Holding Back

Juicy Central #3

by Jada Jones

Whether they joined the Yearbook Club or they were asked to participate by cranky school counselor, Mr. Crandall, the YC girls become fast friends. Kiki, Marnyke, Nishell, Sherise, and Tia are best friends forever. But all BFFs have their differences. Fights, jealousies, secret crushes-- introducing the gossipy girls of South Central High. Will shy Kiki ever move beyond the shadow of her popular twin? Can Nishell overcome an embarrassing secret? Will Sherise's relationship with Marnyke's ex cause trouble for everyone? Will Marnyke's deep loneliness lead to an unwise decision? And will Tia realize that driving ambition without friendship is hollow? All under 150-pages.

Genres: Urban

129 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Tamya Roye · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a very interesting book that kept me wanting to read more. This book relates to many young African American teens especially me. I go through similar dramas in my everyday life. The main character in the book, Nishell, is in high school and so am I. Its hard to try fit in with different groups of people but that wasn't a problem for her. Nishell was known as the popular girl and everyone wanted to be her friend. She had all the boys wanting her and she loved it. When she finally got the man of her dreams, the boy that she has had a crush on since forever she is ecstatic and they start hanging out more.
Nishell has a secret that no one knows except for her family. When she was little she was homeless and had to live in a shelter. Once her family got back on their feet her mom made it a mandatory thing that they have a homeless family eat dinner at there house every once in a while. Then the most surprising thing happened and now Nishell is scared that everyone will soon find out her big secret. The person that she sees is one of her long time friends and they both had no idea that they were in the same situation once. However, my favorite part of the book is when Jackson proved to Nishell that he hasn't been doing anything with anybody else but her. He wants Nishell to trust him but she had a hard time doing that because of all the things that are going on in her life right now. This book was very interesting and i cannot wait to read other books from this series. They are very suspenseful and keeps readers wanting to read more.

[Helena · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the books that I read this summer was Holding Back, by Jada Jones. This book is not just your average high school drama, it has a whole different meaning to it. After Nishell sees her friend from her homeless past at her house one afternoon, memories start to emerge. After reconnecting with her friend, she realizes that he has been fighting with people in his same situation, to get money for his family. She knows she has to stop it, especially when she figures out that there is a fight he is competing in, is just a few days away. When dealing with this, she also dives into her love life with a guy from school that she has had a crush on for forever. This book is about how she helps her friend, her love for this long time crush, and how she gets through her embarrassing secret of being homeless.

I liked this book. This book had a unique story line for me. I have never read a book with this kind of story line about homelessness, and I think that’s one of the main reasons why I thought it was so good. Here is an example from the book. “I remember when my family and I would go around from shelter to shelter…” I also think that it’s engaging how the author wrote the whole book leading up to the end. That for me, really made the book, that much more engaging and interesting. Here’s an example from the book. “I have to stop this fight or else Cyril could really get hurt.” I think that anyone who likes realistic fiction will enjoy this book.

[Sherrie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I bought this series ("Juicy Central") for my school library after reading a review in VOYA. I wanted to read a few of them to make sure they were right for my students after several of them went crazy over these books at their first glance at the covers. The books are short with paper-thin plots, but I suspect that some of my reluctant readers will eat them up. This title had plot holes you could drive a truck through, with one character going from the ER with broken wrists and ribs from fighting for bookies to fist bumping the female protagonist a few days later with the news that he has a home AND a college scholarship. I rate this book one star, it's only real selling point is it's appeal to reluctant readers. Recommend it to those readers who have finished all the (much better) Bluford High and Urban Underground series of books.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book is about a girl named Nishell who joins the yearbook club. Nishell is a wonderful photographer she gets credit all the time especially since she hangs out with the popular girls. Nishell has a major crush on the school player named Jackson. Nishell has hiden secrets that not even her bestfriend knows. but one day that all changes she discovers something that makes her realize she has to say something and let people know who she really is. Is Nishell ready to tell people where she really came from even if it means people might not want to hangout with her anymore. i recommed this book it is a good book.