Sweethearts by Sara Zarr

ISBN-13: 9780316014564
Publisher: Little, Brown Books
Published: January 2009
224 pgs

Jennifer Harris and Cameron Quick have one thing in common: they are both social outcasts. This drawn them together and they became the best of friends. Just when Jennifer thinks she could seek solace in Cameron whenever she has problems, her world seems to come to a halt when Cameron disappeared and she was told he was dead.

Few years later, Jennifer is a senior in high school but with a new identity. She is no longer the chubby, insecure Jennifer but a popular and confident Jenna Vaughn. No one else knew about her unhappy past; it is like she is completely a new person. She is very happy with her life now; her mother remarried and she has a wonderful and understanding stepfather. She has friends and a good-looking boyfriend. Life seems wonderful and promising ahead until one day, Cameron walks back into her life again.

Without saying, Jennifer is stunned. And this leads her to memories of the old days and an event that had claimed to alter their life. Then again, there is another question she has asked herself is, should she embrace her life being Jenna, or should she return to her old self as Jennifer?

As I read further, I realize there is so much more about this story. Issues like abusive treatment, insecurity, friendship, love, and not to mention about finding oneself along the path of growing-up. The characters are well-developed, and there are so much reality in this story. I liked the way how this story explores about finding one's identity, through Jennifer's transformation to Jenna and towards the end how Jenna thought about everything and wonder if she could be Jennifer again.

As for the abusive treatment, there is not much mention of how Cameron is being treated but you would be able to feel how it affected Cameron and Jennifer through their minds and emotions. And I liked how this is portrayed without exposing too much of the ugly facts to the readers, considering this is a YA fiction.

Due to all these circumstances, there is always a connection between Cameron and Jennifer. They share a lot of similarities, though Jennifer appears to be the more fortunate one. Their relationship may seem pure but oh so true. The love they have for each other may seem unclear, but it is there growing silently in their hearts.

Sweethearts is a bittersweet story of friendship and how certain people come into your life and leave a mark. It is a wonderful story that tugs at my heartstrings and leave me something to ponder about.

One of my favourite quotes:

"... I’m talking about the ones who, for whatever reason, are as much a part of you as your own soul. Their place in your heart is tender; a bruise of longing, a pulse of unfinished business. My mom was right about that. Just hearing their names pushes and pulls at you in a hundred ways, and when you try to define those hundred ways, describe them even to yourself, words are useless. If you had a lifetime to talk, there would still be things left unsaid."

Other reviews:
Becky’s Book Reviews
Em’s Bookshelf
It’s All About Books
Jenny’s Books
Mari Reads
Maw Books
Presenting Lenore
Superfast Reader
The Well-Read Child
Things Mean A Lot
Words by Annie
Worducopia
YAnnabe
(Let me know if I have missed yours.)