Review: Sweethearts by Sarah Zarr
AKA: Don’t Judge a Book by its Cover
About the Book
As children, Jennifer Harris and Cameron Quick were both social outcasts.They were also one another’s only friend.So when Cameron disappears without warning, Jennifer thinks she’s lost the only person who will ever understand her.Now in high school, Jennifer has been transformed.Known as Jenna, she’s popular, happy, and dating, everything “Jennifer” couldn’t be—but she still can’t shake the memory of her long-lost friend.
When Cameron suddenly reappears, they are both confronted with memories of their shared past and the drastically different paths their lives have taken.Sweethearts is a story about the power of memory, the bond of friendship, and the quiet resilience of our childhood hearts.
My Thoughts
If I had just come across this in the bookshop I’d never have picked it up in a million years. The cover screams girly novel, with no substance whatsoever. If it wasn’t for Nymeth’s review I’d have continued in that belief
It’s a perfect example of not judging a book by its cover.
It’s a much more serious book that you’d expect going into it. (But not overly serious, I might add).
Jenna’s new life, is knocked off balance, when Cameron Quick comes back into her life.
Years before, they are the only friends and support each other had. Jennifer’s mum, is to busy trying to build a career and earn enough money for them both to live and Cameron’s dad, is as we slowly find out, part of the problem.
From the moment, Cameron returns “from the dead” it is clear there is something that binds their relationship together, something more than friendship or romantic attraction. There is a secret that both of them need to face up to, before they can move on.
I really like the way we discover this secret. It’s a ‘drip feed’ method, we learn a little bit more, each time it comes up. A lot of times, this is a device that is there purely to keep the reader interested in turning the pages, and can seem forced.
But in Sweethearts, it’s driven by the characters needs, we only learn what they feel able to accept and understand. It’s a deeply buried history for both of them (buried for different reasons, but buried none-the-less) and it isn’t the sort of thing you’d want to blow straight back up to the surface.
It’s a novel about accepting it’s your past that makes you what you are today, and that you can’t always get back what you once had, but what you end up with isn’t necessarily a bad thing either.
And for Jenna, (at least I think so) it’s accepting she isn’t really living a lie, she is who she is, warts and all.
[rating:4/5]
About the Author
Sara Zarr is the author of two novels for young adults: STORY OF A GIRL and SWEETHEARTS, With a third ONCE WAS LOST due out soon. All published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. She lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, with her husband and on the web at www.sarazarr.com, where she blogs regularly.
Other Reviews to Consider
Buy, Sweethearts by Sara Zarr from The Book Depository with FREE! Worldwide Delivery!
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Posted by Darren on Thursday, July 2, 2009 at 9:42 pm
Filed under Children's & Young Adult · Tagged with little brown, Read in 2009, Sara Zarr
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I have this on my bookshelf and haven’t picked it up yet. I will move it up the pile. Isn’t amazing how Nymeth can get people to read certain books?
Vasilly´s last blog ..Sunday Salon
She’s terrible, isn’t she?
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Bart! This is indeed a perfect example of why always avoiding “girl” covers is a bad idea
Nymeth´s last blog ..Don’t Call Me a Crook! by Bob Moore
Thanks for the recommendation, it was fab!
I need to go get this from my library (and by that I mean my own personal library, because I seem to have accumulated one
and start reading it right away. I’m dying to read it now and I’m dying for a cookie with frosting now too 
Or do you call them biscuits over there….>_>
Chris´s last blog ..Lost At Sea by Bryan Lee O’Malley
Well having seen you book intake over the past few months, I’m quite sure you could put a few small town libraries to shame!
Nymeth really is one of the most influential bloggers. I havent’ read any books by Sara Zarr yet, but I”d like to, and I think I’d like to read this one.
Chris that made me lol about your personal library!
Amy @ My Friend Amy´s last blog ..2nd Quarter Blog Review
It’s well worth the effort, and a quick enough read that a few hours would be all you need. I think Nymeth’s blog should come with a warning, so unsuspecting new bloggers know what they are getting it to!
I still don’t think I will read it, but I enjoyed reading the review, very well done.
Tony Peters
Kids on a Case: The Case of the Ten Grand Kidnapping
http://authortonypeters.blogspot.com/
Nymeth is frighteningly persuasive. Don’t you hate it when a book’s cover is all wrong? I once bought a book with a delightful goldfish-in-a-bowl cover that looked utterly “chick lit”. The cover blurb was misleading, as well. It was really quite a melancholy story and not at all what I was looking for in a read, at the time, although the story was good. I felt just a tiny bit ripped off.
Bookfool, aka Nancy´s last blog ..The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe
I remember when I read Nymeth’s review. I figured I’d get to it one day!! I’m really glad you enjoyed it! Did you wear a hat and dark glasses when you bought it??
stephanie´s last blog ..Woe is Me…..
Nope! I proudly walked up to the counter handed over the two books I was buying!… The fact that it was covered by the second book was purely accidental!
First Nymeth and now you too Bart?! You guys are seriously going to make me go out and get this book. It sounds so good … but that god-awful cover makes me shiver. I’ve always tried so hard to not judge covers but my aversion to the color pink is hard to overcome. That pink frosting just screams out to me “glittery-eye-shadow-Lady-Gaga-everything-that-is-wrong-with-the-world-Bratz-prosti-tots”
Joanne´s last blog ..Graphic Novel Spotlight ♦ Neil Gaiman
I loved this book. Very sweet story. I really enjoyed it.
mari´s last blog ..What’s on your desk Wednesday
Yeah, despite seeing decent things about it from the likes of Nymeth, I was still a little dubius, I think it’s that cover! But I’m glad to say I was pleasantly surprised.
I LOVE THIS BOOK, it was so relatable and it kept me reading. I also recommend this book!!!
Glad you enjoyed it, Cori!