A review by thepaperwitch
Mary Jane by Jessica Anya Blau

adventurous funny medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

 This was such a good, solid, and well written book. It was nice to dive in to a story that explored the tumultuous changes you go through as a teen that really focused on the uncertainty and confusion that comes from your family and the values you have grown up on coming into conflict with the person you are becoming. The stark contrast between the rigid, neat, racist, cold parents with the messy, loud, open, and honest found-family Mary Jane babysits for brings her a whole new understanding to the vibrancy and diversity the world offers. The struggle she has in trying to balance the two worlds with her own happiness is what makes this book shine.

I liked that this book shows that relationships of all kinds can be messy, but that the people in them are the ones that define their happiness and what love looks like for them. I felt that this was the unifying theme that defined the ending and wrapped the book up well. 
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