Jazmin's Notebook

Rating:
Summary: Jackie's Great Book Review
Review: As 14-year-old Jazmin Shelby sits on the stoop of her brownstone in 1960s Harlem, she can see the world pass her by, and she's not terribly impressed with the things she observes. Her community is plagued with hustlers, drug dealers, vagrants, and people who have lost touch with any type of reality outside of city life. Family life for Jazmin is not much better. Her mother is consumed by the demons of alcohol and is often "missing in action," going in and out of hospitals on all too frequent basis. Meanwhile, her father, whom she loved dearly, died recently in a car accident. Passed around from one place to another, Jazmin finally ends up with her older sister CeCe, and they both struggle to survive on their own. While the world around her appears bleak and full of despair, Jazmin does find solace in writing, and it is within the pages or her notebook that she fights to dream and laugh at the craziness that surrounds her. She keeps her sanity by ruminating on her frustrations about family, school, and the neighborhood she calls home. There is also hope, for Jazmin's notebook is also a place where she can safely tuck in the dreams she has for a better life. Spanning less than a year, Jazmin's story unfolds in chronological order and offers readers a realistic story of a young black girl who fervently attempts to cling onto dreams in the face of adversity.

Rating:
Summary: A poignant and tenderly rendered story of growing up
Review: As 14-year-old Jazmin Shelby sits on the stoop of her brownstone in 1960s Harlem, she can see the world pass her by, and she's not terribly impressed with the things she observes. Her community is plagued with hustlers, drug dealers, vagrants, and people who have lost touch with any type of reality outside of city life. Family life for Jazmin is not much better. Her mother is consumed by the demons of alcohol and is often "missing in action," going in and out of hospitals on all too frequent basis. Meanwhile, her father, whom she loved dearly, died recently in a car accident. Passed around from one place to another, Jazmin finally ends up with her older sister CeCe, and they both struggle to survive on their own. While the world around her appears bleak and full of despair, Jazmin does find solace in writing, and it is within the pages or her notebook that she fights to dream and laugh at the craziness that surrounds her. She keeps her sanity by ruminating on her frustrations about family, school, and the neighborhood she calls home. There is also hope, for Jazmin's notebook is also a place where she can safely tuck in the dreams she has for a better life. Spanning less than a year, Jazmin's story unfolds in chronological order and offers readers a realistic story of a young black girl who fervently attempts to cling onto dreams in the face of adversity.

Rating:
Summary: Jackie's Great Book Review
Review: Do you have something that you love very much? All she spends her time writing in her journal and writing poems about her week and when she was born and what happened when she was growing up. In one part she wrote a poem about aDay dreaming Yesterday I visited my favorite spot at macombs part three blocks away. I crept as far down the bank as my leather loafers would let me without slipping then I pulled up a slah of rock and beside the Harlem River. I think this was a good book and I think other people would enjoy reading this. This helped me think about what it would be like if you had know friends or family that would care for you except your aunt. This book shows a lot of courage and strength being without you family there by your side

Rating:
Summary: Deseree:Jazmin's Tough Life
Review: I am the director of a book club composed of pre-teen and teen girls. This was a little book with and full rich text. The main character in the story, Jazmin, is an inspiration to all girls especially those from disadvantaged economic background.

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Summary: Drugs,Sex,Killings, and growing up
Review: Jazmin's Notebook was not the best book. Seeing on how I had to read it, it seemed to be more boring . To me it was a regular book. Just about a girl grwoimg up in New York City. What seems so different there? Thats what I thought when I stared to read it . Jazmin writes in her notebook everyday. She writes a lot or poems , but also she writes about her life. She wrote about how he dad died, how her mom is int he hodpital for drinking, how her sister CeCe is taking care of her , and how its like to be 15 and growimg up. Yea her life was alittle different but still it didnt make this book very interesting to read. I enjoy a book that keeps me on my toes and this book didnt do that as much as others have. There was one time that sticks out in my mind that kept me on my toes, thats probably wonder why it sticks out . See Jazmin was going to this party with her friend, and there were not many girls there , well to me exact there was only 2 girls there , her and and her friend. There were a few guys there too. Jazmin felt pretty safe around them becuase she could stick up for herself no matter if it was a guy or a girl . She knews that if one of them got drunk or high that they might wanna try something with her . Everyone at the party was smoking weed Jazmin too. She got hazy and had to lay down, When she woke she awoke next to a guy at the party. This guy did try to do things with her , but like
I said she stood up for herself . This was the only good part that kept me on my toes !I couldnt really relate to this part , but it was fun to read something different like that, and this book !

Rating:
Summary: Jazmin's Notebook....good book?
Review: No, not really. It was just a book of journal entries and poems.It was just about a girl surrounded by drugs,sex,alcohol,and gunfire in Harlem. She is a real optimistic person and takes life day by day. It was a rather boring book and there was no climax in it. I would not reccommend this book to anyone over the age of 12.