A for Effort

Gr 8 Up–Not only is Jay entering high school as a freshman, he’s also been assigned to take theater class, which he has no experience with. Rather than try to change it, he stays and realizes that he doesn’t have to be perfect to succeed. Instantly, he meets a group of friends who are competitive high achievers who welcome him into their circle. However, their hyper-focused studying and perfectionism pose a threat to Jay’s life balance as pressure builds from his parents and now his friends to gain a competitive edge. How can Jay strive but not become overstressed? Books featuring the ups and downs of characters who measure their success by their grades are less frequent but much needed. Jay’s daily observations in this graphic format will stand the test of time; readers will relate to how he wants to learn and grow, but also have fun. This satisfying, standalone story is the follow-up to Greene’s A-Okay, which is based on his middle school years, though not a prerequisite to fall in love with this title.