Overview
Jujube is thrilled when Brent asks her out. She is not so happy when the rumors start flying at school. Pretty soon her name is showing up on bathroom walls and everyone is snickering and sniping. When her mother gets involved, Jujube’s reputation takes another hit. Deciding that someone has to take a stand, Jujube gathers all the other girls who are labelled sluts—and worse—and tries to impress on her fellow students the damage that can be done by assigning a label that reduces a person to an object.Synopsis
Ralph looked away from me to another guy. "What do you think, Scott—a seven?" Scott looked me up and down. "Seven? Maybe." "Maybe on a good day," said another guy. "A really good day? Like last Friday?" Ralph replied. They were all laughing again. "You guys are pigs," I said. Jujube is thrilled when Brent asks her out. She is not so happy when the rumors start flying at school. Pretty soon her name is showing up on bathroom walls and everyone is snickering and sniping. When her mother gets involved, Jujube's reputation takes another hit. Deciding that someone has to take a stand, Jujube gathers all the other girls who are labelled sluts—and worse—and tries to impress on her fellow students the damage that can be done by assigning a label that reduces a person to an object. Beth Goobie is an award-winning author of a number of books for teens. Her book Before Wings, won the CLA YA Book Award, was a Governor General's Award nominee, an ALA Best Book nominee and a Teen Top Ten.
Sheree Van Vreede - Children's Literature
Going on a date with the boy you have had a crush on seems like the ultimate night, right? Well, what happens when the next day that boy spreads lies about what the two of you did on that date? Now you find yourself in the middle of gossip, the butt end of jokes, and no longer looked at in the same way you were before. High school can be a tough learning ground, just ask Trudy, or Jujube, as her friends call her. Going on a date with Brent seemed like the best news she could ever have, but she soon found out that people don't call him "Mr. Warp Speed" for nothing. After rejecting his advances and thinking everything was fine between them, Jujube soon discovers that dating can be a much more complex activity than she could ever have thought possible. Soon, the entire school thinks that she is "easy." This book provides a realistic picture of what can happen and often does happen in high schools across the United States. It is a compelling story of how one girl fights to overcome the stigma one boy's word creates and to rebuild her self-esteem. 2002, Orca Book Publishers,
Editorials
KLIATT
A failed attempt to tweeze her brows leaves Jujube with only one eyebrow. Thankfully, that doesn't stop Brent Floyd from asking her to the Valentine's dance. Jujube feels honored to be chosen as Brent's date, even after an uncomfortable moment in the back of Brent's car. Then Jujube returns to school to hear talk that she's "easy." Knowing nothing happened with Brent, Jujube tries to adopt the saying "Sticks and stones will break my bones but names will never hurt me." But it does hurt, badly! Someone scribbles her name and personal information on the boy's bathroom walls and paints "Jujube Gelb is a slut" on the bricks at school. Jujube tries to salvage her reputation, but no one, except her friend Sophia and a guy named Carlos, believes her. Finally, Jujube decides not to take this treatment any longer. She stands up for herself, and from her new vantage point she can see what she's been looking for all along. Like other books in the new Orca Soundings series, Sticks and Stones presents a quick glimpse of teen characters in contemporary settings. While short and slight in content, this teen fiction novel certainly deals with a timely and common problem, and will appeal to the reluctant reader. KLIATT Codes: J—Recommended for junior high school students. 2002, Orca, Soundings, 86p.,— Lynne Remick
Children's Literature
Going on a date with the boy you have had a crush on seems like the ultimate night, right? Well, what happens when the next day that boy spreads lies about what the two of you did on that date? Now you find yourself in the middle of gossip, the butt end of jokes, and no longer looked at in the same way you were before. High school can be a tough learning ground, just ask Trudy, or Jujube, as her friends call her. Going on a date with Brent seemed like the best news she could ever have, but she soon found out that people don't call him "Mr. Warp Speed" for nothing. After rejecting his advances and thinking everything was fine between them, Jujube soon discovers that dating can be a much more complex activity than she could ever have thought possible. Soon, the entire school thinks that she is "easy." This book provides a realistic picture of what can happen and often does happen in high schools across the United States. It is a compelling story of how one girl fights to overcome the stigma one boy's word creates and to rebuild her self-esteem. 2002, Orca Book Publishers,— Sheree Van Vreede