Krystal's Review: If I Tell by Janet Gurtler

If I Tell by Janet Gurtler

Paperback, 256 pages

Publication: October 1st, 2011 by Sourcebooks Fire

ISBN 1402261039

Courtesy of Publisher

Jasmine Evans knows one thing for sure... people make mistakes. After all, she is one. Jaz is the result of a onenight stand between a black football player and a blonde princess. Having a young mother who didn't raise her, a father who wants nothing to do with her and living in a small-minded town where she's never fit in hasn't been easy. But she's been surviving. Until she sees her mom's new boyfriend making out with her own best friend. When do you forgive people for being human or give up on them forever?

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Krystal's Thoughts:

This book handles several tough issues, many of which face teens today.  How would you react if your mother got pregnant when you were already a teen and she hadn’t taken the best care of you?  What do you do when you see your mother’s boyfriend kissing your much younger friend?  Is it ok to have a mother who dates much younger men?  Does skin color really matter? 

The main character, Jaz aka Jasmine, is really fun to read about.  She has rough edges and she carries herself warily, but there is a reason for it.  Jaz is biracial in a town that is completely white-washed.  She has been teased before because of her skin color and…the reader later finds out, she suffered horribly once for her skin.  She is a teen and shouldn’t have to deal with all of the issues facing her in this novel.  Her grandparents practically raised her, but now she is with her mother and her mother is bringing more change into her life. 

Throughout the book, Jaz is faced with reality.  She also has to decide whether to relay the truth and potentially hurt people or lie by omission.  Jackson is a secondary character in the book who causes Jaz to reevaluate many of the things she firmly believes in, he is a character worth reading about.  The reader also meets Jaz’s friends, all of whom have one or two big issues of their own to figure out.

The author handles the content of this book gracefully.  The events are quick where they need to be and slower paced where there is more emphasis or the reader is supposed to think.  The ending is perfect, couldn’t have ended any other way.  This book is great for teens and young adults.

Krystal's Rating: 4 Wine Glasses!