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veil0819's review
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
noellelovesbooks's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings: Racism, racial slurs, xenophobia, bullying, hate crimes, body shaming, fatphobia, and toxic relationships. Mention of antisemitism, infidelity, the threat of deportation, and war.
I received an ARC of this book, ahead of release, through the St Martin's Press influencer program. All thoughts are my own.
All Jasmine wants is to fulfill her journalistic dreams by attending NYU after graduation...but in order to do that, she needs something that will help her application stand out. When she realizes one of her classmates will be using the upcoming class President election to fluff his college resume Jasmine realizes what a win it could be if she won that election instead.
Not realizing the early admission application is due ahead of the election...and really needing that win to earn her spot at NYU she might have written, on her application, that she in fact won the election. Determined to not be a liar she's desperate to make that win a reality...no matter what it takes or what it costs.
Just as Jasmine thinks that winning is in the bag, I mean her opponent wants to enforce a dress code...protests in Iran start flooding the media and newspapers. As Jasmine's brother become a vocal advocate for the Iranian people Jasmine becomes embarrassed by that side of her heritage and desperately tries to hide that side of her.
The little white lie on her college application starts having all kinds of consequences as she's desperate to make that win a reality. Everything keeps spinning out of control and Jasmine is feeling less and less herself and more like someone she never thought she could be.
This story had me wanting to shake Jasmine and hug her as she struggled with her own identity in the face of everything going on in and around her life. A true coming-of-age story about what you do and who you can become in the face of adversity.
I received an ARC of this book, ahead of release, through the St Martin's Press influencer program. All thoughts are my own.
All Jasmine wants is to fulfill her journalistic dreams by attending NYU after graduation...but in order to do that, she needs something that will help her application stand out. When she realizes one of her classmates will be using the upcoming class President election to fluff his college resume Jasmine realizes what a win it could be if she won that election instead.
Not realizing the early admission application is due ahead of the election...and really needing that win to earn her spot at NYU she might have written, on her application, that she in fact won the election. Determined to not be a liar she's desperate to make that win a reality...no matter what it takes or what it costs.
Just as Jasmine thinks that winning is in the bag, I mean her opponent wants to enforce a dress code...protests in Iran start flooding the media and newspapers. As Jasmine's brother become a vocal advocate for the Iranian people Jasmine becomes embarrassed by that side of her heritage and desperately tries to hide that side of her.
The little white lie on her college application starts having all kinds of consequences as she's desperate to make that win a reality. Everything keeps spinning out of control and Jasmine is feeling less and less herself and more like someone she never thought she could be.
This story had me wanting to shake Jasmine and hug her as she struggled with her own identity in the face of everything going on in and around her life. A true coming-of-age story about what you do and who you can become in the face of adversity.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Fatphobia, Hate crime, Racism, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Infidelity, Antisemitism, War, and Deportation
nightwing's review
Thanks to NetGalley & St. Martin's Press for the early copy in exchange for an honest review. Sadly, I stopped at 40% due to a lack of interest.
This book is set in the 1970s, following Jasmine, a conflicted American-Iranian second-generation running for class president in her high school. She makes empty promises to her fellow classmates and the promises spiral out of control.
I really couldn't stand *any* of the characters. I kept hoping Jasmine would get better but she never did. Her brother Ali was so much better and less infuriating than Jasmine, I wanted the story to focus on him instead. A really neat idea for a story but man I couldn't stand anyone in this book except for the brother.
This book is set in the 1970s, following Jasmine, a conflicted American-Iranian second-generation running for class president in her high school. She makes empty promises to her fellow classmates and the promises spiral out of control.
I really couldn't stand *any* of the characters. I kept hoping Jasmine would get better but she never did. Her brother Ali was so much better and less infuriating than Jasmine, I wanted the story to focus on him instead. A really neat idea for a story but man I couldn't stand anyone in this book except for the brother.
leahjanespeare's review
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
4.0
This is a solid debut. Jasmine gets herself into some tricky situations, and learns how to embrace her Iranian roots during a time in the US when its relationship and media coverage of the Middle East in general were particularly bad. It’s very much a Bildungsroman story since by the end she’s reflected on how she acted throughout the story (very bad friend, dirty campaigning, and not true to herself) and learns from her mistakes. If she hadn’t told a small white lie this would have been a very different story. While this story takes place in 1979, much of the politics can of course be equated to today’s atmosphere; especially regarding white Americans’ rampant xenophobia and ignorance, tendency to latch on to what the media says, and general misconceptions about different cultures and other countries’ political situations.
I got a little caught up in how stupid that lie was, and how she continually made glaringly bad decisions to cover up and snowball that lie, but I think this is a case of ‘she’s literally a teenager’ so a fault of mine, as an adult reader, rather than anything against the writing/characterization itself. If you’re a teenager, you’ll probably look at her actions as logical at the time.
I got a little caught up in how stupid that lie was, and how she continually made glaringly bad decisions to cover up and snowball that lie, but I think this is a case of ‘she’s literally a teenager’ so a fault of mine, as an adult reader, rather than anything against the writing/characterization itself. If you’re a teenager, you’ll probably look at her actions as logical at the time.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
imstephtacular's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, and Islamophobia
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Eating disorder, Hate crime, and Alcohol
Minor: Cursing, Fatphobia, Genocide, Misogyny, Sexism, Antisemitism, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Gaslighting, and Deportation
_morgueann's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
It was a struggle to put this realistic historical fiction down. I'm a sucker for stories featuring young journalists, political commentary, and moral gray areas. This book belongs in the hands of any reader craving fast-paced realistic fiction that's full of drama.
Set in 1979 Southern California, Jasmine Zumideh Needs a Win follows an aspiring journalist who's heart is set on NYU. It's a must for becoming an awesome journalist a music magazine like Creem. To ensure her acceptance, Jasmine submits for early decision and fudges her transcript to say she's senior class president. Now she just has to win the election.
Jasmine enlists the help of two friends to run her campaign, and everything is going well until the Iranian Hostage Crisis hits the headlines. Suddenly, the senior class election becomes a referendum on anti-Iranian hate versus an understanding of the complex history of America's interference in Iran. Jasmine is Iranian-American, and her heritage is getting in the way of NYU. Soon Jasmine is trapped in a web of lies, political sabotage, and a crisis of integrity.
Set in 1979 Southern California, Jasmine Zumideh Needs a Win follows an aspiring journalist who's heart is set on NYU. It's a must for becoming an awesome journalist a music magazine like Creem. To ensure her acceptance, Jasmine submits for early decision and fudges her transcript to say she's senior class president. Now she just has to win the election.
Jasmine enlists the help of two friends to run her campaign, and everything is going well until the Iranian Hostage Crisis hits the headlines. Suddenly, the senior class election becomes a referendum on anti-Iranian hate versus an understanding of the complex history of America's interference in Iran. Jasmine is Iranian-American, and her heritage is getting in the way of NYU. Soon Jasmine is trapped in a web of lies, political sabotage, and a crisis of integrity.
ambledsoe's review
5.0
What do you do when you have the moral compass of an 18 year old high school senior who needs another extracurricular on your nyu college application? Lie of course, then try to make it truth afterwards.
Jasmine Zumideh Needs a Win is a slam dunk book that blends history, character, and present day headlines into a seamless story about the internal conflicts we all face when living in a powder keg.
Its a well-written, well-paced, contemporary about finding your voice, losing yourself, and accepting responsibility for all that comes after.
There will be times you want to reach through the text and literally shake Jasmine "Katie" until her brains are unscrambled and in the very next paragraph wanna hold her hand and let her be. A completely complex and fleshed out character study for sure
Jasmine Zumideh Needs a Win is a slam dunk book that blends history, character, and present day headlines into a seamless story about the internal conflicts we all face when living in a powder keg.
Its a well-written, well-paced, contemporary about finding your voice, losing yourself, and accepting responsibility for all that comes after.
There will be times you want to reach through the text and literally shake Jasmine "Katie" until her brains are unscrambled and in the very next paragraph wanna hold her hand and let her be. A completely complex and fleshed out character study for sure
nadineeeeeee's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
“Between the dirty tricks and the cover-ups and the betrayal, I keep saying this is not me, I’m not like this. But I am. This is the person I’ve become in order to be the person I wanted to be”
I love this book.
These kind of books are the reason why I love (diverse) YA Contemporary so much and the reason why I think we need MORE of this genre. Why I think these kind of books are so important to be published and to be read and just to be out in the world.
It’s diverse without looking like they’re trying too hard. So effortlessly done, and yet not carelessly either. It talks about important issues in a way that most of the books in the literary genre tried SO hard to capture because they want to keep it “smart” and “intellectual”, and yet failed to seal and deliver with a stamp on.
YA Contemporary books are messy and chaotic and filled with stupid mistakes and choices, but that’s also the very charm of it. Teenagers are messy. We are all chaotic once in a while. And we do make stupid mistakes now and then.
This one is no different. This book IS messy. It IS chaotic. And, Jasmine, I love you, but your choices :)) <33 You’re very ambitious, to say the least <33
And yet, this book somehow still managed to be so charming, lovable, and enjoyable to the very core. And not just borderline annoying. And I’ve become quite attached to it, I think… To the characters, mostly.
I love Jasmine. I love how much of a music ‘nerd’ she is. She’s so cool. You’ll get TONS of references of a couple of bands, songs and albums sprinkled through the book, and it’s just awesome. I had most of the songs/artists she liked written down and am planning to check them out for I was never that familiar with that era of music!
Amme Minah is just >>>> Ali is awesome. Malia is great. Kyle can go off. Patty, i’m still unsure of even after finishing the book, but If I had to choose between her and Kyle’s side, I’d definitely pick hers 100%.
Oh right, MIKE.
Look, HEAR ME OUT, as a character, he’s a ten, okay? Like a ten TEN. He’s perfect in every way, don’t get me wrong, but as the romantic interest in the overall story? Him and Jasmine were just…. Okay. He’s a great guy, and how he stayed with Jasmine and defended her and supported her and still be there for her was WOW, but i feel like them as a ROMANTIC pair, doesn’t have that much ~effect~ on me, you know? There are some cute moments, but just not THAT THAT.
Oh and right, Gerald.
I hated him so much at the beginning of the book, but since he agreed to at least keep an open mind and learn about Iran and their cultures in Jasmine’s International Culture Club (and also other cultures in the world) at the end, then okay fine whatever i guess.
Bottom line : I love love love love love this book. 4.75 stars!!
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!
[22/7/22]
sydneyd05's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book was very informative about about the political state that was happening with Iran in 1979. Jasmine is trying to work through how to deal with everything as an Iranian-American. I really liked that part of the story but her friends were so annoying. I cannot fathom why she was friends with them and it made it hard to read the book.
I received an arc through netgalley.
I received an arc through netgalley.