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yeoroll's review
4.0
4.5 stars <3
woww, i kept wanting to finish this book in one day, but i had to space it out since i was busy. this book was genuinely sooo good. i loved reading so much about persian culture, the time setting, and the situation with the hostages and how it affected the characters. while jasmine was unlikeable at times, it was really easy to picture myself being in her place and relate to how she was feeling. it made sense why she did a lot of the things she did. i also wholeheartedly loved the ending. i can’t wait to read more from this author in the future,, because this has been my favorite ARC i’ve read so far <3
thank you to netgalley/wednesday books for the ARC !!
woww, i kept wanting to finish this book in one day, but i had to space it out since i was busy. this book was genuinely sooo good. i loved reading so much about persian culture, the time setting, and the situation with the hostages and how it affected the characters. while jasmine was unlikeable at times, it was really easy to picture myself being in her place and relate to how she was feeling. it made sense why she did a lot of the things she did. i also wholeheartedly loved the ending. i can’t wait to read more from this author in the future,, because this has been my favorite ARC i’ve read so far <3
thank you to netgalley/wednesday books for the ARC !!
bookstwokathryn's review
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Antisemitism, Islamophobia, and Racism
Minor: Gaslighting
yangelareads's review
slow-paced
3.0
I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ARC provided by St. Martin's Press and Wednesday Books.
It is 1979, and Jasmine Zumideh is ready to get the heck out of her stale, Southern California suburb and into her dream school, NYU, where she will major in journalism and cover New York City’s exploding music scene. There is just one teeny problem: Due to a deadline snafu, she maybe said she was Senior Class President-Elect on her application—before the election takes place. But honestly, she is running against Gerald Thomas, a rigid and there is no way she can lose. And she better not, or she will never get into NYU.
But then, a real-life international incident turns the election upside down. Iran suddenly dominates the nightly news, and her opponent seizes the opportunity to stir up anti-Iranian hysteria at school and turn the electorate against her. Her brother, Ali, is no help. He has become an outspoken advocate for Iran just as she is trying to downplay her heritage. Now, as the white lie she told snowballs into an avalanche, Jasmine is stuck between claiming her heritage or hiding it, standing by her outspoken brother or turning her back on him, winning the election or abandoning her dreams for good.
Jasmine Zumideh Needs a Win is a fresh, unforgettable story of one Iranian-American young woman’s experience navigating her identity, friendship, family, her future, and a budding romance, all set against life-changing historical events with present-day relevance. I really appreciate the focus of this book on Jasmine, a half-Iranian, half-American high school senior in the late 1970s. This book provided some insight into Iranian culture and history so I was interested to read and learn about the Iranian Hostage Crisis. I think Jasmine was a great character to write about this topic through and the school election really helped drive home the narrative. The author does a great job showing the conflict Jasmine has with reconciling her two heritages, especially when faced with constant belittling and racism from her classmates. It is understandable for Jasmine, a high schooler under immense pressure, to make some questionable choices, but I found that I could never fully warm to her. Most of her decisions frustrated me and felt selfish and immature. However, I really liked the strong female representation. I think this is a great book for any high schoolers ready for a change, or maybe feeling like they do not know themselves.
It is 1979, and Jasmine Zumideh is ready to get the heck out of her stale, Southern California suburb and into her dream school, NYU, where she will major in journalism and cover New York City’s exploding music scene. There is just one teeny problem: Due to a deadline snafu, she maybe said she was Senior Class President-Elect on her application—before the election takes place. But honestly, she is running against Gerald Thomas, a rigid and there is no way she can lose. And she better not, or she will never get into NYU.
But then, a real-life international incident turns the election upside down. Iran suddenly dominates the nightly news, and her opponent seizes the opportunity to stir up anti-Iranian hysteria at school and turn the electorate against her. Her brother, Ali, is no help. He has become an outspoken advocate for Iran just as she is trying to downplay her heritage. Now, as the white lie she told snowballs into an avalanche, Jasmine is stuck between claiming her heritage or hiding it, standing by her outspoken brother or turning her back on him, winning the election or abandoning her dreams for good.
Jasmine Zumideh Needs a Win is a fresh, unforgettable story of one Iranian-American young woman’s experience navigating her identity, friendship, family, her future, and a budding romance, all set against life-changing historical events with present-day relevance. I really appreciate the focus of this book on Jasmine, a half-Iranian, half-American high school senior in the late 1970s. This book provided some insight into Iranian culture and history so I was interested to read and learn about the Iranian Hostage Crisis. I think Jasmine was a great character to write about this topic through and the school election really helped drive home the narrative. The author does a great job showing the conflict Jasmine has with reconciling her two heritages, especially when faced with constant belittling and racism from her classmates. It is understandable for Jasmine, a high schooler under immense pressure, to make some questionable choices, but I found that I could never fully warm to her. Most of her decisions frustrated me and felt selfish and immature. However, I really liked the strong female representation. I think this is a great book for any high schoolers ready for a change, or maybe feeling like they do not know themselves.
dilliemillie's review against another edition
3.5
Whew this is a messy teenage story! Jasmine is an Iranian American high school student feeling the pressure to get into her first choice school because of her big dreams. A disappointing competition result and an international crisis catapult her into a public election race and a lot of confusion. She has to examine and understand her relationship to her identity and her integrity, and makes a lot of realistic bad choices along the way. I didn't find her very lovable, but she's definitely relatable!
I would love to see the ratio of book dedicated to mistakes versus resolution adjusted. Jasmine spends nearly the entire book compounding her poor choices. Finally she stops for a moment, admits she has been deflecting responsibility, makes a couple of huge gestures, and voila everything is fixed! There's almost no time spent on her actual growth or learning, which is a disappointment for a book otherwise focused on character exploration.
Overall, there's a lot to love here: delicious food, music references, and plenty of little details highlighting the time period. Jasmine's family relationships are complicated and have a bigger impact on her than she consciously realizes, which make for a compelling story. This is a well crafted young adult book featuring a perspective that deserves more attention than it gets!
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I would love to see the ratio of book dedicated to mistakes versus resolution adjusted. Jasmine spends nearly the entire book compounding her poor choices. Finally she stops for a moment, admits she has been deflecting responsibility, makes a couple of huge gestures, and voila everything is fixed! There's almost no time spent on her actual growth or learning, which is a disappointment for a book otherwise focused on character exploration.
Overall, there's a lot to love here: delicious food, music references, and plenty of little details highlighting the time period. Jasmine's family relationships are complicated and have a bigger impact on her than she consciously realizes, which make for a compelling story. This is a well crafted young adult book featuring a perspective that deserves more attention than it gets!
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
cathy_acasefullofbooks's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Jasmine Zumideh is one of the most unlikable characters I've ever read. She was a terrible friend, a terrible sister, a terrible niece... There was SO MUCH ROOM for character growth - lots of baby steps along the way. Instead, we got to see her get worse and worse until the very end when she did a complete 180. Too little, far too late, Jasmine.
I was really fascinated by the political situation that laid a background for the book (the Iranian Hostage Crisis), and I wish we'd been able to see Jasmine grapple more with her feelings about being Iranian American. Instead we got to see her abandon her identit, both in public and in her own mind, and read endless whining about how unlucky she was that this happened right as she decided to campaign for student body president. 🙄
I was really fascinated by the political situation that laid a background for the book (the Iranian Hostage Crisis), and I wish we'd been able to see Jasmine grapple more with her feelings about being Iranian American. Instead we got to see her abandon her identit, both in public and in her own mind, and read endless whining about how unlucky she was that this happened right as she decided to campaign for student body president. 🙄
Content Warnings
Moderate: Xenophobia, Cursing, War, and Racism
Minor: Alcohol and Drug use
abookwanderer's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Jasmine Zumideh Needs a Win by Susan Azim Boyer may be about a high school teen campaigning for senior class president in 1979, but I found this witty debut wonderfully relevant and honest. Jasmine caught my attention from the start. Likable and passionate, she’s determined to make her dream of attending NYU and becoming a music journalist a reality. When a little white lie snowballs, she finds herself at the center of a high school and an American controversy. Her desperation to win the election forces her to make some difficult choices, leaving her torn between her Iranian and American identities.
I found Jasmine compelling. She’s portrayed realistically, as a struggling teen, whose world has become hyper-focused. Her parents are a mess, currently separated. Her father is away on business and her mother has retreated to Kansas to be with Jasmine’s grandmother. Jasmine’s Iranian aunt has come to stay with them, intent on keeping their Iranian heritage at the forefront of Jasmine and her brother’s life.
Boyer has created a cast of characters that are captivating, making even the unlikeable characters human. From Jasmine’s best friends, to her close-minded running mate, to her radical brother, I wanted to know more about each one.
And even though watching Jasmine make desperately terrible decisions over and over is hard, there’s humor and joy as she finds the right path.
I was so impressed with the author’s creativity in using a high school election and an international incident to highlight our political climate and illustrate how elections can turn all of us into people we don’t recognize.
And I had so much fun visiting 1979!
Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for an advanced reader’s copy.
Check out my reviews and playlists at A Book Wanderer
I found Jasmine compelling. She’s portrayed realistically, as a struggling teen, whose world has become hyper-focused. Her parents are a mess, currently separated. Her father is away on business and her mother has retreated to Kansas to be with Jasmine’s grandmother. Jasmine’s Iranian aunt has come to stay with them, intent on keeping their Iranian heritage at the forefront of Jasmine and her brother’s life.
Boyer has created a cast of characters that are captivating, making even the unlikeable characters human. From Jasmine’s best friends, to her close-minded running mate, to her radical brother, I wanted to know more about each one.
And even though watching Jasmine make desperately terrible decisions over and over is hard, there’s humor and joy as she finds the right path.
I was so impressed with the author’s creativity in using a high school election and an international incident to highlight our political climate and illustrate how elections can turn all of us into people we don’t recognize.
And I had so much fun visiting 1979!
Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for an advanced reader’s copy.
Check out my reviews and playlists at A Book Wanderer
nikspandya's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-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
3.0
This book was an interesting look at historical and pop culture of the 1970s. It takes on xenophobic manipulation, the tension of running a high school election campaign, an identity crisis, and a teenage girl trying to juggle it all through her passion for journalism and classic rock. Jazmine’s struggle with her Iranian-American identity was moving and handled with care as she fought racist comments against her. Her brother Ali was a compelling character as well and I appreciated his exchanges with her! While I wanted and got a happy YA bow tie ending, the conclusion was a bit rushed to me and most of the character growth happens in the end. I enjoyed the story overall and recommend to anyone who enjoys high school elections, self-discovery, and stories of multiple identities.
Thanks to NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
amobrien's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Thank you Netgalley for providing a digital ARC.
Jasmine Zumideh is determined to escape her California suburb and get into her dream school NYU to jumpstart her career as a music journalist, and she'll do just about anything to get her way. Jasmine needs something extra to push her application to the top of NYU's early admission list, so she decides to run for senior class president. However, with current events putting Iran into the news, Iranian-American Jasmine has to make the decision of standing up against anti-Iranian hysteria being promoted by her opponent or hiding her heritage.
Where this story really thrives is in its side characters, and I found myself especially looking forward to scenes containing Jasmine's younger brother Ali, who is taking a stand against the anti-Iranian sentiments spreading across their school. If you're a reader who loves strong character development, I can't promise that this book is for you - there definitely is character development, but it is saved until the absolute very end of the story . That being said, if you've ever struggled with your identity, I would recommend Jasmine Zumideh Needs a Win.
Jasmine Zumideh is determined to escape her California suburb and get into her dream school NYU to jumpstart her career as a music journalist, and she'll do just about anything to get her way. Jasmine needs something extra to push her application to the top of NYU's early admission list, so she decides to run for senior class president. However, with current events putting Iran into the news, Iranian-American Jasmine has to make the decision of standing up against anti-Iranian hysteria being promoted by her opponent or hiding her heritage.
Where this story really thrives is in its side characters, and I found myself especially looking forward to scenes containing Jasmine's younger brother Ali, who is taking a stand against the anti-Iranian sentiments spreading across their school. If you're a reader who loves strong character development, I can't promise that this book is for you
kaledarm's review against another edition
the audio on netgalley was weird - not sure if the player or how it really is. might try again later
tessa_talks_books's review
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
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
4.75