The Jade Notebook

Notebook #3

by Laura Resau

Down-to-earth Zeeta and her flighty mom, Layla, have spent years traveling the globe and soaking up everything each new culture has to offer. Now they've settled in the beachside town of Mazunte, Mexico, where Zeeta's true love, Wendell, has an internship photographing rare sea turtles. At first glance, Zeeta feels sure that Mazunte is paradise—she envisions dips in jade waters, sunsets over sea cliffs, moonlit walks in the surf. And she is determined to make Mazunte her home . . . for good. But as she and Wendell dig deeper to unearth her elusive father's past, Zeeta finds that paradise has its dark side.

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Fiction, Travel, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction, Teen

384 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Laura Resau is the author of The Alchemy of Flowers, The River Muse (May 2026), and eleven acclaimed books for children and teens. Her books have garnered nineteen starred trade reviews, five Colorado Book Awards, and spots on “best-of” book lists from Oprah, School Library Journal, and the American Library Association. Trilingual, she’s lived in Provence and Oaxaca, and has a background in cultural anthropology, languages, and ESL. She teaches graduate creative writing at Western Colorado University. You might find her writing in her cozy vintage trailer in Fort Collins, Colorado, where she lives with her rock-hound husband, musician son, wild husky, and a hundred house plants.

Reviews

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sadly it seems the adventures of Zeeta ends with this book. Zeeta and her mom are in Mexico managing a bed and breakfast for tourists. Wendell is there interning for the turtle center. Zeeta is also looking for her father and his family.

Everything seems wonderful and jusy maybe the wandelust is out of her mother and this will become home. Only someone wants them gone and things happen trying to get them to leave.

We have an array of color characters adding a layer of humor to the story. Also locals give us the flavor of Mexico. We see Wendell and Zeeta relationship deepen and Layla starts a new life.

I NEED ANOTHER BOOK TO SEE IF WENDELL AND ZEETA GROW OLD TOGETHER

[Marina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Zeeta, honey, I respect you and all that you are. You've lived in seventeen different countries in seventeen years. You're conversationally proficient in dozens of languages. You're responsible, outgoing and caring. But, girl, really? You need to believe that Wendell, the love of your life, is going to be around for the long haul. He's basically planned his past two summers around where you're living! None of this wishy-washy girly crap about him leaving you (I get it, I wouldn't mind a Wendell in my court, but he seems like somebody who sticks). I enjoyed your adventures in Mexico and the new friends you made but your constant concern that you were going to lose Wendell kinda made me a bit annoyed by you. You had previously been so confident in your relationships and the fact that you had a nomadic existence that now all you're focusing on is that he might leave you. I think you've been through enough to know who's staying and who's leaving and all that wavering kinda ruined the rest of your adventure for me. Not entirely but just enough that I couldn't give you 4 stars. The people you met and the unraveling of the mystery of your father almost bumped it up but just not quite far enough. Now that I know you are at peace with what will come I was better able to focus on how your future could play out but, honestly, you had me a little nervous for your well-being as an individual. Stay true to yourself and be the confident, independent girl you are that just happens to have an awesome, supportive and creative boyfriend.

[Melody · Rating 3 out of 5]

I adore Meche. I find the characters strong and compelling. But the plot? Not so much. The sense of place is excellent, the flavor of the people and the the food and the environs very distinct. The people themselves are very compelling, original and so totally believable that the tortured plot shows up in bas relief.

[Reading Vacation · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third and final installment in the Notebook series, The Jade Notebook was a combination of a sweet romance and a terrifying mystery. After their many troubles together as a couple, it seems like Wendell and Zeeta have finally found paradise together. They were such a great match; they complimented each other perfectly. I was glad they had each other to lean on throughout the many difficulties their respective families put them through. As for the mystery of the stolen baby sea turtle eggs, I loved the twists and turns the author took as new evidence was revealed. I was surprised in the end who the culprit turned out to be. I honestly never suspected that person of pulling off such a heinous crime. However, I did think Zeeta could have realized who her father was on the island before she did. It seemed so obvious with all the clues she found.

The island setting was truly magic. It sucked you in with its lush descriptions and easy going ways. I think that Zeeta, Wendell, and Layla have finally found a place where they can all be happy. It was quite a challenge for the roaming pairs. The beach was such a lovely place; I felt like I could go take a dip in the jade waters. You may just find me scheduling a vacation to Mazunte, Mexico soon.

If you haven’t checked out the first two books in this series, I recommend that you do. I promise that you will fall for these characters just like I did.

[Gillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book and the series,I didn't want it to ever end, but it did with a lovely ending. All of the books held a bit of mystery and thrill which I loved. This book had the most out of the three. The first had a bit at the end, then the second had a mystery the whole book but the exciting part was at the end and the same for this book but the fast pace was more for the whole last half of the book. I loved the characters and how they developed and how none of them are really who you think they are. I really like the way that Laura Resau incorporates languages into the books. In the first book it was spanish the second it was french and then the third it was spanish again. The epilogue didn't quite please me but that was just because I didn't want to let the story go and be forced to say goodbye to the characters. I thought the book was very relatable at one part when she was caught under a wave at the beach, I have had that happen to me and it is terrifying and reading that page really got my heart beating faster and I got a little scared, for zeeta and remembering when it happened. I could tell something similar had happened to Laura Resau. I really like it when authors know exactly what they are talking about. I give it 5 stars and I highly recommend this series and I will be rereading whenever possible.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A satisfying ending! I enjoyed the growing up everyone did, and the little bit of magic that weaves through it all. Family is home!

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok This time, Zeeta and Layla are in Mexico. Wendell has an internship at the nearby turtle center. but trouble starts when the eggs of the turtles are being stolen. ALso Zeeta is looking for her father.
Where do I begin. For the most part this was a very good book. I liked that Zeeta and Wendell are much more stable ( not always but more on that later) I like Meche and her "pet". I really like Zeeta's father Tortue, and all the other side characters. I also really like the climax.
But, truthfully for the first half of the book, it grated on my nerves. The first part just didn't grab me. I felt like Zeeta had times where she wasn't as confident in Wendell. (Vice versa with Wendell.) I didn't like Joe. Wasn't a fan of the setting either. I also felt like the ending was a little too neat.
Ok rant done. WIth all that what saved this book was that I didn't see the twists coming about who the "baddie" was also I didn't see who Zeeta's father was. All the motives made sense and the conclusion was solid (if a bit too neat) All in all a good read and a very nice conclusion to an interesting series.

[Ofilia · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the third and final installment in Zeeta's adventures around the world. Because it's the last one you expect a fair amount of tying up of loose ends, but this one is too neat and tidy. There is the same format used in the previous two books in which there is a mystery that Zeeta and her boyfriend Wendell must solve. There is also the usual teen girl insecurity in love stuff and crazy mom stuff. The problem is that this one is just too transparent. It is obvious who the bad guys are and who her mysterious father is. It almost reads like a Scooby Doo episode (you meddlesome kids!) in that everything is tied up in the last 10 pages. I didn't get the same sense of wanderlust for the location either and I think it's because it just seems like textbook paradise. The natives, which usually provide a lot of heart and depth to the story, are pretty one dimensional. And the epilogue is trite and disappointing. It's worth reading if only to say farewell to the characters, but I'm glad that this is the end of the line.

[Stephanie A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I still enjoyed the writing style and the main characters, and was particularly taken with the sea turtle beach and the introduction of a pet jaguar (who along with his owner is by far my favorite of all the mini-mysteries in this one), I'm not sure I felt as strongly connected to the location in this book as I did to the others. Perhaps Mexico is just too close to home, but I struggled to imagine it being beautiful and exotic, even on the coast.

The thing I liked about The Forbidden Territory, though, is this: in Osceola, Wisconsin, there is a restaurant called Tippy Canoes, and across the road from that is a forested property -- the former Aveda Spa Retreat -- with a metal fence and a lot of "NO TRESPASSING" signage and behind those, a large tiger sculpture is visible in the foliage. I kept picturing the territory looking exactly like this, only so much more terrifying when there's a live jaguar instead.

[Anna Francesca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was this a book that kept me up to consume it like a delicious bowl of mole (to reference the details in the plot)? Absolutely. Zeeta's voice is extremely authentic. The characters develop, change, and move beyond rumors and expectations about who they are. While this is the final book in the notebook trilogy, it holds its own as an independent novel. However, the nuanced writing gets cut down by the saccharine epilogue that ties a neat bow on a series whose strength is its complexities. It is true that I would have wallowed in a bittersweet wondering without this end, but I think there is some sort of messier or slightly open-ended way of not running the text to an abrupt stop but also of improving upon what it is now.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Zeeta and Layla have moved to Mexico and are running a small resort near a town famed for it's beaches where sea turtles lay their eggs. Zeeta's boyfriend, Wendall, has joined them as well and Zeeta thinks this is paradise. She does not want to ever leave this place, so she is doing everything she can to get her mom to sign a long-term contract with the resort owners. However, odd things start disturbing Zeeta's paradise: poachers, jaguars, witches – plus she is still searching out her missing father and begins to worry that maybe her relationship with Wendall is not as solid as she used to believe.
Quite predictable but readers of the series will enjoy this book. Others will need to find the first book as it does not stand well on it's own.

[Rachel Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Third in the series. Has everything I've loved about the previous books. Well drawn, interesting characters. Fabulous setting (beaches and mole and the language and turtles!). Interesting plot that puts my favorites in danger. And of course the unraveling of Zeeta's search.

My only complaint is that I knew these characters so well and the books are so familiar, that I had EVERYTHING figured out early on. The moment a character entered the story, I could place them (correctly) in relation to Zeeta and the plot. There weren't any surprises.

However even with this, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Karin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Continuing the sequence (Ruby Notebook, Indigo Notebook), this novel finds Zeeta, her flighty mom Layla and her boyfriend Wendell in a small beachside Mexican village where Zeeta hopes to find her birth father and Wendell studies/photographs sea turtles. But there's a couple of mysteries (bruja next door with a pet jaguar, poaching of turtle eggs) that they get embroiled in. A little issue-driven, but vivid in description and setting. Enjoyed.

[Carly · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took a lot of convincing on my behalf to keep reading the book. I'm glad I decided to continue it, as the story turned out to be very pleasant. The first half of the book is very slow, and is quite predictable, but I still enjoyed it! Even though I didn't read the other two books in this series, this book works really well as a stand alone. Nice little story; I'm pleased that it had a happy ending.

[Anna Jenkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is extremely interesting! Along with it being a great story about a girl, her mom, and boyfriend, the book also has a beautiful setting which is described in a way that makes you feel like you're there! I did not read the two books that Laura wrote before this one, but that was no problem at all, the story was really easy to pick up on. I would definitely recommend this book to someone who enjoys travel, or just an adventurous story about a young girls life.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

As the last book in the series, I found the plot to be pretty predictable, especially in light of the previous book. It took the main characters most of the book to figure out what the reader knew much sooner. That being said, I enjoyed the setting of Mexico and learned a lot about food and how one runs resort cabanas. I still haven't read the 1st book, but so far the 2nd one (the Ruby Notebook) was my favorite of the series.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the 3rd book in a series. Zeeta and her mother are in Mexico, running a cabana resort. Zeeta and her boyfriend are trying to find her long-lost father, with a common Mexican name. They end up trying to save the sea turtle eggs and befriending the local neighboring witch. I just wasn't thrilled.

[Mary Farrell · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like the two previous books and was looking forward to reading this one. I'm not sure why I couldn't get into it. It just wasn't grabbing me. The pace picked up in the last third, but the plot was predictable. Laura Resau has a gift for describing lush scenery, that was enjoyable. Maybe I expected more from these characters and it was just more of the same.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zeeta I feel lost a bit of herself in finding Wendell. She was so independent in the first book and by this one she had lost quite a bit of that. However, I love all the other characters, Layla and Meche in particular. I'm happy with how it ended and I'm happy for everyone involved but these four stars were for Layla and the rest, Zeeta for me didn't contribute that much.

[Jennifer Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely some surprise revelations towards the end, though I had figured some of them out before hand. Enjoyable read and appropriate wrap up to the trilogy as a whole. I will definitely be looking out for more books by Laura Resau. I also like that the series as a whole was very culturally diverse and included a glossary for Spanish vocabulary and terms in the back.

[Lindsay · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel so terrible for ranking a Laura Resau book so low, but I'm several chapters in, and I just can't get hooked. It's too predictable and redundant, and I just don't like the characters much anymore. Le sigh.

[Kent District Library]

Beth G: This is the third in the series. Zeeta and her mother have now moved to Mexico and Zeeta is hoping to find her father. Her mother has promised to stay in one place for a while and Zeeta feels like her life is following her plan. But of course something goes wrong.

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.70 I am in love with the third notebook. this book was amazing. it was everything I'd hoped it to be. I loved Meche and Gatito they were my favorite part. I also loved the gracia parts and the mention of La Llrona. I loved that Zeeta. finally found Tortue and they ended up happily as a family.

[Jasmine Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, this series is one of my guilty pleasures.. it is one of those stories with a bit of romance and adventure and the safe predictability that everything is going to work out perfectly in the end.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meche is my fave.

Previously:

So reluctant to start this 'cause I know it's the last one.

[Stacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author should have added this story to the end of the Ruby Notebook. She could have shortened both stories and combined the story lines to make a more interesting read.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love these books. Great trilogy for teens looking for stories set in exotic places with very real characters.

[Kaye Lynne Booth · Rating 5 out of 5]

See my review of "The Jade Notebook" here: http://www.examiner.com/literature-in...

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always resonate with Zeeta's quest for a home, and was quite pleased that she found one in this book.

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn't stop reading this, and so I finished it pretty quickly. Way good