paper things by jennifer richard jacobson

Jennifer Richard Jacobson is the author of the middle-grade novels Small as an Elephant, Paper Things, and the Dollar Kids, which is illustrated by Ryan Andrews. This is a satisfying coming-of-age story. The Maine coastline setting, the characters, and the mystery will keep readers engaged in the outcome. The mother’s career as a journalist plays into the story, as does the over-possessive relationship between Peyton and her paternal grandmother. Peyton narrates and her voice is authentic and full of curiosity. The characters are all memorable and believable. Peyton’s eager search for answers teaches her many valuable lessons about not jumping to conclusions too quickly. Everyone is suspect and there are many humorous moments and awkward situations. The plot keeps the story moving forward as readers wonder if Gray will recover and if Peyton or the police try to solve the hit-and-run accident.

But that too changes as she realizes that the more she tries to define things perfectly, it’s harder to see the truth and how things really are in life. Gray, the boy in a coma becomes her idealized boyfriend as she visits him at the hospital. I smiled at Peyton’s ever-changing checklist of what she hopes to find in a boyfriend, perhaps a result of having divorced parents and needing to find some sense of security and order in her life. Jennifer Richard Jacobson has written a heartwarming story about a 12-year-old girl navigating the process of growing up with all the angst of losing a best friend, hoping to find a boyfriend, dividing her time between her divorced parents’ homes, family drama, and trying to solve a real-life hit-an-run mystery.

When he wakes up, will he prove to be her destiny? Or does life have a few more surprises in store for Peyton? Guided by her collection of inspirational quotes and her growing list of ideal boyfriend traits, Peyton is convinced that this summer will be the perfect summer, complete with the perfect boyfriend! But when she discovers a boy lying unconscious in the middle of the road, the victim of a hit-and-run, her perfect summer takes a dramatic detour.ĭetermined to find the driver responsible, Peyton divides her time between searching her small town for clues and visiting the comatose (and cute!) boy in the hospital. But what exactly does fate have in store for her and the boy in the coma? When Peyton comes across the victim of a hit-and-run, she knows it’s destiny. Themes: Summer vacation, Divorce, Family relationships, Romance, Mystery

Paper things by jennifer richard jacobson