Review: Jersey Tomatoes are the Best by Maria Padian

Jersey Tomatoes are the Best by Maria Padian.

Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: March 2011
List Price: $16.99
ISBN-13: 9780375865794

Review: Funny, loveable, and relatable all describe Jersey Tomatoes are the Best . Maria Padian captures just how difficult it is to be away from your best friend for an entire summer. Henry Lloyd who is a teenage tennis star and her best friend Eva Smith, a supreme ballerina, have to manage living without each other for a whole summer. These two Jersey girls are away from not only each other but also their beloved New Jersey. Henry is down in Florida while Eva is dancing her way around New York. How will their friendship hold out?

To begin, Henry gets a chance to go to one of the best tennis academies ever, Chadwick. She wants to improve her game and have her chance to be an even bigger star. At the same time, Eva goes to New York for ballet camp, so she can become a prima ballerina. While these two friends are away from each other, everything seems to happen. They try desperately to keep their friendship together, although they are very far apart. Henry is getting along great at her new camp. She is having so much fun with her new friends that she completely forgets to talk to Eva. With Eva battling her problems with being a ballerina in her tiny leotard, she is unable to dance for a while. Henry has no clue what condition Eva is in for a long time. Henry will stop at nothing to get to her best friend and be at her side when she needs it most.

I really thought this was a fantastic book! The writing was great and some of the jokes are very funny. Not only are the jokes funny but it has a serious tone throughout. It really shows how serious life can be to teenagers. That life for young people is not always happy and dandy. Life can really have problems and there is a difficulty in the character's lives. Jersey Tomatoes are the Best does not underestimate what young people go through as they life with their friends. The book made me think hard about how my life is good. Not only does it really capture the spirit of people, but also it is impossible to but down! I would stay up until midnight reading this book. My parents almost yelled at me to go to bed for multiple nights. I enjoyed reading and only stopped when it was absolutely necessary. Jersey Tomatoes are the Best can keep you entertained and make you never want to leave the book. The way the author ties the two girls' worlds together with phone calls and thinking of the other, really makes you see how close the girls are to each other. The end made me think of how important a best friend is and how much they would do for you. I really hope Maria Padian writes a follow up on the two girls and tells us what happens next. This book deserves all the stars in the galaxy!

Review written by Kathryn (6th grade student).

We would like to thank Random House for providing a copy of Jersey Tomatoes are the Best for this review.

Have you read Jersey Tomatoes are the Best? How would you rate it?