Tolog Reviews: Sweethearts

Sweethearts
by Sara Zarr
reviewed by Tiffany Tong, class of 2015

Sweetheart is about a girl, Jennifer, who once had a very hard time getting liked by her classmates during elementary school. She was chubby and not as pretty so everyone made fun of her. She only had one friend who accepted her and loved her for who she is, Cameron Quick. However, one day Cameron disappears and leaves Jenna to thinking that he died. Later on, her mom remarries and Jennifer becomes Jenna changing her identity to the popular and skinny Jenna. After high school was almost over, during her senior year, Jenna sees a transfer student that looks a lot like Cameron and finds out that it is really him. He came to look for her then they became really close again. All of Jenna’s friends did not understand why they were always together since they did not know the chubby and unpopular Jenna that got picked on in elementary school. Later on, Cameron told Jenna the reason why he left was because her mother left his father since he was an abusive drunk. They were not allowed to tell anyone because they were scared that his father would come looking for them. Jennifer resented her mother for not telling him the truth and letting her believe that Cameron died. Jenna finds out towards the end that Cameron left his brothers and sisters with his mom while his dad came back to live with them meaning that he will have to leave soon to take care of his siblings. After coming home with a fever one night, Jennifer whispers that she loves him to Cameron and he is gone the next day. If you liked A Story of a Girl by Sarah Zarr, you'll love this book!