A review by meghan_readsbooks
Jasmine Zumideh Needs a Win by Susan Azim Boyer

5.0

This book is a win, Jasmine is a wonderfully strong female character and I loved the chance to better understand how it would have felt in 1979, and would still feel today, to be Iranian American. I loved that this book showcased her typical adolescent identity and senior year in high school tropes but added in the important layer of ethnicity and culture (and gender!) within the context of the election and political unrest. There is so much value in a young adult book that offers this voice and character.

I loved some of the other themes here, the focus on music, the normalcy of adolescent life but also the intensity of how that time feels, the flaws in Jasmine's behavior (because adolescents are and should be messy!). This is a great book with character growth and empowering themes on integrity and movement into adulthood.

I appreciate the gifted ebook from St Martin's and the chance to celebrate Susan Asim Boyer's writing and her characters.