Jersey Tomatoes Are the Best

Gr 7—10—Eva, a ballet dancer, and Henriette, a star tennis player, lead highly competitive lives, but they never compete against one another, except for which of their parents is the most insanely overbearing. When Henry goes to a tennis camp in Florida and Eva to a ballet school in New York for the summer, it becomes apparent that, while Henry thrives on the challenges of her athletic career, Eva is slowly being destroyed by the pressures of ballet culture and her own impossible quest for perfection. The story follows the girls in alternating narratives, and Henry's chapters vibrantly recount the expected experiences of a teen at camp: a colorful roommate, a cute guy who turns out to be sleazy, and another guy she ends up falling for. By contrast, Eva's chapters become increasingly dark and self-critical as her precarious mental condition deteriorates, and she slips into a regimen of starvation and exercise that portends disaster. While it's obvious early on that Eva has an eating disorder, it takes an astonishingly long time for anyone to act. The teens' high-powered and oblivious parents are perhaps exaggerated, but the intense stress felt by Henry, and especially Eva, to perform and please will resonate with high-achieving readers. This is a moving portrayal of the mental anguish of anorexia and a story about discovering your values and cherishing your friendships above all else. Give this novel to fans of Sarah Dessen's work and anyone else who likes chick lit that both entertains and skillfully addresses serious teen topics.—Emma Burkhart, Springside School, Philadelphia, PA