and the young, lies, half truths, pain, loss, ended friendships, broken promises and shaken trusts, cheating and forgiving, child neglect and peer abuse, tears and ugly words, hugs and love, young hope, bright futures, new beginnings, better tomorrows and tighter bonds, new families and old friends, gay people and convicted people, black people, white people and the ones in limbo, sorted in what ever category of skin, religion, sexual orientation and life in general.
I have learned trough the pain and the sunny times, trough loving some and hating some, only to be turned around and start anew.
This book was worth my wile.
It was not hip or paranormal or full of action, but it went straight for the heart, and I plan to love it to death.
The book was courtesy of NetGalley.
October 19, 2011
As with many reviewers, I was torn with this book. It had its moments of wonderment but overall it seemed too far reaching. The writing was good for a YA book but not exceptional, the plot line well drawn at first and then slowly degenerating into a “how many teen topics can we throw in this novel”. The addition of so many problems common to teenagers caused the original plot line to be diluted and have less of an impact on me as a reader. The main character went from a relatable character to one that whined throughout the entire novel and frequently judged others while complaining of them doing the same thing. The unevenness of all of this and the duplicity of it made it a chore to read and, unfortunately, is not a book I would recommend to most teen audiences.
ARC Galley Proof
ARC Galley Proof
July 24, 2017
This book was terrible, I had to skim the book to finish it. The writing was awful, the characters even worse. It amazes me sometimes how annoying characters can be. Jaz has this mentality that knowing something no one else does allows her to be a bitch to literally everyone. Headsup, keeping a secret (that you could literally tell at any minute) does not give you permission to be rude to family and friends. I also had a huge problem with the fact that she kept what she saw a secret. I know it's hard to talk to people, especially when you love them, but has Jaz never heard of email? Letters? Texting? There are other ways to convey information to people other than talking face to face. In short the whole book was a waste of time. I gave it 1 star on Goodreads.
September 7, 2016
I have to say this book was a refreshing. It is not live every other book I read. The protagonist is imperfect and full of so many things and questions herself. It was great to see her journey of acceptance and understanding for not just just herself, but those around her. I love each and every character in this book.
October 9, 2011
Janet Gurtler has to be my new favorite contemporary YA author! Loved this story. Review coming soon!
My YA Books Central review: http://www.yabookscentral.com/yaficti...
My YA Books Central review: http://www.yabookscentral.com/yaficti...
September 12, 2011
GENRE: Young Adult Fiction, Romance
FORM: eBook, Netgalley, ARC
While I was granted permission to read this book by a NetGalley affiliate publisher, Sourcebooks, I have received no compensation for this review other than the joy of reading!
SYNOPSIS: Jasmine wasn’t suppose to see her best friend making out with her mother’s boyfriend, she wasn’t suppose to see how they embraced madly, driven by lust and alcohol, nor how it looked like the whole event was just getting started, so she turned away and went back to where she came from. Now burdened with this huge secret, Jaz was set on breaking the news to her mother, knowing that it will ruin her relationship with Simon, but it was something she just had to do. Except her mother had some news of her own; she is pregnant. Now she’s holding this information inside, and is unable to make amends with Lacey, her ex-best friend, so she begins turning to the new hot guy working at the same coffee shop she does. Jackson is there for her when she feels as if no one else is.
REVIEW: If I Tell had me hooked from the beginning. Janet Gurtler lets out just enough information at a time to keep you pushing forward in the book to find out the ‘why’s’ or so you’ll find out what happens next. To me, this was more of a story of coming into one’s self than it is about keeping a deep dark secret, but this thing looming over Jaz’s head is what causes her life to go spiraling off path in the first place.
Jaz is half black, was born to a teenage mom, her dad skipped town, and she was raised by her grandparents. Already, she has a lot to deal with. Throw in the fact that all the kids in school look down on her for being so different – not black, and not white, there is not a crowd that she belongs to. Now throw in the fact that you've witness your mom's boyfriend kissing your best friend, and you've got a mess. The thing is, Jaz, behaved as if she was younger than her seventeen years. While she was dealing with a lot of issues, instead of behaving like a mature young-adult, she would fly off the handle, yell out biting words to hurt her target and storm off. Sometimes she had the decency to cry and feel bad about what she had done, but not enough to try and make efforts not to do it again. Her biggest problem, as her friend Ashley points out, is self-esteem. She does not think very highly of herself. If you think you are the victim, often times you will find yourself the victim. Point in case, the high school snob, Tina.
Here’s the kicker, with all these things going wrong for Jaz; she’s got a huge secret, and she feels like the world is out to get her because of her skin color, what she does not see is that she’s got this huge support system all around her. She is blessed with more friends than some people have, granted it’s a group of misfits, but together they form a crowd all their own, one in which they all belong. Despite the big fat huge mistake that any normal person probably would have trouble getting over, she’s got Lacey, who has been her best friend for a while. She’s got Ashley, the lesbian who moved to her school to get away from her own bullying. She’s got Jackson, who has his own secrets, and also was in juvy for dealing drugs. She’s got Simon, who once again made a really big mistake, but who loves her and has helped her understand a part of herself no one else could. She’s got her grandma, who for all intents and purposes was her mother. Even her own mother is there, even if her role is more of an older sister than that of a mother. So reading it from my end, seeing all that she did have and was missing out on proved to be a bit of a frustrating for me. While Jaz was sinking in self-pity and throwing self-destructive tantrums, these people are sticking by her through thick and thin.
I loved her support system. I loved all of her friends. Ashley was earnest and kind. Jackson was sexy and understanding and unbelievably patient. These characters have started to help Jaz see that life isn’t as bad as she makes it out to be. I can’t say everything she felt was all in her head, it absolutely was not, but thankfully, at the end of the book I think she realized that it was time to heal and move on from past hurts and begin to look forward, making this book more than worth the read!
FORM: eBook, Netgalley, ARC
While I was granted permission to read this book by a NetGalley affiliate publisher, Sourcebooks, I have received no compensation for this review other than the joy of reading!
SYNOPSIS: Jasmine wasn’t suppose to see her best friend making out with her mother’s boyfriend, she wasn’t suppose to see how they embraced madly, driven by lust and alcohol, nor how it looked like the whole event was just getting started, so she turned away and went back to where she came from. Now burdened with this huge secret, Jaz was set on breaking the news to her mother, knowing that it will ruin her relationship with Simon, but it was something she just had to do. Except her mother had some news of her own; she is pregnant. Now she’s holding this information inside, and is unable to make amends with Lacey, her ex-best friend, so she begins turning to the new hot guy working at the same coffee shop she does. Jackson is there for her when she feels as if no one else is.
REVIEW: If I Tell had me hooked from the beginning. Janet Gurtler lets out just enough information at a time to keep you pushing forward in the book to find out the ‘why’s’ or so you’ll find out what happens next. To me, this was more of a story of coming into one’s self than it is about keeping a deep dark secret, but this thing looming over Jaz’s head is what causes her life to go spiraling off path in the first place.
Jaz is half black, was born to a teenage mom, her dad skipped town, and she was raised by her grandparents. Already, she has a lot to deal with. Throw in the fact that all the kids in school look down on her for being so different – not black, and not white, there is not a crowd that she belongs to. Now throw in the fact that you've witness your mom's boyfriend kissing your best friend, and you've got a mess. The thing is, Jaz, behaved as if she was younger than her seventeen years. While she was dealing with a lot of issues, instead of behaving like a mature young-adult, she would fly off the handle, yell out biting words to hurt her target and storm off. Sometimes she had the decency to cry and feel bad about what she had done, but not enough to try and make efforts not to do it again. Her biggest problem, as her friend Ashley points out, is self-esteem. She does not think very highly of herself. If you think you are the victim, often times you will find yourself the victim. Point in case, the high school snob, Tina.
Here’s the kicker, with all these things going wrong for Jaz; she’s got a huge secret, and she feels like the world is out to get her because of her skin color, what she does not see is that she’s got this huge support system all around her. She is blessed with more friends than some people have, granted it’s a group of misfits, but together they form a crowd all their own, one in which they all belong. Despite the big fat huge mistake that any normal person probably would have trouble getting over, she’s got Lacey, who has been her best friend for a while. She’s got Ashley, the lesbian who moved to her school to get away from her own bullying. She’s got Jackson, who has his own secrets, and also was in juvy for dealing drugs. She’s got Simon, who once again made a really big mistake, but who loves her and has helped her understand a part of herself no one else could. She’s got her grandma, who for all intents and purposes was her mother. Even her own mother is there, even if her role is more of an older sister than that of a mother. So reading it from my end, seeing all that she did have and was missing out on proved to be a bit of a frustrating for me. While Jaz was sinking in self-pity and throwing self-destructive tantrums, these people are sticking by her through thick and thin.
I loved her support system. I loved all of her friends. Ashley was earnest and kind. Jackson was sexy and understanding and unbelievably patient. These characters have started to help Jaz see that life isn’t as bad as she makes it out to be. I can’t say everything she felt was all in her head, it absolutely was not, but thankfully, at the end of the book I think she realized that it was time to heal and move on from past hurts and begin to look forward, making this book more than worth the read!
November 11, 2011
MC Jasmine ("Jaz") had her fair share of issues to contend with, even before she saw her Mom's boyfriend making out with Jaz's skank-a-rific "best friend" Lacey at that party. Issues, you ask? Well, she's never really gotten over being abandoned by her Dad, who split as soon as he found out that her Mom was pregnant at seventeen. She's the only bi-racial kid in a town that is pretty backward and mean about that sort of thing. Her grandfather Joe, the one guy she could count on, died recently, and her new best friend Ashley (who is gay, btw) is pretty much too busy to hang out, what with her busy swim team schedule and all. And that new guy, Jackson? The one who transferred in from juvie? He seems nice, and he's not only utterly sa-woon-esque, he seems interested in her! But Jaz has to wonder whether he's still dealing drugs, or if there's some other reason he's so mysterioso and cryptic on those phone calls he keeps getting at the most inopportune times. So, yup, lots going on, even before the fateful kissy face event. And Jaz, perhaps in light of all of the above, is not really the greatest at handling it. Already pretty good at stonewalling her own emotions and keeping other people at arm's length, her inability to decide how to handle the secret isolates her, and makes her even more difficult to get along with. What's a girl to do? I mean, let's face it, that's a pretty tough situation no matter how much aplomb, savoir faire and maturity you can muster, and Jaz is a teenager.
Which is exactly one of the things I really like about this book. Jaz is not all wise beyond her years, emotionally capable and socially ept. She's all kinds of awkward, not terribly able to understand, let alone articulate and express her feelings. Fortunately, she has a wonderful author friend who can do that for her, so we lucky readers do get inside that mixed up, angsty head of hers, as she works things out, realizes what is and what is not her responsibiity or fault, and finds out who her friends are, and how to forgive them and herself, when they (and she) use poor judgment and bad impulse control. Which is not to say that everything is wrapped up in a pretty package at the end. Even those early crocuses peeping out of the frozen feelings tundra remain realistically vulnerable and tentative as the narrative closes. But is there anything more hopeful than those first few shoots of green in March?
Some other things I loved about this book. Girls and guitars. Just the phrase makes me happy - and the author does a great job of conveying a real guitar player's enthusiasm and gear geekiness in the discussion of brands (full disclosure alert - I own a couple of Alvarez guitars, so she had me right there!), and appropriate awestruckness at a custom Martin. The song Jaz wrote was cool, too, and added depth and a feeling for how deep her hurt and creativity ran, and how intertwined they were. This is totally Jasmine's story, but the rest of the cast is fully realized too, with believable, relatable and unique voices and vibes. This is everything a good YA book should be - character driven, and with a great conflict pushing the narrative on - should she tell, if so, who should she tell and how? There's romance, but it's not a romance. It's chock full of the aforementioned issues (spoiler alert - nobody gets cancer, otherwise, it's all in there!), and the kind of emotional epiphanies and coming to terms with the foibles and frailties of the world and one's self that sporadically, spasmodically mark the milestones of the painful process of becoming an adult.
Which is exactly one of the things I really like about this book. Jaz is not all wise beyond her years, emotionally capable and socially ept. She's all kinds of awkward, not terribly able to understand, let alone articulate and express her feelings. Fortunately, she has a wonderful author friend who can do that for her, so we lucky readers do get inside that mixed up, angsty head of hers, as she works things out, realizes what is and what is not her responsibiity or fault, and finds out who her friends are, and how to forgive them and herself, when they (and she) use poor judgment and bad impulse control. Which is not to say that everything is wrapped up in a pretty package at the end. Even those early crocuses peeping out of the frozen feelings tundra remain realistically vulnerable and tentative as the narrative closes. But is there anything more hopeful than those first few shoots of green in March?
Some other things I loved about this book. Girls and guitars. Just the phrase makes me happy - and the author does a great job of conveying a real guitar player's enthusiasm and gear geekiness in the discussion of brands (full disclosure alert - I own a couple of Alvarez guitars, so she had me right there!), and appropriate awestruckness at a custom Martin. The song Jaz wrote was cool, too, and added depth and a feeling for how deep her hurt and creativity ran, and how intertwined they were. This is totally Jasmine's story, but the rest of the cast is fully realized too, with believable, relatable and unique voices and vibes. This is everything a good YA book should be - character driven, and with a great conflict pushing the narrative on - should she tell, if so, who should she tell and how? There's romance, but it's not a romance. It's chock full of the aforementioned issues (spoiler alert - nobody gets cancer, otherwise, it's all in there!), and the kind of emotional epiphanies and coming to terms with the foibles and frailties of the world and one's self that sporadically, spasmodically mark the milestones of the painful process of becoming an adult.
September 22, 2011
I loved Janet Gurtler's debut, I'm Not Her, so I was really excited for If I Tell. (Also, I'm kind of in love with Sourcebooks Fire. Their covers and their whole design is gorgeous.) But even though everything about If I Tell is good, I couldn't really connect to Jaz, the main character, and that made it hard for me to get into the story.
The writing, like in I'm Not Her, is great. Janet Gurtler has a way with words that works really well in contemporary YA, and I love her style.
The plot is good too - much better, in my opinion, than the description makes it out to be. Honestly, the description sounds kind of soap-opera-y, but that's not the case at all. If I Tell is not only about Jaz not knowing whether or not to keep Simon and Lacey's secret or to tell her mother - there are loads of interesting storylines. There are so many issues addressed in this book - alocoholism, sexual abuse, homosexuality, racism, and many more I don't want to list in order not to spoil it for you. They're all addressed with great subtlety, which is something I always love.
The secondary characters are great. They're multi-dimensional, flawed and realistic.There's Lacey, Jaz's ex-best friend who deals with her issues by drinking and sleeping around; Ashley, a spunky lesbian swimmer who tries to get Jaz to see herself for who she really is (I really loved Ashley); Jackson, whose issues I don't want to talk about because I don't want to spoil it for anyone, but whom I also loved (he's adorably sweet to Jaz); Simon, who starts out seeming like an ass but whom I could kind of understand later on; and Jaz's mom, who's also an interesting character, but again, I don't want to spoil the book for you guys so I won't say anything more about her. All of the secondary characters have their own issues, making this a realistic and interesting set of characters.
The only character I had a problem with is Jaz. That's not to say she's a bad character - she's well-written and fully-developed. But I just couldn't connect with her. Yeah, she's had it rough, but I couldn't really connect with her issues with being biracial. I don't want to sound mean or ignorant or anything, but... Is it really that big a deal? I know there are places where people are less tolerant than where I live, but it can't be the only thing people notice about someone, in today's world, can it? Yes, having to deal with that for all her life must have been difficult for Jaz, but I got kind of annoyed by how she let that define her whole person, how she just assumed no one could like her because of her color. Her immaturity in general kind of annoyed me - I got upset reading about how she couldn't deal with her issues and lashed out at everyone else because of it.
Maybe giving this book 'only' three stars is unfair, since the only big problem I had with If I Tell is my lack of connection with the main character. (Honestly, though, I'm kind of sick of star ratings in general...) But not being able to connect with Jaz made me feel somewhat removed from the story throughout, which means I couldn't enjoy it as much as I would have liked to. Still, I recommend you give this book a try - the writing, the plot, the characters, everything about it is good. And connecting with a character is different for everyone. So, I do recommend If I Tell, but since I liked I'm Not Her better I'd recommend reading I'm Not Her first, if you haven't read anything by Janet Gurtler.
Reviewed at http://www.paperbacktreasures.blogspo...
The writing, like in I'm Not Her, is great. Janet Gurtler has a way with words that works really well in contemporary YA, and I love her style.
The plot is good too - much better, in my opinion, than the description makes it out to be. Honestly, the description sounds kind of soap-opera-y, but that's not the case at all. If I Tell is not only about Jaz not knowing whether or not to keep Simon and Lacey's secret or to tell her mother - there are loads of interesting storylines. There are so many issues addressed in this book - alocoholism, sexual abuse, homosexuality, racism, and many more I don't want to list in order not to spoil it for you. They're all addressed with great subtlety, which is something I always love.
The secondary characters are great. They're multi-dimensional, flawed and realistic.There's Lacey, Jaz's ex-best friend who deals with her issues by drinking and sleeping around; Ashley, a spunky lesbian swimmer who tries to get Jaz to see herself for who she really is (I really loved Ashley); Jackson, whose issues I don't want to talk about because I don't want to spoil it for anyone, but whom I also loved (he's adorably sweet to Jaz); Simon, who starts out seeming like an ass but whom I could kind of understand later on; and Jaz's mom, who's also an interesting character, but again, I don't want to spoil the book for you guys so I won't say anything more about her. All of the secondary characters have their own issues, making this a realistic and interesting set of characters.
The only character I had a problem with is Jaz. That's not to say she's a bad character - she's well-written and fully-developed. But I just couldn't connect with her. Yeah, she's had it rough, but I couldn't really connect with her issues with being biracial. I don't want to sound mean or ignorant or anything, but... Is it really that big a deal? I know there are places where people are less tolerant than where I live, but it can't be the only thing people notice about someone, in today's world, can it? Yes, having to deal with that for all her life must have been difficult for Jaz, but I got kind of annoyed by how she let that define her whole person, how she just assumed no one could like her because of her color. Her immaturity in general kind of annoyed me - I got upset reading about how she couldn't deal with her issues and lashed out at everyone else because of it.
Maybe giving this book 'only' three stars is unfair, since the only big problem I had with If I Tell is my lack of connection with the main character. (Honestly, though, I'm kind of sick of star ratings in general...) But not being able to connect with Jaz made me feel somewhat removed from the story throughout, which means I couldn't enjoy it as much as I would have liked to. Still, I recommend you give this book a try - the writing, the plot, the characters, everything about it is good. And connecting with a character is different for everyone. So, I do recommend If I Tell, but since I liked I'm Not Her better I'd recommend reading I'm Not Her first, if you haven't read anything by Janet Gurtler.
Reviewed at http://www.paperbacktreasures.blogspo...
October 13, 2011
If there's one thing that I can say about "If I Tell" definitively - it's an addicting read and I honestly couldn't put this book down as I read it. It had me hooked from beginning to end and I honestly say I couldn't put it down to see what happens to Jasmine (Jaz), the leading character. It's very much a drama about a young woman who faces a lot of issues in her life and finds herself carried within a downward spiral of events, so much so that she's almost swallowed by it and even swept within it in some considerations. From dealing with issues involving her biracial identity, to having a mother who didn't raise her and a father who rejected her, to witnessing her best friend making out with her mother's boyfriend, among other factors, it's hard not to feel for Jaz. She has to contend with a lot in what seems like a small amount of time. The conflicts are laid on thick, and things quickly become more complicated as the story goes on.
I like the fact that Janet Gurtler doesn't turn away from raising the issues in this book, and how Jaz has to face some harsh realities in which she learns and grows from what she encounters in some cases. I also like the fact that Gurtler represents a multitude of issues within her work, including, but not limited to: racism, conflict with racial identity/biracial heritage, bullying, teen pregnancy, alcoholism, post-partum depression, and homosexuality. I commend her for trying to take these issues and mold them within the larger story to bring to light coming to terms with how flawed people are and that we, as people, gain acceptance by loving/respecting who we are on the inside first and then apply that love/appreciation for the people around us. How finding a way to happiness starts with coming to terms with those things. I get the intended message very clearly, but I'm seriously torn about this book in more ways than one, because I feel like it's so overwhelming and tries to pack so many things within it that it sacrifices plausibility in cases to be able to fit the story in such a limited scope/span.
I guess the better question to raise is, in the scheme of all the issues Gurtler brings up - is it realistic? Well, yes and no. It's a bit of both, and sometimes its beautifully illustrated in scenes that actually tugged at my heart strings, while others I had to truly suspend disbelief as to how the coincidences ran and how quick it seems to go through some of those greater contention points. It brings up some great discussion prompts that I think will make people who read it - teens, perhaps even adults - think about as they consider them raised in the scheme of the novel, but I think if it were a bit more evened out, it would've made a far better book as far as having more clarifying impact and emotional resonance. The emotional resonance is there in places, but not taken from as much intimacy as it potentially could've had. I still enjoyed the book for what it offered, and it's one I would recommend people read because it's well-written, engaging, and will allow people to think about the issues raised within it.
I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher Sourcebooks.
Overall score: 4/5
I like the fact that Janet Gurtler doesn't turn away from raising the issues in this book, and how Jaz has to face some harsh realities in which she learns and grows from what she encounters in some cases. I also like the fact that Gurtler represents a multitude of issues within her work, including, but not limited to: racism, conflict with racial identity/biracial heritage, bullying, teen pregnancy, alcoholism, post-partum depression, and homosexuality. I commend her for trying to take these issues and mold them within the larger story to bring to light coming to terms with how flawed people are and that we, as people, gain acceptance by loving/respecting who we are on the inside first and then apply that love/appreciation for the people around us. How finding a way to happiness starts with coming to terms with those things. I get the intended message very clearly, but I'm seriously torn about this book in more ways than one, because I feel like it's so overwhelming and tries to pack so many things within it that it sacrifices plausibility in cases to be able to fit the story in such a limited scope/span.
I guess the better question to raise is, in the scheme of all the issues Gurtler brings up - is it realistic? Well, yes and no. It's a bit of both, and sometimes its beautifully illustrated in scenes that actually tugged at my heart strings, while others I had to truly suspend disbelief as to how the coincidences ran and how quick it seems to go through some of those greater contention points. It brings up some great discussion prompts that I think will make people who read it - teens, perhaps even adults - think about as they consider them raised in the scheme of the novel, but I think if it were a bit more evened out, it would've made a far better book as far as having more clarifying impact and emotional resonance. The emotional resonance is there in places, but not taken from as much intimacy as it potentially could've had. I still enjoyed the book for what it offered, and it's one I would recommend people read because it's well-written, engaging, and will allow people to think about the issues raised within it.
I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, from the publisher Sourcebooks.
Overall score: 4/5
November 28, 2011
More reviews at http://dazzlingreads.blogspot.com
Our words can be very powerful, and what we do say and what do not, can make big changes in our life as well as in the life of those around us. If I Tell by Janet Gurtler is a book that raises many "what If ..." questions and make readers put themselves in strong emotional situations. Heartbreaking and emotionally evocative, If I Tell is is a story of self-growing, understanding and forgiveness. Certainly, after turning the last page, readers will be grateful to have read a book that exposes such a valuable life lesson.
Jez is half white half black a teenage girl who was raised by her grand-mother because when her mother gave birth to her, she was still in high school and clearly too young to act in a responsible way by taking care of her own child. This has clearly weighted in Jez's life as well as her mixed heritage. Jez lives in a place where black people stick with blacks and whites with whites. This racial division doesn't allow her to fit in, or at least she doesn't feel she can be part of any group and she becomes a introverted girl with very few people to support her.
If I Tell by by Janet Gurtler make us think about so many life issues through Jez' s life such as racial problems, family issues and low self-esteem. Jez is a very fragile character and so easy to sympathize with. Gurtler give us so many details of Jez life that everything she does and the way she thinks is understandable and justifiable. Also, Jez is keeping a secret that could break her family apart. She struggles with this secret and so many other problems in her life with no way to canalize them ...until she meets Jackson. Jackson is a boy who recently moved into town and goes to the same school as Jez. But Jackson looks 100% white and this, for Jez, is a barrier. However, Jackson is the sweetest guy ever and he does get closer to Jez. Jackson's friendship is a key in Jez's self-growing and, thanks to him, she takes the right decision. Jackson is more than a love interest; he is psychologically strong making him a great support for Jez and specially in what concerns her mixed heritage. Jackson is emotionally very Intelligent but he also has went through very harsh experiences to become the person he is in the book. Jackson has his own story.
If I tell is a book that I really love in so many ways. It makes us think about what we should or should not say, it makes think about the consequences of our acts. If I tell is an experience that tells us not to judge people's behavior or "jumping to conclusions based on appearance" (p.237) If I tell teaches us that "people might surprise you if you look harder [and that] sometimes you have to look beneath the surface" (p.39) Some things should be said, others things shouldn't. How do we know what can be kept secret and what should not? Look beneath the surface, see what the intentions really were and put yourself in other people's place. Then you will understand. Then, you will be able to forgive.
If I tell is an intense and breathtaking story of growing, understanding and forgiveness. This is a story filled with values and overwhelming feelings that readers will definitely treasure not only as a great book, but as a meaningful life experience. Highly recommended!
Our words can be very powerful, and what we do say and what do not, can make big changes in our life as well as in the life of those around us. If I Tell by Janet Gurtler is a book that raises many "what If ..." questions and make readers put themselves in strong emotional situations. Heartbreaking and emotionally evocative, If I Tell is is a story of self-growing, understanding and forgiveness. Certainly, after turning the last page, readers will be grateful to have read a book that exposes such a valuable life lesson.
Jez is half white half black a teenage girl who was raised by her grand-mother because when her mother gave birth to her, she was still in high school and clearly too young to act in a responsible way by taking care of her own child. This has clearly weighted in Jez's life as well as her mixed heritage. Jez lives in a place where black people stick with blacks and whites with whites. This racial division doesn't allow her to fit in, or at least she doesn't feel she can be part of any group and she becomes a introverted girl with very few people to support her.
If I Tell by by Janet Gurtler make us think about so many life issues through Jez' s life such as racial problems, family issues and low self-esteem. Jez is a very fragile character and so easy to sympathize with. Gurtler give us so many details of Jez life that everything she does and the way she thinks is understandable and justifiable. Also, Jez is keeping a secret that could break her family apart. She struggles with this secret and so many other problems in her life with no way to canalize them ...until she meets Jackson. Jackson is a boy who recently moved into town and goes to the same school as Jez. But Jackson looks 100% white and this, for Jez, is a barrier. However, Jackson is the sweetest guy ever and he does get closer to Jez. Jackson's friendship is a key in Jez's self-growing and, thanks to him, she takes the right decision. Jackson is more than a love interest; he is psychologically strong making him a great support for Jez and specially in what concerns her mixed heritage. Jackson is emotionally very Intelligent but he also has went through very harsh experiences to become the person he is in the book. Jackson has his own story.
If I tell is a book that I really love in so many ways. It makes us think about what we should or should not say, it makes think about the consequences of our acts. If I tell is an experience that tells us not to judge people's behavior or "jumping to conclusions based on appearance" (p.237) If I tell teaches us that "people might surprise you if you look harder [and that] sometimes you have to look beneath the surface" (p.39) Some things should be said, others things shouldn't. How do we know what can be kept secret and what should not? Look beneath the surface, see what the intentions really were and put yourself in other people's place. Then you will understand. Then, you will be able to forgive.
If I tell is an intense and breathtaking story of growing, understanding and forgiveness. This is a story filled with values and overwhelming feelings that readers will definitely treasure not only as a great book, but as a meaningful life experience. Highly recommended!
September 28, 2011
I was absolutely thrilled to be given the chance to review Jane Gurtler’s young adult fiction ‘If I Tell’ (published October 2011) by the generous folks over at Sourcebooks and Net Galley. I have been waiting patiently to read this after falling in love with the cover’s whimsical palate of aqua and greens, which promises only good things to come. Indeed, I read it across the span of a night and finished in the early hours of the morning.
In many ways, the central image of the girl staring into the distance is a fitting symbol for the alienated central protagonist of this touchingly realistic bildungsroman. Jasmine is the biracial product of her young mother’s relationship with her jock teenage boyfriend. She is raised by her grandmother in a small, rather racially homogenous town, where she feels ostracized by her peers after an emotionally scarring incident as a child. She retreats into music and her friendship with Lacey, a promiscuous older girl, while also confiding in her pregnant mother’s boyfriend, Simon, who understands only too well the difficulties of racial prejudice. However, when her two worlds collide and she sights Lacey and Simon kissing at a party, her loyalties are tested and she is forced to undertake a journey of self-discovery on the path to maturity. The delectable guitar-wielding Jackson aids this process, yet his own secrets have the potential to compromise their developing trust and friendship.
The unusual combination of a biracial protagonist and the central premise of a cheating father figure immediately draws the reader, who cannot help but sympathize with Jaz’s struggles for acceptance. While Jaz could be overly insular, temperamental and self-involved at times, it is these very flaws that contribute to the novel’s greatest quality; its realism. Teenagers, while fascinating, are not always calm, cool and collected, and Gurtler nails the emotional rollercoaster of adolescence. This also assisted by the use of first person, which allows for greatest insight and connection with the understandably detached central character and her process of reasoning.
The dominant themes of racial prejudice, familial disconnection and isolation are balanced with the delightful first pangs of young love, as the gorgeous Jackson gradually encourages Jaz to lower her self-enforced armor and develop trust. Luckily for Jaz, her quirky cast of friends also has complete faith in her beauty and talent, and it is this support that guides her, despite her initial unwillingness to form bonds. The tenderness of her support network is quite touching, even if Jaz doesn’t always appreciate it. I especially loved Jackson and Ashley, with all their quirks and idiosyncrasies and eternal, unwavering support.
Overall, a sweet read that explores some hard-hitting themes that are relevant to many youth today. I have already recommended this for purchase at the local and school libraries!
In many ways, the central image of the girl staring into the distance is a fitting symbol for the alienated central protagonist of this touchingly realistic bildungsroman. Jasmine is the biracial product of her young mother’s relationship with her jock teenage boyfriend. She is raised by her grandmother in a small, rather racially homogenous town, where she feels ostracized by her peers after an emotionally scarring incident as a child. She retreats into music and her friendship with Lacey, a promiscuous older girl, while also confiding in her pregnant mother’s boyfriend, Simon, who understands only too well the difficulties of racial prejudice. However, when her two worlds collide and she sights Lacey and Simon kissing at a party, her loyalties are tested and she is forced to undertake a journey of self-discovery on the path to maturity. The delectable guitar-wielding Jackson aids this process, yet his own secrets have the potential to compromise their developing trust and friendship.
The unusual combination of a biracial protagonist and the central premise of a cheating father figure immediately draws the reader, who cannot help but sympathize with Jaz’s struggles for acceptance. While Jaz could be overly insular, temperamental and self-involved at times, it is these very flaws that contribute to the novel’s greatest quality; its realism. Teenagers, while fascinating, are not always calm, cool and collected, and Gurtler nails the emotional rollercoaster of adolescence. This also assisted by the use of first person, which allows for greatest insight and connection with the understandably detached central character and her process of reasoning.
The dominant themes of racial prejudice, familial disconnection and isolation are balanced with the delightful first pangs of young love, as the gorgeous Jackson gradually encourages Jaz to lower her self-enforced armor and develop trust. Luckily for Jaz, her quirky cast of friends also has complete faith in her beauty and talent, and it is this support that guides her, despite her initial unwillingness to form bonds. The tenderness of her support network is quite touching, even if Jaz doesn’t always appreciate it. I especially loved Jackson and Ashley, with all their quirks and idiosyncrasies and eternal, unwavering support.
Overall, a sweet read that explores some hard-hitting themes that are relevant to many youth today. I have already recommended this for purchase at the local and school libraries!
September 11, 2015
In my opinion, I think "If I Tell " was a very well written book because it is so realistic. The author seems to incorporate many serious issues that our culture has to face. The topic was very emotional and the characters intense. The book urged me to keep reading. What really kept me on the edge of my seat was the main character deciding on whether to share a secret. The writer also did a great job of developing many emotions experienced in the story. The lessons learned about forgiveness, trust and friendship were powerful. The emotions I felt made this an enjoyable read for me.
The book centers around the main character, Jaz, who was a product of an interracial relationship. She is raised by her grandmother because her mother had her at a young age and the father did not stay with her mother. The mother is not fit to raise Jasmine since she does not appear to have her act together. Her mom becomes involved with a man who is younger than her and gets pregnant again. The lack of help from her mother and the feelings of not fitting in because she is neither black or white, causes her to feel alone and frustrated. The conflict she feels involves something she sees that would hurt her mother. She feels torn about revealing the secret since she finds out her mother is pregnant. I felt her pain while she tried to make the right decision.
The story starts out about the secret but it also touches on subjects such as racism, teenage pregnancy, homosexuality, betrayal, and forgiveness.
Growing up in a family or a town with these experiences shape who we become. Jasmine is affected by racism and loneliness. She does not feel she fits in because she is neither all white or all black.There were friends a long the way that did try to help her with her identity but she pushed them away.
"You belong, Jaz. You are a human being. Color isn't what you are. It's just your shade. You're beautiful inside where it counts (Gurtler 71)." Friends and loved ones tend to help shape how we feel about ourselves. This quote shows how Jasmine really appears to others and by making that statement might change the way she feels about herself. She would complain about having anyone in her life but really did not put herself out there. Sometimes I think Jasmine and even some people I know, like to feel pitied.
I recommend this book to teenage girls because there is a lot of drama and emotion. The book focuses on adult topics such as relationships, alcohol abuse, pregnancy without marriage, forgiveness, secrets, and racism and the reader needs to be prepared for those topics. Also the main character is a young teenage girl who faces many obstacles and many teenage readers may relate to her conflicts.
The book centers around the main character, Jaz, who was a product of an interracial relationship. She is raised by her grandmother because her mother had her at a young age and the father did not stay with her mother. The mother is not fit to raise Jasmine since she does not appear to have her act together. Her mom becomes involved with a man who is younger than her and gets pregnant again. The lack of help from her mother and the feelings of not fitting in because she is neither black or white, causes her to feel alone and frustrated. The conflict she feels involves something she sees that would hurt her mother. She feels torn about revealing the secret since she finds out her mother is pregnant. I felt her pain while she tried to make the right decision.
The story starts out about the secret but it also touches on subjects such as racism, teenage pregnancy, homosexuality, betrayal, and forgiveness.
Growing up in a family or a town with these experiences shape who we become. Jasmine is affected by racism and loneliness. She does not feel she fits in because she is neither all white or all black.There were friends a long the way that did try to help her with her identity but she pushed them away.
"You belong, Jaz. You are a human being. Color isn't what you are. It's just your shade. You're beautiful inside where it counts (Gurtler 71)." Friends and loved ones tend to help shape how we feel about ourselves. This quote shows how Jasmine really appears to others and by making that statement might change the way she feels about herself. She would complain about having anyone in her life but really did not put herself out there. Sometimes I think Jasmine and even some people I know, like to feel pitied.
I recommend this book to teenage girls because there is a lot of drama and emotion. The book focuses on adult topics such as relationships, alcohol abuse, pregnancy without marriage, forgiveness, secrets, and racism and the reader needs to be prepared for those topics. Also the main character is a young teenage girl who faces many obstacles and many teenage readers may relate to her conflicts.
June 26, 2012
I’m going to start with the cover. Going into this book, I had no idea the girl was interracial (black/white). Now I’m not saying a gal like the one on the cover couldn’t be interracial. However, the description in the book made her seem like she leaned toward the black side of the interracial spectrum. The gal on the cover looks VERY white. I have to say, I’m rather disappointed in the cover art.
If I Tell had a rough start. It began with leaving the reader in the dark. I knew something big had happened, but what exactly, I couldn’t say. I’m one of those folks who believes the reader should know everything the main character knows, so right off the back I was a little apprehensive about this book.
I’m happy to say, the “something big” was revealed rather quickly. My best guess is the author presented the “something big” as a mystery to draw the reader in… a hook. To be honest, if I’d read the sample in the store or online, I wouldn’t have purchased the book. I’m glad I picked it up from NetGalley, because I felt obligated to read a bit further… really give the book a try, because If I Tell was a decent read. Not fabulous, but decent, and I was lucky to receive the opportunity to read and review it.
The main character had me confused at time. She created a lot of unnecessary drama for herself. She boasted about her honesty and keeping the lines of communication open with her mother. However, she kept the “something big” to herself for much of the story. If she had just spilled the beans early she could have saved everyone a lot of grief. Of course, the story would have been over since that was the main conflict.
As for the plot, it was interesting enough. The MC was faced with a difficult dilemma. I truly felt for her situation. But like I said, she caused more trouble for herself than necessary. There were also quite a few slow moments in the story. The book wasn’t overly long, but it could have used a bit a trimming to really keep me engaged.
What I really liked about If I Tell was Ms. Gutler’s style of writing… the way she was able to use the language in a way which flowed well and was natural sounding.
Over all, If I Tell had an interesting premise. I liked the writing style. Ms. Gurtler did a great job stringing words together. I even liked the storyline. However, the book was a bit slow in the middle, and quite a few scenes seemed like the same but written in different ways. As a result, this was about a 3/5 star read for me.
This review also posted July 11, 2012 at Ramblings of an Amateur Writer: http://reenajacobs.com/blog/2012/07/n...
If I Tell had a rough start. It began with leaving the reader in the dark. I knew something big had happened, but what exactly, I couldn’t say. I’m one of those folks who believes the reader should know everything the main character knows, so right off the back I was a little apprehensive about this book.
I’m happy to say, the “something big” was revealed rather quickly. My best guess is the author presented the “something big” as a mystery to draw the reader in… a hook. To be honest, if I’d read the sample in the store or online, I wouldn’t have purchased the book. I’m glad I picked it up from NetGalley, because I felt obligated to read a bit further… really give the book a try, because If I Tell was a decent read. Not fabulous, but decent, and I was lucky to receive the opportunity to read and review it.
The main character had me confused at time. She created a lot of unnecessary drama for herself. She boasted about her honesty and keeping the lines of communication open with her mother. However, she kept the “something big” to herself for much of the story. If she had just spilled the beans early she could have saved everyone a lot of grief. Of course, the story would have been over since that was the main conflict.
As for the plot, it was interesting enough. The MC was faced with a difficult dilemma. I truly felt for her situation. But like I said, she caused more trouble for herself than necessary. There were also quite a few slow moments in the story. The book wasn’t overly long, but it could have used a bit a trimming to really keep me engaged.
What I really liked about If I Tell was Ms. Gutler’s style of writing… the way she was able to use the language in a way which flowed well and was natural sounding.
Over all, If I Tell had an interesting premise. I liked the writing style. Ms. Gurtler did a great job stringing words together. I even liked the storyline. However, the book was a bit slow in the middle, and quite a few scenes seemed like the same but written in different ways. As a result, this was about a 3/5 star read for me.
This review also posted July 11, 2012 at Ramblings of an Amateur Writer: http://reenajacobs.com/blog/2012/07/n...
October 9, 2011
Jaz has secrets. Deep secrets that she is afraid to share with anyone else. After all, she has been let down and ostracized before. Who's to say that by letting anyone new in it won't happen again? Cue a story that is stunningly written, and heartrendingly intriguing. From page one I was involved in Jaz's life. I read long into the night, unwilling to stop until I flipped that very last page.
One of the reasons I've fallen in love with contemporary fiction is how amazing and real the characters can be. In If I Tell, Janet Gurtler shows this beautifully with each character that she builds. Jaz and the people around her are all vivid depictions of teenage life. In fact, Jaz herself is a character that I don't see very often but hope to see more of. Raised by her grandmother in a small, and rather racially prejudice, town Jaz has it tough. She constantly feels bullied by her peers, and doesn't feel like she really fits in anywhere. For Jaz, being biracial isn't something to be proud of. It's just another bump in her road to fitting in and leading a "normal" life.
To add it it all, her life happens to be populated with some rather interesting and unique people. There's Lacey, an older girl whose promiscuity and drinking habits hide a dark past. There's Simon, the boyfriend that Jaz isn't sure her mother should have, especially after what she witnessed. Then there is sweet Jackson. The boy who is labeled a "bad boy" by all the people around him, but who doesn't quite seem to fit the bill. Each one of these characters leads Jaz on her road to self-discovery, and helps her learn that what is on the outside is only a small part of what a person truly is.
Truth be told, this book deals with a lot of really tough themes that I think need to be addressed for teens. Janet Gurtler doesn't sugar coat anything at all, which I really admired her for. Racial prejudice, broken families, and isolation are all addressed in this book. Jaz's life isn't easy, and it's through this struggle that we get to see her grow. However things aren't all stormy. There are also themes of love, self-worth, and even understanding woven in as well. If I Tell is a delightfully balanced book from start to finish. It's the type that will have you smiling one moment, and tearing up the next.
Overall this was a quick, sweet, and amazing read. As I said I read it straight through and loved every minute of it! Jaz is a character that I really fell in love with. I hope to see more like her, and thank Janet Gurtler for letting me meet her in the first place.
One of the reasons I've fallen in love with contemporary fiction is how amazing and real the characters can be. In If I Tell, Janet Gurtler shows this beautifully with each character that she builds. Jaz and the people around her are all vivid depictions of teenage life. In fact, Jaz herself is a character that I don't see very often but hope to see more of. Raised by her grandmother in a small, and rather racially prejudice, town Jaz has it tough. She constantly feels bullied by her peers, and doesn't feel like she really fits in anywhere. For Jaz, being biracial isn't something to be proud of. It's just another bump in her road to fitting in and leading a "normal" life.
To add it it all, her life happens to be populated with some rather interesting and unique people. There's Lacey, an older girl whose promiscuity and drinking habits hide a dark past. There's Simon, the boyfriend that Jaz isn't sure her mother should have, especially after what she witnessed. Then there is sweet Jackson. The boy who is labeled a "bad boy" by all the people around him, but who doesn't quite seem to fit the bill. Each one of these characters leads Jaz on her road to self-discovery, and helps her learn that what is on the outside is only a small part of what a person truly is.
Truth be told, this book deals with a lot of really tough themes that I think need to be addressed for teens. Janet Gurtler doesn't sugar coat anything at all, which I really admired her for. Racial prejudice, broken families, and isolation are all addressed in this book. Jaz's life isn't easy, and it's through this struggle that we get to see her grow. However things aren't all stormy. There are also themes of love, self-worth, and even understanding woven in as well. If I Tell is a delightfully balanced book from start to finish. It's the type that will have you smiling one moment, and tearing up the next.
Overall this was a quick, sweet, and amazing read. As I said I read it straight through and loved every minute of it! Jaz is a character that I really fell in love with. I hope to see more like her, and thank Janet Gurtler for letting me meet her in the first place.
November 28, 2011
Originally Posted at: http://iliveforreading.blogspot.com/2...
Have you ever been in a situation where you're not sure who to tell what, and even if you should tell anyone?
Well, Jaz has A LOT going through her mind. Janet Gurtler's novel has touched on racism, results of teen pregnancy, secrets and finding yourself. I haven't been fortunate enough to find myself a copy of I'm Not Her, the first Janet Gurtler book I'd ever heard of, but I've heard some amazing things about it. All I know is that if it's anything like this book, it's bound to be as good.
I feel really sorry for Jaz. Her life's kinda a mess, she can't really make any friends her age all because of the color of her skin: the result of a black football player and a white cheerleader having a one-night stand. Being the only bi-racial in the school, she's kinda been "shunned", mainly after an incident from when she was younger. But sometimes, she's so annoying, I found. She yells entirely too much and assumes things– she just jumps to conclusions too quickly without hearing an explanation. She also yells at her mom a lot, which I find kinda sad, even though her mom kinda does "try" her best. Other than this, she's quite an interesting main character and how we see her emotions through her words and song lyrics throughout the book is quite amazing.
Jackson!! I don't understand why Jaz keeps pushing him away. I'd much rather bring him closer...he's really sweet, misunderstood like Jaz, but actually thinks more positively than she does, which makes him SO much more the better character. Love his part in the story, and love how it all ties up in the end.
Gurtler does touch on some sensitive topics, like bullying and racism, self-identity, friendships and betrayal. This book has got some amazing emotion in it– it's quite the roller-coaster. Definitely would recommend to fans of Elizabeth Scott and Sarah Dessen.
Overall, If I Tell is not a fluffy-cutesy teen book. This is the real world people. Janet Gurtler shows us the life of someone who pretty much suffers everyday...just for looking the way she is! I loved this book a LOT, and will be looking forward to grabbing a copy of I'm Not Her, because if it's ANYTHING like this one, it's bound to be amazing :).
Have you ever been in a situation where you're not sure who to tell what, and even if you should tell anyone?
Well, Jaz has A LOT going through her mind. Janet Gurtler's novel has touched on racism, results of teen pregnancy, secrets and finding yourself. I haven't been fortunate enough to find myself a copy of I'm Not Her, the first Janet Gurtler book I'd ever heard of, but I've heard some amazing things about it. All I know is that if it's anything like this book, it's bound to be as good.
I feel really sorry for Jaz. Her life's kinda a mess, she can't really make any friends her age all because of the color of her skin: the result of a black football player and a white cheerleader having a one-night stand. Being the only bi-racial in the school, she's kinda been "shunned", mainly after an incident from when she was younger. But sometimes, she's so annoying, I found. She yells entirely too much and assumes things– she just jumps to conclusions too quickly without hearing an explanation. She also yells at her mom a lot, which I find kinda sad, even though her mom kinda does "try" her best. Other than this, she's quite an interesting main character and how we see her emotions through her words and song lyrics throughout the book is quite amazing.
Jackson!! I don't understand why Jaz keeps pushing him away. I'd much rather bring him closer...he's really sweet, misunderstood like Jaz, but actually thinks more positively than she does, which makes him SO much more the better character. Love his part in the story, and love how it all ties up in the end.
Gurtler does touch on some sensitive topics, like bullying and racism, self-identity, friendships and betrayal. This book has got some amazing emotion in it– it's quite the roller-coaster. Definitely would recommend to fans of Elizabeth Scott and Sarah Dessen.
Overall, If I Tell is not a fluffy-cutesy teen book. This is the real world people. Janet Gurtler shows us the life of someone who pretty much suffers everyday...just for looking the way she is! I loved this book a LOT, and will be looking forward to grabbing a copy of I'm Not Her, because if it's ANYTHING like this one, it's bound to be amazing :).
October 27, 2011
Jasmine Evans’ life has always been fairly complicated. As a biracial girl growing up in a very white town, she’s never quite fit. The product of a one-night stand between her white mother (who was 17 at the time) and her absent, black father, Jasmine has never really understood who she is. Despite all this, Jasmine has been surviving. When she sees her mom’s boyfriend making out with her best friend at a party, Jasmine feels torn: where does she draw the line?
Janet Gurtler’s If I Tell has a lot of good things going for it. Good dialogue, strong secondary characters, and some real emotional turmoil help to propel the book’s story. The exploration of what it means to be biracial in a mostly-white community is important and sensitively handled. However, the problematic aspects weigh down an interesting premise.
The problem starts with the fact that Jasmine’s anger–at her mother, at her mother’s boyfriend, and at her best friend–never feels completely authentic. Everything the reader knows about Jasmine indicates that before she witnessed the drunken kiss between Simon (the boyfriend) and her best friend, she’s was a well-adjusted kid with a pretty good life. So the concept that her anger drives the majority of the plot and story never completely works. The central conflict of the book doesn’t have enough depth to it to justify what Jasmine does or feels. Because of this, the sympathy of the reader is long gone by the time Jasmine comes to grips with her feelings.
That being said, there are still good things to be found in the pages of Gurtler’s book. Strong, believable dialogue helps elevate this novel from a string of nearly-identical issue books being published for teens. Having the main character gently probe the meaning of her identity and what role race plays in her every day life adds a nice complexity to a fairly simple story. Strong characterization overall makes up for the flimsy plot.
Recommended for fans of contemporary YA, but with reservations. There’s more promise here than actual delivery. Sophisticated readers are likely to become frustrated with Jasmine’s erratic behavior.
If I Tell by Janet Gurtler. Sourcebooks Fire: 2011. Electronic galley accepted for review via Netgalley.
Janet Gurtler’s If I Tell has a lot of good things going for it. Good dialogue, strong secondary characters, and some real emotional turmoil help to propel the book’s story. The exploration of what it means to be biracial in a mostly-white community is important and sensitively handled. However, the problematic aspects weigh down an interesting premise.
The problem starts with the fact that Jasmine’s anger–at her mother, at her mother’s boyfriend, and at her best friend–never feels completely authentic. Everything the reader knows about Jasmine indicates that before she witnessed the drunken kiss between Simon (the boyfriend) and her best friend, she’s was a well-adjusted kid with a pretty good life. So the concept that her anger drives the majority of the plot and story never completely works. The central conflict of the book doesn’t have enough depth to it to justify what Jasmine does or feels. Because of this, the sympathy of the reader is long gone by the time Jasmine comes to grips with her feelings.
That being said, there are still good things to be found in the pages of Gurtler’s book. Strong, believable dialogue helps elevate this novel from a string of nearly-identical issue books being published for teens. Having the main character gently probe the meaning of her identity and what role race plays in her every day life adds a nice complexity to a fairly simple story. Strong characterization overall makes up for the flimsy plot.
Recommended for fans of contemporary YA, but with reservations. There’s more promise here than actual delivery. Sophisticated readers are likely to become frustrated with Jasmine’s erratic behavior.
If I Tell by Janet Gurtler. Sourcebooks Fire: 2011. Electronic galley accepted for review via Netgalley.
November 10, 2011
If I Tell is told from Jaz's point of view. Jaz is seventeen years old. She's been a loner since grade school. She is being raised by her grandmother. Jaz is biracial. Her mother was white and her father was black and didn't stick around to be there for her. He doesn't even acknowledge her. Jaz is frequently caught between her grandmother and mother. Her grandmother can be hard on Jaz's mom but sometimes she deserves it.
One night Jaz is made privy to something that she'd rather not have known. Her best friend is getting hot and heavy with Simon, her mother's boyfriend of five years. Jaz knows what she has to do and right before she has the chance to tell her mom, her mom drops a bombshell on Jaz that changes the game. Jaz is going to be a big sister.
Now Jaz is forced to make a choice: keep Simon's secret or break her mom's heart and complicate her life. Jaz is able to keep it together for a little while. She has a few friends but no one she can trust with the secret. Ashley and Jackson are outcasts like Jaz. Ashley is an open lesbian and Jackson is fresh out of rehab. Jaz wants to have more with Jackson but her life is complicated as it is. Soon the secret starts to eat at her and no one understands what's going on. How long can she keep the secret before something happens?
I really enjoyed If I Tell by Janet Gurtler. I sympathized with Jaz. She was alone and she was keeping a secret to try and protect everyone around her. Jaz kept the secret until it hurt her. When she finally acknowledged the secret she handled it really well. There was some collateral damage from keeping the secret and Jaz handled that like an adult as well. I liked the characters and their development.
If I Tell held my interest but mostly because I wanted to know what happened. It wasn't really a suspenseful with-bated-breath kind of read. I enjoyed the story and I enjoyed the characters. If I Tell is a great book if you're looking to spend a little time in someone else's shoes.
One night Jaz is made privy to something that she'd rather not have known. Her best friend is getting hot and heavy with Simon, her mother's boyfriend of five years. Jaz knows what she has to do and right before she has the chance to tell her mom, her mom drops a bombshell on Jaz that changes the game. Jaz is going to be a big sister.
Now Jaz is forced to make a choice: keep Simon's secret or break her mom's heart and complicate her life. Jaz is able to keep it together for a little while. She has a few friends but no one she can trust with the secret. Ashley and Jackson are outcasts like Jaz. Ashley is an open lesbian and Jackson is fresh out of rehab. Jaz wants to have more with Jackson but her life is complicated as it is. Soon the secret starts to eat at her and no one understands what's going on. How long can she keep the secret before something happens?
I really enjoyed If I Tell by Janet Gurtler. I sympathized with Jaz. She was alone and she was keeping a secret to try and protect everyone around her. Jaz kept the secret until it hurt her. When she finally acknowledged the secret she handled it really well. There was some collateral damage from keeping the secret and Jaz handled that like an adult as well. I liked the characters and their development.
If I Tell held my interest but mostly because I wanted to know what happened. It wasn't really a suspenseful with-bated-breath kind of read. I enjoyed the story and I enjoyed the characters. If I Tell is a great book if you're looking to spend a little time in someone else's shoes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 7, 2011
3.5 On blog
When I first heard about this book, it sounded super good. Drama filled but good so I wasn’t sure how I was going to like it at all. I did give it a chance and I’m glad I did. Now, I didn’t absolutely love this book but I did enjoy it!
Let’s start with Jasmine. She was just so insecure and always complained about how her being biracial was such a bad thing. She felt her life was a complete mess without any way of fixing it. Her relationship with her mother is less than perfect and things get much worse when she sees something she shouldn’t. She was really selfish and argued with people all the time, over everything and with everyone. She had a problem with trusting and didn’t let them know her better, which she blamed on her being biracial…but it was her. For the problem with Lacey and Simon and her mother, I wish Jaz would just confront them.
The other characters were good but weren’t as rounded as I would have liked them to be. We got bits and pieces of each characters background and how they dealt with it. Jackson, though, I liked a lot. He understood Jaz’s pain and was able to relate to her as much as possible. I did like that he didn’t get upset or anything by the fact that Jaz didn’t trust him at first but got to know her…and then she judged him and hurt him.
The emotions were probably the best part of this book though. I had a hard time believing that the book was over when it was. I loved how Ms. Gurtler was able to go from one emotion to the other emotion and make it all seem so natural. It all seemed so realistic to me and I loved that about the book.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and I loved how the emotions were so realistic. Even though Jaz and I didn't click, I loved Janet Gurtler's writing style. I can't wait to read her first novel, I'm Not Her! Also, I don't think my review should discourage you from checking out this book. I have read reviews that some people enjoyed it more than I did!
When I first heard about this book, it sounded super good. Drama filled but good so I wasn’t sure how I was going to like it at all. I did give it a chance and I’m glad I did. Now, I didn’t absolutely love this book but I did enjoy it!
Let’s start with Jasmine. She was just so insecure and always complained about how her being biracial was such a bad thing. She felt her life was a complete mess without any way of fixing it. Her relationship with her mother is less than perfect and things get much worse when she sees something she shouldn’t. She was really selfish and argued with people all the time, over everything and with everyone. She had a problem with trusting and didn’t let them know her better, which she blamed on her being biracial…but it was her. For the problem with Lacey and Simon and her mother, I wish Jaz would just confront them.
The other characters were good but weren’t as rounded as I would have liked them to be. We got bits and pieces of each characters background and how they dealt with it. Jackson, though, I liked a lot. He understood Jaz’s pain and was able to relate to her as much as possible. I did like that he didn’t get upset or anything by the fact that Jaz didn’t trust him at first but got to know her…and then she judged him and hurt him.
The emotions were probably the best part of this book though. I had a hard time believing that the book was over when it was. I loved how Ms. Gurtler was able to go from one emotion to the other emotion and make it all seem so natural. It all seemed so realistic to me and I loved that about the book.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and I loved how the emotions were so realistic. Even though Jaz and I didn't click, I loved Janet Gurtler's writing style. I can't wait to read her first novel, I'm Not Her! Also, I don't think my review should discourage you from checking out this book. I have read reviews that some people enjoyed it more than I did!
October 11, 2011
Janet Gurtler has quickly become one of my favorite contemporary authors. She made me ache with her debut, I'm Not Her, and yet again she made me feel deeply for her realistic characters in If I Tell. If you have not read either books by this author, I would definitely recommend that you get on that. Soon.
If I Tell revolves around a secret. A secret that could change not just one life, but many. Jasmine is burdened with the dilemma of either keeping a secret she feels she should share and accepting the consequences, however misfortunate, or withholding the secret and living unsure of the people around her. While this is the instigator of the novel, this isn't the only source of Jasmine's troubles. In fact, this is just one more for the pile, starting with her being half-black and never quite belonging anywhere. What do you when you are in a situation where everything seems to be falling apart? Even if they weren't so together to begin with?
If I Tell is definitely more edgy than I'm Not Her. I'm Not Her deals with cancer, a horrible part of life - a tragedy really, while If I Tell deals with the reality that many people live with daily. Race, depression, pregnancy (and teenage motherhood) are just some of the major themes/problems explored in this text. There is a lot going on, but never for a second does it seem too dramatized or fictional - it all seems real. Really real, which is what makes this story so powerful. I honestly do not have one criticism.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this one; beautifully written and filled with great hope. The name Janet Gurtler has become an immense pleasure to see in my to-read pile, I cannot wait for another chance to read on of her books. If you're ever feeling sorry for yourself, pick up one of her two books. It really helps to put things into perspective.
If I Tell revolves around a secret. A secret that could change not just one life, but many. Jasmine is burdened with the dilemma of either keeping a secret she feels she should share and accepting the consequences, however misfortunate, or withholding the secret and living unsure of the people around her. While this is the instigator of the novel, this isn't the only source of Jasmine's troubles. In fact, this is just one more for the pile, starting with her being half-black and never quite belonging anywhere. What do you when you are in a situation where everything seems to be falling apart? Even if they weren't so together to begin with?
If I Tell is definitely more edgy than I'm Not Her. I'm Not Her deals with cancer, a horrible part of life - a tragedy really, while If I Tell deals with the reality that many people live with daily. Race, depression, pregnancy (and teenage motherhood) are just some of the major themes/problems explored in this text. There is a lot going on, but never for a second does it seem too dramatized or fictional - it all seems real. Really real, which is what makes this story so powerful. I honestly do not have one criticism.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this one; beautifully written and filled with great hope. The name Janet Gurtler has become an immense pleasure to see in my to-read pile, I cannot wait for another chance to read on of her books. If you're ever feeling sorry for yourself, pick up one of her two books. It really helps to put things into perspective.
October 13, 2011
If I Tell is a beautifully written novel about the weight of ones secrets and the longing to be accepted for who we are. Raw emotion and believable characters made this book an absolute joy to read.
When Jasmine witnesses her mom's boyfriend Simon, making out with her best friend Lacey, her entire world begins to fall apart. Since she's never had a lot of friends and isn't very close with he mom, the secret starts to eat away at her fracturing the few good relationships she has.
Jasmine is a prickly character and I really don't know of another way to describe her. She's been so ostracized by her small town community that she willingly keeps people at as distant, even the few friends she has. Her one saving grace is her music which she turns to to help her deal. Even though I couldn't relate to Jasmine's biracial identity issues its not hard to care for someone who just wants to belong.
The connection between Jasmine and Jackson is instant and very sweet. Jackson is someone with his own secret who's also trying to find out where he fits in. Its always nice to read a story where the guy goes out of his way to try and make the girl feel better about herself and that's exactly the kind of guy Jackson is. It also doesn't hurt that he's snarky, mysterious and a really good listener.
The novel is filled with a slew of supporting character who are all just as deep and complicated as our main character. Simon and Lacey, in particular are much more then the seem and have much more to do then just service as the catalysts of the story. The novel's tone is really wonderful, never becoming to dramatic or fake. The ending, although not perfect, still feels just right especially for a novel that feels so real.
I would definitely recommend If I Tell to any YA contemporary fan and I look forward to reading more from Janet Gurtler.
When Jasmine witnesses her mom's boyfriend Simon, making out with her best friend Lacey, her entire world begins to fall apart. Since she's never had a lot of friends and isn't very close with he mom, the secret starts to eat away at her fracturing the few good relationships she has.
Jasmine is a prickly character and I really don't know of another way to describe her. She's been so ostracized by her small town community that she willingly keeps people at as distant, even the few friends she has. Her one saving grace is her music which she turns to to help her deal. Even though I couldn't relate to Jasmine's biracial identity issues its not hard to care for someone who just wants to belong.
The connection between Jasmine and Jackson is instant and very sweet. Jackson is someone with his own secret who's also trying to find out where he fits in. Its always nice to read a story where the guy goes out of his way to try and make the girl feel better about herself and that's exactly the kind of guy Jackson is. It also doesn't hurt that he's snarky, mysterious and a really good listener.
The novel is filled with a slew of supporting character who are all just as deep and complicated as our main character. Simon and Lacey, in particular are much more then the seem and have much more to do then just service as the catalysts of the story. The novel's tone is really wonderful, never becoming to dramatic or fake. The ending, although not perfect, still feels just right especially for a novel that feels so real.
I would definitely recommend If I Tell to any YA contemporary fan and I look forward to reading more from Janet Gurtler.
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