The Nature of Jade

Gr 9 Up—Seventeen-year-old Jade is a hard-working, over-achieving AP student with a secret—she suffers from panic attacks. She finds a source of comfort in watching the online webcam of the elephant house at the local zoo. Her family is somewhat dysfunctional. Her parents' marriage is falling apart. Her father escapes by building mini train villages, her brother retreats into the world of fantasy fiction, and her mother seeks acceptance in the arms of another man, who is Jade's school librarian. After a few months of watching the webcam, Jade decides to volunteer at the elephant house where she meets Sebastian, a 19-year-old single dad with a secret of his own. Jade finds herself falling in love with him and her panic attacks become less frequent. She discovers an inner strength that allows her to take chances and make decisions not based on fear, but on love. Deb Caletti's novel (S & S, 2007) about a flawed family trying to smooth its edges, teenage angst, and the healing power of young love is nicely narrated by Julia Whelan. A great choice for Caletti fans.—Cheryl Preisendorfer, Twinsburg City Schools, OH