Motorcycles, Sushi and One Strange Book 9780310714842

Normal? While family dinners and vacations to touristy destinations are ordinary events for her 'normal' friends, fifteen-year-old Jessie Hatcher's normal life means dealing with her ADHD and her mother's bipolar disorder. So why is Jessie shocked when the unexpected happens? Now her 'normal' includes living in Florida with the father she always thought was dead and learning the secrets of sushi from a man who teaches by tormenting her. Life isn't any saner with her dad, but a cute guy and a mysterious book might just be the crazy Jessie needs.Editorial ReviewsFrom School Library JournalGr 7-10-Jessie, 15, has just received a phone call from her dad whom she has never met and believed was dead. She is transplanted in Florida to live with him after her bipolar mother's suicide attempt. Jessie suffers from ADHD, doesn't get along with her new stepsister, and isn't sure of the intentions of a guy she meets. Jessie's father attempts to bring more structure to her life through his biker friends and working at his sushi restaurant. He is patient and understanding, unlike her mother, which helps change Jessie's perspective on life. The turning point comes when she finds a book that gives her insight and examples from Jesus's life. Christian readers will appreciate the references to scripture and the theme "Seek and you shall find." Jessie is a likable character, but does she really not recognize "Yeshua" as Jesus? Because of this lack of recognition, can she really be transformed so quickly? Predictable at times, the story will not draw a large audience. It does, however, make a strong statement for reading and understanding the Bible and its teachings.Karen Alexander, Lake Fenton High School, Linden, MI® Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.From BooklistJessie thought her father died before her birth, but after her mother is hospitalized for her bipolar disorder, she realizes that not only is he alive and well but that she is being sent to live with him in Florida. As angry as she is to be stripped of her familiar friends and freedoms, Jessie finds safety and structure in Florida, as well as a special book, a contemporary version of the New Testament, that changes her perspective on life. Rue creates likable, believable characters who are coping with life's challenges: Jessie with ADHD, her mother with mental illness, her father with alcoholism, and her little half sister with jealousy over Jessie's growing relationship with their father. Jessie's dad's intriguing motorcycle shop-sushi bar offers her the opportunity to earn money and learn the art of sushi making. As hard as she tries, she can't hate her good fortune, a good fortune that she slowly realizes is a gift from God, enabled through her father and his powerful faith. Grades 7-10. --Frances Bradburn