She has money, she has good looks, and she has a mansion for a house. But everything Jessica has is about to be ripped apart right before her very eyes. Her nasty attitude has granted her more enemies than friends, though they say to "keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer". Someone, or something, is through with her spoiled brat-itude. Just days before her sixteenth birthday disturbing visions of her very bleak future, and images of her closet skeletons come to haunt her. Though when given the chance to start anew, she starts to see her parents in a whole new light. The people who should be helping her are just hurting her, and those who Jessica doesn't suspect are the ones that will help her the most. Can Jessica make amends, or will she just be doomed?
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I think it is perfect for middle school kids. It touches on topics that are relevant at that time be it in the earlier years or later. Though there were predictable points for me I take that in consideration that this is for younger readers, and there were really cool twists too. I was kept interested all throughout the book, I don't think there was once when I wanted to put down the book for another. Jessica is a hard character to like at first but you come to see why she is the way she is, and it makes you just a little sympathetic towards her. Quite honestly her parents bugged me more than she did. There is a strong correlation between Strong Like Me and Scrooge, when more of the paranormal part of the book comes out. I really don't want to say too much more because this is a smaller book.
Besides the fact that I wanted to strangle Jessica (which I am sure everyone will) I didn't not like anything about Strong Like Me. Normally I will state what I didn't like about a book here, instead I will touch on the touchy subjects that are mentioned or talked about or hinted upon. None of these are promoted or made to look "cool". I am sure that by middle school a kid has had the "stay away from drugs, and don't drink underage" talk. There are two of the touchy subjects. *SPOILER-ALERT* The one other one is (I think to be) really underage pregnancy, and the heart-breaking loss of that. It's a little hard to guess when it happened but that's what it read to be for me. *SPOILER-ENDED* If you are a parent and you see something that you may not like for your child to read, let me reassure you that they are touched upon. It isn't on every single page. It is not glorified, it doesn't go in depth, and I don't think you would have any reason to worry about it. Personally, I've had worse health classes and I think any middle school aged kid could easily handle the few spots.
Even though I said this is for sure for those in middle school, I still think everyone can read this and learn something from it. If you don't learn anything from it, because you already know to treat people nice and respectfully, then you may just read the book to enjoy it. I know I did. That was a wordy way of saying I think everyone can read this book and like it. If you are a parent and you are still not sure if you want your child to read this, I encourage you to read it for yourself. It is quick and the chapters are not long. I finished this book within two days of sporadically reading it. I recommend everyone to read this, and I am happy that I own it. I do feel that I will reread this book when I am unsure of what to read next.
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Page Count: 143 pages (paperback)
Price: ???
Next Book: Fade by Lisa McMann
Thanks for reading!
~Jade
*Note: I
am in no way being coerced into making a review. Leaving a
review is happily welcome but not required thus if I don't like a
book I will say so. This review is based upon my true feelings
and thoughts about the book. I promise you I wouldn't let anything
sway my opinion about a book.
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