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A review by thereadingraccoon
Jasmine Zumideh Needs a Win by Susan Azim Boyer
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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
3.5
Jasmine Zumideh Needs a Win is a young adult novel about a teenager in 1979 who runs for senior class president and faces a series of moral dilemmas.
Jasmine Zumideh is a high school senior who dreams of going to NYU and becoming a journalist. However, her college application is a little light in the extracurricular department, so she decides that a run for class president is the perfect way to stand out. Unfortunately, the early decision application is due before Election Day, which means she must win to keep her application accurate. This puts intense pressure on both her and her friends, who are helping with the campaign. Jasmine’s opponent uses the recent Iran hostage crisis as part of his platform, forcing her to distance herself from her Iranian heritage and her politically active brother. As the campaign progresses toward Election Day, Jasmine makes increasingly questionable moral decisions that put her relationships at risk and jeopardize her campaign.
Jasmine Zumideh Needs a Win is a fun, lighthearted story about the struggle to maintain integrity in the midst of an election, especially when your opponent brings world events into a high school competition. While it’s not a fast-paced, high-stakes drama, it is entertaining and offers valuable lessons about friendship, honesty, and being proud of your heritage. Though the plot didn’t fully pull me in, I loved the inclusion of Southern California landmarks from 1979. It was so much fun hearing those names again!
Jasmine Zumideh is a high school senior who dreams of going to NYU and becoming a journalist. However, her college application is a little light in the extracurricular department, so she decides that a run for class president is the perfect way to stand out. Unfortunately, the early decision application is due before Election Day, which means she must win to keep her application accurate. This puts intense pressure on both her and her friends, who are helping with the campaign. Jasmine’s opponent uses the recent Iran hostage crisis as part of his platform, forcing her to distance herself from her Iranian heritage and her politically active brother. As the campaign progresses toward Election Day, Jasmine makes increasingly questionable moral decisions that put her relationships at risk and jeopardize her campaign.
Jasmine Zumideh Needs a Win is a fun, lighthearted story about the struggle to maintain integrity in the midst of an election, especially when your opponent brings world events into a high school competition. While it’s not a fast-paced, high-stakes drama, it is entertaining and offers valuable lessons about friendship, honesty, and being proud of your heritage. Though the plot didn’t fully pull me in, I loved the inclusion of Southern California landmarks from 1979. It was so much fun hearing those names again!