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Sweethearts
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By Sara Zarr
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 (64 Reviews)
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Our Price: $7.99 Eligible for FREE SHIPPING on orders over $25.00. Details
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Publisher:
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Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
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Edition:
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Reprint
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Published:
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December 31, 1969 |
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Binding:
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Paperback
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Pages:
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217
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As children, Jennifer Harris and Cameron Quick were both social outcasts. They were also one another's only friend. So when Cameron disappears without warning, Jennifer thinks she's lost the only person who will ever understand her. Now in high school, Jennifer has been transformed. Known as Jenna, she's popular, happy, and dating, everything "Jennifer" couldn't be---but she still can't shake the memory of her long-lost friend.
When Cameron suddenly reappears, they are both confronted with memories of their shared past and the drastically different paths their lives have taken.
From the National Book Award nominated author of Story of a Girl, Sweethearts is a story about the power of memory, the bond of friendship, and the quiet resilience of our childhood hearts.
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Customer Reviews:
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 Complicated emotions and a totally new plot, February 3, 2008
By The Bibliophile (Washington, DC)
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Jennifer Harris is able to do what every adolescent girl hopes for--she reinvents herself between middle school and high school from the tubby outcast with a lisp to a beautiful individual with all the right friends. She loses weight, changes her name to Jenna, transfers schools and even gets the perfect boyfriend. But she also has the same fears as every teenage girl--she is afraid that all of the perfect people in her perfect life will see past the skinny exterior and expose her for the fraud she believes she is.
At first glance, this book may seem like a pretty mainstream YA novel about a girl struggling with self-image. But there is so much more depth to Jenna's life, and thanks to the return of her childhood best friend Cameron Quick, Jenna begins to see that she is a lot stronger than she first believes.
Though this novel is about childhood sweethearts and the love that binds them through shared experiences as well as time apart, this is not a teen romance. It is the story of how people help us see who we truly are and that we have the inner strength to face our pasts, no matter how horrific, and live up to a greater future.
While I love Jenna and Cameron, my favorite characters came from some unexpected sources. Alan, Jenna's stepfather, acts as a grounding place for Jenna and becomes the parental figure whom Jenna turns to when she needs someone the most. Jenna's schoolmate Steph is another vibrant character who sees more of the real Jenna than she realizes.
In Jenna, Zarr manages to capture what few young adult authors are able to. Jenna lives on the fringes of teenage life and has always thought of herself as a reactor rather than an initiator, something that the majority of teenagers are but that authors rarely choose to write about. Jenna has also experienced some things that have shaped who she is, but the things she experiences are not on the extremes of the horrific nor are they the "poor me" occurrences of the shallow-minded.
I found this book both relatable and powerful without being over the top or trite. It elicited a lot of emotions that I am still coming to terms with even hours after finishing, and I'm sure I'll still be thinking about it even days from now. With rich characters and a totally new concept, I enjoyed every minute of this book.
44 of 45 people found the above review helpful.
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Richie's Picks SWEETHEARTS, April 3, 2008
By Richie's Picks (Sebastopol, CA United States)
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What is a friend? Who are your real friends?
Nowadays, we all have MySpace friends and listserve friends, IM friends and texting friends, in addition to our traditional school friends, neighborhood friends, and those we acquire over the years through a variety of life experiences.
For me, there was a girl with an abutting backyard with whom I played well when I was a preschooler, long-lost buddies in black and white photos from my earliest school days, the tall guy who befriended me on the playground following our family's move in the middle of my third grade year (I still know and visit him.), and a boy from Smithtown I met at daycamp with whom I remember walking with our arms around each other one summer. There were study friends and Boy Scout friends and the members of all the various extracurricular and social groups to which I belonged during high school. Being as old as I am, the list of old friends goes on and on and on.
But we might ask ourselves: How many of those friends "for whatever reason, are as much a part of you as your own soul"? And to how many people have we been such a friend?
"There are things I want to remember about Cameron Quick that I can't entirely, like the pajamas he wore when he used to sleep over, and his favorite cereal, or how it felt to hold his hand as we walked home from school in third grade. I want to remember exactly how we became friends in the first place, a definite starting line that I can visit again and again. He's a story I want to know from page one.
"My brain doesn't seem to work that way. Most specific things about Cameron are fuzzy -- the day we met, how we got so close, exact words we said to each other. There are only moments, snapshots, pieces of a puzzle. Once in a while I feel them right in my hand, real as the present, but usually it's more like I'm grasping for vapor. I understand that you can never have the whole picture; inevitably, there's stuff you don't know, can't know. But when it comes to Cameron I always want more than I have, would like to be able to take hold of at least one or two more pieces, if only because I'm convinced there are parts of myself hidden inside them."
As an impoverished elementary student in thrift store garb, Jennifer Harris is shunned by the schoolmates who tauntingly call her "Fattifer." Her closet eating habits -- which include frequently stealing food from schoolmates and stores -- are clearly the product of regularly being left to fend for herself by her single mom who is forever running between work and nursing school.
The one person in the world Jennifer can always depend on is her only friend and fellow outcast Cameron Quick. But Cameron has his own problems and secrets, including a nightmarish father as Jennifer learns first-hand that horrific day -- her ninth birthday -- when she visits Cameron's house to collect a present he has made for her.
Soon thereafter, Cameron and his family disappear and the eventual rumor at school is that he has moved away and then died. Jennifer's mother acknowledges that the rumor is, indeed, fact.
"The two questions came into my head again: How could you have left me? Why didn't you say good-bye?"
Eight years later, Jennifer Harris has reinvented herself into Jenna Vaughn, a teen who has determinedly shed her excessive weight and her former lack of composure. Her mother's remarriage has cleared up the former problems of poverty. Jenna attends a charter school where she has popular friends and a popular boyfriend: ("Sometimes I worried that I should be feeling more for him than I actually did, but I tended to push those worries aside and focus on how it felt to be part of it, to be seen by everyone as worthy of couplehood").
Eight years after she last sees him, Cameron Quick suddenly and inexplicably reappears in Jenna/Jennifer's life just as precipitously as he had disappeared from it. The presence of Cameron will compel her to determine whether she is Jenna or Jennifer.
I was thoroughly caught up in the tale of SWEETHEARTS, a story of a once-in-a-lifetime friendship and what has befallen the two long-lost friends as they pursued their radically divergent paths through childhood and adolescence. It is a book that sure has me contemplating relationships with friends past and present.
16 of 17 people found the above review helpful.
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The Truth of the Matter, The Heart of the Matter, January 21, 2008
By Little Willow (USA)
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When Jennifer was in elementary school, she had only one friend. His name was Cameron, and he meant the world to her. When they were together, the taunts of their classmates didn't matter . . . as much. Jennifer always felt safe with Cameron.
That is, until one day in fifth grade, when something horrible happened to them. Shortly thereafter, he stopped coming to class. Their teacher said he moved; their classmates said something worse. Cameron was gone for good - or so Jennifer thought. On the day she turned seventeen, he walked back into her life. A life very different from the one she used to lead.
In the eight years since her friend's disappearance, Jennifer has changed considerably. She lost weight, gained friends, and started going by Jenna. She attends a small charter school and has her first serious boyfriend, the popular and sweet Ethan. Her once-single mother, who struggled for years to make ends meet, married a kind man. Alan has given Jenna and her mother his last name and a stable home.
Though Jenna has changed on the outside, she's still Jennifer on the inside, filled with insecurities and painful memories, all of which surface the minute she sees Cameron again.
He's grown up too. He's taller now, and his heart is heavier, but he's still Cameron. He's come back in search of closure, something Jenna's new life has never quite given her. Whether or not they find it depends on their willingness to deal with what happened when they were nine years old.
Cameron's reappearance causes Jenna to re-evaluate her present life. She knows that she wouldn't be who she is now if she hadn't gone through those experiences as a child and if she hadn't Cameron as a friend. How different would her life have been if he had stuck around? How different will it be now that he's back? Suddenly, her boyfriend, her friends, and her routines at home and at school seem surreal. She unintentionally slips back into some old habits, such as stealing candy bars and binge eating when she's alone.
Relayed in first-person narrative, Jenna's journey is emotional and believable. When she shed those pounds, she didn't shed her shyness. Though she could change her name, she couldn't change what happened to her. Meanwhile, Cameron's struggle to stay strong while he searches for a place in the world makes him an interesting mix of protector and someone who needs protecting. Though she doesn't ask him to be, nor is he trying to be, he isn't Jenna's White Knight. They both need saving in one way or another.
Though I greatly enjoyed Sara Zarr's debut novel, Story of a Girl, I was even more impressed by her sophomore Sweethearts. It's a compulsive read filled with tension and truth. Readers will want to know what happened to the main characters as children, something which is revealed in flashes and slivers throughout the book, and they will care what happens to them as teenagers.
Sweethearts by Sara Zarr delicately describes a fragile friendship. Second chances don't come around very often, and when they do, you have to make choices for yourself, for better or for worse, and find the strength to move on.
15 of 15 people found the above review helpful.
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First love, friendship, and secrets, January 12, 2008
By Kate Messner
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Jennifer Harris used to be that poor, chubby kid who sat alone in the cafeteria. Well, almost alone. There was Cameron Quick, another social outcast. Another kid living in poverty and living on the fringe of third grade society. He was her only friend and the only person who ever understood Jennifer Harris. And then he disappeared.
Years pass. Jennifer gets a new stepfather, a new house, a new school, a new name, a new life. She reinvents herself as Jenna Vaughn. Jenna Vaughn is one of the pretty, thin popular girls. She has friends and a hot boyfriend. But she also has a secret - a dark memory that ties her forever to Cameron Quick and to the old Jennifer Harris, who never really left. SWEETHEARTS is the story of Cameron's return to Jennifer's life and what happens when her two worlds meet.
As a National Book Award Finalist, Sara Zarr has a lot riding on this next novel. There will be inevitable comparisons to STORY OF A GIRL. Can this second book live up to that standard? Truth be told, I liked SWEETHEARTS even better. The characters in this novel absolutely shine, from the insecure third grade Jennifer and the third grade Cameron whose generosity and fierce loyalty made me want him for a friend, to the high school version of these kids, still haunted by their grade school selves. The minor characters shine, too. One of my favorites was Jenna's stepfather, whose quiet support helps Jenna and her mother rebuild what was broken so many years ago.
Some character-driven novels sacrifice pace and tension, but that's not the case with SWEETHEARTS. From the very first chapter, readers sense there's a story from Jennifer's childhood that's not being told in its entirety. Zarr reveals that story in bits and pieces, snippets of memory and elegantly woven flashbacks throughout the book. All the while, the parts of the story left unspoken create powerful tension.
I read an advance release copy of SWEETHEARTS in just a few sittings. When I was away from the book, I spent half my time thinking about the characters and hoping things would go well for them. They grow on you like that. Sara Zarr has written another fantastic novel -- one that celebrates the power of childhood friendships, loyalty, and inner strength. Like STORY OF A GIRL, Zarr's new release is loaded with realistic characters, hope, and heart. The fabulous cookie cover art delivers on its promise - SWEETHEARTS an absolutely delicious read.
7 of 7 people found the above review helpful.
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 BOOK HARBINGER: Cover too gorgeous for a bittersweet book, May 26, 2010
By Hollybally
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Nine-year-old Jennifer Harris, cursed with a lisp and baby fat, is friendless until she gets up to the courage to talk to Cameron Quick, a poor, awkward boy who is also a social outcast. They are instant soul mates until Cameron mysteriously moves away without saying good bye. Eight years later Jennifer Harris has become Jenna Vaughn, a skinny, popular high-schooler with a hunky boyfriend. Yet she is still haunted by the memories of her childhood friend. When Cameron suddenly reappears at school, Jenna finds it increasingly difficult to keep up her new image and at the same time hide from her past and the horrific secret they share.
I compulsively read this book until I finished but didn't know what to think afterward. Initially I felt a little let down by the melancholy mood it left me in. Though this is ultimately a hopeful story about love between two teens, it's definitely not another teen romance novel. I knew this going into it, but I didn't expect it to be quite as heartbreaking. That being said, Zarr writes excellent characters in whom you become emotionally invested. Her deftly woven flashbacks of the unspeakable experience they shared do make it a real page turner. Zarr's portrayal of the power of childhood relationships and the permanent marks they make is spot-on. I felt both for the characters and for myself. It brought some of my childhood and teenage wounds to the surface - close friendships that never saw closure; memories of childhood bullying and social exclusion that still hurt. For better or for worse, this is realistic teen fiction at its best
4 of 4 people found the above review helpful.
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Fizzling Ending, May 15, 2009
By Paranomal romance gal (Circleville, Ohio)
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This book kept me hooked the whole time, I wanted the two misfit kids to get together so badly...then the ending totally let me down. It really didn't explain anything!! Just kinda gave you a so is life "The End" ending. I literally flipped through the blank pages saying "Is that it???" At first I said to myself "she must be writting a squel" But sadly I soon found that answer is no. So this book leaves you hanging...
4 of 5 people found the above review helpful.
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Courtesy of Teens Read Too, January 22, 2008
By Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier. (All Over the US & Canada)
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I enjoyed this book. SWEETHEARTS is a character-driven novel where there isn't much action but a big emotional journey with quite a kick.
Jennifer Harris is a social outcast. She is fat and the other girls in third grade are very mean. She eats lunch alone until the day that she decides to make Cameron Quick her friend. After that, she and Cameron are always together, both of them outcasts.
Then, one day Cameron disappears, and the other kids tell her that he is dead.
The book then forwards on to present day and Jennifer has recreated herself. She is pretty, popular, has a cute boyfriend, and has changed her name to Jenna. She is a senior but she feels like she is just acting a part. It takes a lot of energy to be the girl that she is.
Enter Cameron Quick -- who she thought was dead. He reenters her life and the past comes flooding back in big waves. They reconnect and discover what real love is all about. I liked the fact that this relationship between Cameron and Jennifer was real but not sexual. In fact, when she does have sex with her boyfriend she feels unconnected to him. This love is not about sex but about experiences that will live within you for a lifetime. It rushes in and takes over.
The characters of the story were real and you truly wanted to be their friends. I especially liked Jennifer's dad. He was someone that I wish I could talk with for hours. The book is also one that doesn't have a definitive ending. I kept thinking up fun endings for days afterwards.
Reviewed by: Marta Morrison
3 of 3 people found the above review helpful.
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 The biggest waste of time, June 25, 2009
By wilis (australia)
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DONT BUY, The start of this books is great, i loved it but then it went in a stupid direction, it shouldnt be called sweethearts because it has nothing to do with it, this could have been a great storey but the author must have been punched in the head before finishing it because its stupid, stupid ending, i wish i could have back all those hours i wasted reading it. She pumps it up, you think there going to end up together or something, but then you get nothing, a waste of money, time.
3 of 21 people found the above review helpful.
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3.5 Stars for Sweethearts, March 29, 2010
By A Life Bound By Books (US & UK, both I call home)
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3.5 Stars - While reading this book I didn't know what to feel. I was confused throughout and maybe that was partially from the fact that our main character Jennifer - now Jenna was confused and troubled from beginning to almost the end.
We see her and her best friend Cameron at nine years old struggling with bullies and their home lives. It was hard to see both struggle, but the bond they had just was something that people are lucky to find once in a lifetime. When Cameron moves away she's left alone to fend for herself. She's told some tragic news and her life becomes even more depressing. I felt that even at that young age Cameron and Jennifer were somewhat of soul mates and they needed each other more then even their parents understood.
A few years later Jennifer's mother gets married and they move. She takes this time to reinvent herself. She changes everything about her, even her name to Jenna to make sure she never has to live the way she did during her grade school years, but Cameron is always there in her memories.
Now in high school she has great friends, a boyfriend, and lives in a nice house. Everything she could ever want. No matter how much she changes in others eyes, she can't keep herself but thinking about that little 9 year old boy, Cameron and just what that friendship meant to her, what he meant to her. He was really the only person in the world who knew, understood and loved her for who she was inside and out.
On her 17th birthday Jenna always remembers back to that birthday she can't soon forget, one that would forever change her and Cameron for the rest of their lives. Later that night she shocked to find a note from Cameron, whom she hasn't seen or talked to since they were 9.
The majority of this story is told in present day showing her feelings for her mom, step dad, friends, boyfriend and Cameron with flash backs to grade school and that birthday that changed everything. We see Jenna struggle to cope and figure out whom she is more so then who she's transformed herself into.
This was a story that was layered by the relationship past and present between Jennifer/Jenna and Cameron and the fall out of the bullies and events from so long ago. Jenna has changed but she's still the damaged person from the past and with Cameron there she's bound to have to face some truths.
I haven't read anything by Zarr before and I can say that I'm sure to pick something up by this author again. It was well written with unforgettable characters. If you haven't read this book yet and are looking for something non paranormal... since I know many of us tend to read more of that these days, then you should look into this book. Enjoy!
For more info and reviews please visit my Book Review Blog here - [..] - A Life Bound By Books
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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Superbly written, captivating story, January 1, 2009
By http://wellreadchild.blo..
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Nine year olds Jennifer and Cameron are the outcasts at their school. Jennifer is overweight, shy, and withdrawn, and Cameron, who comes from an abusive home is just well--different. Both are endlessly teased, and they somehow find each other and form a deep connection. Until one day Cameron doesn't show up at school, and the teacher says he moved. To say Jennifer is hurt because he didn't say goodbye is an understatement. She's crushed and just doesn't understand. Then one day the bullies at recess tell her that Cameron died. When her own mother doesn't tell her differently, Jennifer is devastated and decides that the only way she can survive is to bury the person she is with him.
Eight years later, Jennifer is now Jenna, and she's completely reinvented herself. She's in great shape, goes to a different school, and has lots of friends, including a boyfriend Ethan, the handsomest boy in school. Externally, she seems happy and seems to have the perfect life. Internally, she struggles to keep "Jennifer" inside and is haunted by a terrifying experience that occurred at Cameron's house on her ninth birthday. On her seventeenth birthday, she discovers that Cameron did not die and that he's in her town. Memories and suppressed feelings come flooding back as she struggles to cope with this news.
Has their connection remained strong after all these years? Why didn't he try to contact her before? Why didn't her mother tell her the truth? What exactly happened at Cameron's house so many years ago? Do Jenna and Cameron still have such a strong connection after all these years? Will Jenna leave Ethan for Cameron? Can she keep Jennifer inside? Sara Zarr's second novel Sweethearts answers all these questions through a profound and gut-wrenching story.
Zarr does an exceptional job of drawing you in and make you FEEL Jenna's emotions. As I was reading, I felt a lump in the pitt of my stomach as Jenna relived the horrifying day at Cameron's house. I felt anger, confusion, heartache, and fear as Jenna struggles with Cameron's return and all of the emotions that come flooding in with it.
From the very first chapter I was hooked as I read the following passage:
"Other memories stick, no matter how much you wish they wouldn't. They're like a song you hate but can't ever get completely out of your head, and this song becomes the background noise of your entire life, snippets of lyrics, and lines of music floating up and then receding, a crazy kind of tide that never stops." (p. 5, Advanced Reader Copy).
In addition to resounding passages like this one, Zarr is careful not to make Jenna "too adult." She expertly reminds us that Jenna is seventeen through carefully crafted scenarios that take us inside the head of a teenager. Jenna grapples with friendships, her weight and self-image, boyfriends, the pressure to have sex, the pressure to drink--things that many young adults can identify with.
It's evident that Sara Zarr poured her heart and soul into this book, and I can't even remember the last time I read a book that resonated with me as much as Sweethearts did. If you liked Story of a Girl,you will love Sweethearts.
Originally posted at The Well-Read Child.
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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An Unfinished Love, August 20, 2008
By Maria Waltner (Cincinnati, Ohio United States)
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This is an excellent growing-up novel for any teen. Jenna Vaughn is a senior at a small charter school in Utah who, on the outside, has it all - friends, a boyfriend, a great body etc.
What Jenna's friends don't know is her rocky childhood or the one boy who helped ease her loneliness.
Peppered throughout the book are memories, little things that Jenna remembers about Cameron Quick and her own childhood. She remembers the day he snuck a ring and a note into her lunchbox saying that he loved her. She remembers being teased by the popular kids and being called Fattifer. She remembers the week Cameron spent at her house and how hyped on sugar he got after eating chocolate chip pancakes. She remembers the dollhouse he built for her birthday and escaping from his father. She remembers compulsively stealing food.
One day Cameron doesn't come to school and then he's just not there for a few months. When Jennifer finally gets her courage to ask the teacher says that he's moved away and the kids at school tell her he has died. Either way Cameron is gone and he didn't even say goodbye. Eight years later on Jenna's birthday Cameron shows up again to place a birthday card and a cheap plastic ring in her mailbox.
Jenna is thrilled Cameron is alive and hurt that he never contacted her before this. She's never forgotten what he meant to her but she's not sure how to incorporate him into the new life she's built for herself.
There are aspects of the book I really related to and I really felt some heart-tugs for Jenna and Cameron. The book was well-written in almost a journal style with randomly interspersed memories and completely from Jenna's point of view. The reader only knows what Jenna knows and sometimes this is helpful and sometimes it hinders the whole Cameron picture since it's based on her childhood information.
I felt the end was unfinished but even that felt right after I thought about it. Jenna's mother said she always felt there was something unfinished about Jenna and Cameron and Jenna reflects later that that unfinished something was love. The book felt unfinished because their love is unfinished and that made me feel infinitely better about the ending and not really KNOWING how the two of them end up and if it all works out.
All in all an excellent book.
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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Leaves it's mark in your heart, June 3, 2008
By lenore531 (Wichita, KS United States)
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What attracted me to this book initially was the cover (I saw it at the Little Brown stand in Bologna) - doesn't that frosted cookie look yummy? I also liked the jacket copy: "Sweethearts is about the power of memory, the bond of friendship, and the quiet resilience of our childhood hearts." So yeah, not exactly high concept, but I like to read "quieter" books every now and then too. And this one was just lovely.
High School Senior Jenna Vaughn has a cute boyfriend Ethan, tons of friends and seems to have it all together. But she still carries the scars of a solitary childhood - one in which her harried single mother didn't seem to have time for her and she only had one friend - fellow outcast and first love Cameron Quick who disappears one day without explanation.
When Cameron suddenly reappears years later, Jenna must come to terms with a traumatizing event in her past, confront her mother about her abandonment issues, and figure out what place Cameron, Ethan, and her new friends have in her life.
I found the story and Jenna's character arc to be very authentic. I have to admit, my first instinct was to scoff when I found out how relatively tame the "traumatic event" was - I mean it is very far from Cupcake Brown's childhood as she describes in her memoir A Piece of Cake (I urge you to check it for a great true story of triumph over adversity). Upon further reflection, I realized that within Jenna's scope of experience and from her narrow point of view, this one event was in fact earth-shattering.
The writing is top notch throughout and I'd be hard pressed to come up with a last chapter that is more beautifully expressed than this one. This book really makes you think about how certain people have touched your life and left a lasting mark in your heart.
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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Read Sweethearts NOW, February 12, 2008
By T Morris (New York, NY)
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This is such a beautiful book. I stayed up all night reading it and never wanted it to end. Sara has created such wonderful characters in Jenna and Cameron. She perfectly describes adolescent bullying, desperately wanting to fit in, and what it feels like to have just one true friend in all the world. If it's possible, I just might love this more than Story of a Girl--and that's saying a lot! Sara is an amazing presence not just in young adult literature, but in all of literature. I can't recommend this book enough!
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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Get Ready to Pull an All-Nighter, February 11, 2008
By Ara Burklund (San Diego, CA United States)
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I absolutely loved STORY OF A GIRL and was expecting more of the same in this sophomore effort, so I was a bit jarred by the opening sequence in a younger voice, but guess what? Sara Zarr has amazing range. SWEETHEARTS was even better! Zarr infuses Jennifer/Jenna's two worlds with powerful emotional truths that leave the reader thinking about the story long after finishing it. Can't wait to see Zarr's next!
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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 The Sweetest Story, May 30, 2010
By Carly Weiner (Los Angeles, CA United States)
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Sweethearts is a delightful realistic fiction novel written by Sara Zarr. It is a wonderful, exciting, and heart-felt story about a young girl and her past.
Since the day Cameron Quick disappeared, Jennifer Harris has moved away and changed her identity. Years have gone by, but the two of them have never forgotten their remarkable past. Later, Cameron returns, just when Jennifer is doing fine on her own. After this, nothing is ever the same and never will be. From the day Jennifer met Cameron, her life changed. Forever.
In this extraordinary novel Sara Zarr demonstrates true love, friendship, and memory. The way Zarr's writing flows is astonishing. This book has full-bodied characters; they seem so real! It is amazing how much they all care for one another and never lose hope. This book will change you. It makes you realize how good life is and to never go through life quickly, because there are so many beautiful moments, that need to be acknowledged. These moments can be felt as you read Sweethearts. As soon as I read this, I recommended it to as many people as I could, and plan to read many more books by Sara Zarr in the future.
Sweethearts is an excellent choice for young adult readers and has won many awards such as the ALA Best Book for Young Adults. I enjoyed it so much that I read it in less than 4 days! I'm sure you will too. This is one of my favorite books of all time and once you start reading it you won't want to put it down! It will keep you guessing because of all the exciting and unpredictable parts. Sweethearts is an outstanding novel by a great author and I enjoyed it very much.
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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 Bittersweet at best, but definitely not Sweet, April 19, 2011
By Riley (Oakland, CA USA)
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I just finished reading this book and, like many of the reviews made, I couldn't put this book down. This book deals with abuse and neglect, and how it can have LT impact. At the heart of the story are two close childhood friends who were separated and then see each other again 8 years later. It sounds like the premise for a dramatic romance and, after learning what had happened in the past through a series of flashbacks, I couldn't help but want to get to a happy resolution which would have made some of the more difficult parts to read bearable. However, I was really disappointed by the ending. I couldn't help but feel like all this build up was for nothing, especially given the title of the book. I just wish that I had taken more time to read the 3 star or below reviews first.
If you want to read a moving story that deals with similar issues, I would recommend reading "Heart on a Chain" by Cindy Bennett instead. This book is moving, riveting and certainly has a more satisfying conclusion (but be prepared with tissues for some parts of the book).
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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Sweethearts, January 22, 2011
By Ashley (USA)
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Jenna Vaughn, a senior in high school, seems to have it all: her cute (first) boyfriend Ethan, lots of friends, and good looks. However, no one knows about her past and childhood memories from elementary school. Jennifer, as she went by, was an "ugly, fat loser with no friends" - that is, except for Cameron Quick. They were inseparable best friends and always there for each other. Until one day when Cameron suddenly disappears, and everyone says he's dead. So eight years later, while Jenna has moved on with her life and trying to live a normal one, Cameron suddenly shows up out of nowhere. And brings with him the memories of their secret, shared childhood. Jenna must face the past, confront her mother, and make room in her life for Cameron.
First off, I solely bought this book just from looking at the cover. I mean, yum?! That pink-frosted cookie looks delicious and I like how plain, yet elegant the cover is. So kudos to that.
This was an awesome book filled with emotion and beautifully written. I loved Jenna's character, and really got into her - she kind of reminded me of myself in ways. And Cameron? Aww, I just loved his character. He was such a sweetheart (ha, no pun intended! :P) and portrayed in the novel nicely. He and Jenna's chemistry seemed so real, unlike some books, when it seems almost forced. Theirs came naturally and I believed every page of it.
Each person in the book had a distinct personality, and I was able to tell each character apart. I particularly liked Alan, the step-dad, the best. I don't think anyone would hesitate to have a father like that. And the author wrote about the family members so descriptively, that it seemed like I was in the same room with them.
One thing that kind of got on my nerves, though, was how much Jenna would freak out when she ate something unhealthy. Since she was fat when she was little, Jenna now eats healthy and rarely eats junk food. However, about three or four times in the book, when she would give into temptation and eat dessert, afterward she'd get so upset with herself. It's okay to eat sweets every once in awhile!
Goodness, the emotion in this book was so realistic! Jenna's mom basically missed out on her daughter's whole childhood since she was rarely at home. So, when the mom starts taking care of Cameron and is always concerned about him, Jenna's reaction was so appropriate. She felt kind of jealous, left out, etc. And I could feel those mixed emotions for her, too! My heart ached for her, and I was very absorbed in her story.
The ending was sort of unclear. I still had a few unanswered questions, but nothing major. Overall, it was a great book and I'm glad I took the time to read it. I'll have to read something else written by Sara Zarr, soon.
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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Sweet Read, September 4, 2010
By Michelle (Metro DC)
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Zarr writes with such eloquence and emotion it would have been difficult for me not to feel a connection to her characters and the stories she builds around them. A shorter book by the numbers, it carried with it as much bang for the buck as a story of much greater length. What I appreciated about her writing is that it made me see and feel without being too flowery in it's prose. On top of that she's created a great plot in which she's infused the story of Jenna and Cameron's relationship with a mystery from their past. She kept me wondering and searching; giving us little bits and pieces here and there until the very bitter end where all was ultimately revealed. Admittedly, I did have some idea of what certain circumstances related to the mystery might have been but there were an equally number of surprises that when revealed I really enjoyed. What this equaled to in the end was that I was able to take the journey with these characters as opposed to knowing it all before they did and that made for an excellent read.
Jenna and Cameron are two youngsters bound to each other by their outcast status. Clinging to each other through life's horrible circumstances (most specifically Cameron's family issues) they are quickly and mysteriously separated when he vanishes. At this point Zarr delves into deeper exploration of each of the characters on an individual level as well as in the ways they eventually interact with each other.
Jenna's mother soon remarries and the family is relocated where no one is familiar with her past thus she becomes a girl reborn. No longer the social pariah she was in younger years her new found popularity provides her the much longed for, and missing, comforts of friendship and acceptance. Despite having built new relationships, she still longs for the deeper connection she had with her best friend Cameron.
Cameron, on the other hand, is a child of bad parenting. Having returned to where Jenna lives after having been missing for so long we learn of the many changes in his persona as well. He's distant and self-sufficient, secretive and hardworking. He's alone in the world, but for his rekindling friendship with the one person in his life he could ever trust. Jenna.
A dynamic story of friendship, love and family Zarr paints a very strong picture of dysfunction on several different levels. She digs deep into motivation and morality to create long lasting relationships. I was rooting for Cameron and Jenna to come out the other end successful and together. You'll have to read it to find out if they did though!
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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The Sweetest Story, May 29, 2010
By Carly Weiner (Los Angeles, CA United States)
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Sweethearts is a delightful realistic fiction novel written by Sara Zarr. It is a wonderful, exciting, and heart-felt story about a young girl and her past.
Since the day Cameron Quick disappeared, Jennifer Harris has moved away and changed her identity. Years have gone by, but the two of them have never forgotten their remarkable past. Later, Cameron returns, just when Jennifer is doing fine on her own. After this, nothing is ever the same and never will be. From the day Jennifer met Cameron, her life changed. Forever.
In this extraordinary novel Sara Zarr demonstrates true love, friendship, and memory. The way Zarr's writing flows is astonishing. This book has full-bodied characters; they seem so real! It is amazing how much they all care for one another and never lose hope. This book will change you. It makes you realize how good life is and to never go through life quickly, because there are so many beautiful moments, that need to be acknowledged. These moments can be felt as you read Sweethearts. As soon as I read this, I recommended it to as many people as I could, and plan to read many more books by Sara Zarr in the future.
Sweethearts is an excellent choice for young adult readers and has won many awards such as the ALA Best Book for Young Adults. I enjoyed it so much that I read it in less than 4 days! I'm sure you will too. This is one of my favorite books of all time and once you start reading it you won't want to put it down! It will keep you guessing because of all the exciting and unpredictable parts. Sweethearts is an outstanding novel by a great author and I enjoyed it very much.
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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Excellent Read, March 17, 2009
By Cheryl D.
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If you read Story of a Girl and enjoyed it, you will love this one even more. The characters are so real, and it's easy to be drawn into the relationship between Jenna and Cameron. I don't think I've cried so much over a young adult book in a long time. This one is definitely worth your time.
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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AMAZING, January 26, 2009
By Keshia (USA)
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This is an amazing book. It definitely got me crying. Everyone should read it, you wont regret it.
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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Couldn't Put This Down!, January 9, 2009
By Mitzy (San Jose, CA United States)
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I can't remember the last time I felt so involved in a book. I started reading it on my hour lunch break from work which ended up being a very bad idea because I didn't want to get up and go back to working!! I would definitely recommend this book!
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Incredibly moving story that will stay with you, December 24, 2008
By writemeg (Maryland)
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"Sweethearts" is the incredibly moving story of Jenna (nee Jennifer) and her childhood friendship with Cameron, a boy she once shared her entire life with -- her best friend (and only) friend in the world. When Cameron disappears after one especially terrifying episode with Cameron's abusive father, Jennifer reinvents herself to shed her sad past. Told by everyone that Cameron died -- though she never quite believed it -- Jennifer tries to move on with her life.
Cameron reappears, of course, eight years later -- tall, handsome, thin and haunted. Jennifer is forced to remember the terrifying pieces of the childhood past they shared, as well as confront who she used to be and who she has allowed herself to become.
Like other readers, I devoured this book in two sittings. At times, I was trembling -- and I cried, too. Wonderfully told and full of heartbreaking details and images but never overdone, Zarr's story is beautifully subtle but affecting. "Sweethearts" will stay with you.
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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Don't judge this book by the cover, December 13, 2008
By Avid reader and writer (curled up with a book)
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Well, the title and cover of this book are totally misleading (happy to say). Someone recommended this book to me but when I looked it up, the title and cover made it look like teen romance book. It's not--not at all. This book dealt with some deep issues and problems and kept me in suspense the whole time.
The book alternates between the past when Jenna (Jennifer) was an overweight social outcast in elementary school with only one friend: Cameron, another misfit who was being abused at home by his father. They go through a terrifying experience which you find out about bit by bit. One day he disappears without a word. Meanwhile, in the present, Jenna has reinvented herself at a new school. She's pretty, popular, has a boyfriend. Then Cameron shows back up in her life . . .
Highly recommended.
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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cute, thoughtful, and i love it!, December 5, 2008
By Maelle Korsavong
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i know people say not to judge a book by it's cover, but it's hard not to you know? so when i picked up this book, i knew it would be right for me.
Sweethearts is about a Jennifer Harris, who has only one friend, Cameron Quick. They only have each other for company at school because the other students dubbed them outcasts. Jennifer was picked on by the other kids, they called her Fattifer. It hurt her, but at least she had Cameron to stick up for her...until he suddenly disappears. Then the other kids tell Jennifer that Cameron died, and with him died Jennifer Harris...
SPOILER ALERT
Jenna Vaughn emerged when Jennifer died. Her mother married and she moved to a new high school. She altered her look, and personality, trying to completely erase Jennifer, but little did she know that someone would come back and create a problem in her new "normal" life...
I love this book! it's so meaningful and cute. I just couldn't put it down! It... I can't explain it in words, you'd just have to read it yourself and find out!
oh yea this is not my name, it's my mommy's. (:
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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i didnt know it was going to be this good...and sad, September 28, 2008
By sophie (new york)
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jenny and cameron were all they had in each others lives. they were both outcasts in school, and both had bad families. cameron had an abusive father and jenny's mom was never home. then one day cameron leaves without telling jenny, making her believe he died. jenny moved on with her life, going to a new school and changing her appearance. until one day, 8 years later cameron returns.
i never had friendship the way these two had. their unconditional love for each other is so pure and amazing, making me question all my friends. my only disappointment was the ending. i couldnt stop crying. i had such high expectations about them both, i was rooting for them to be together. i hope that there could be a sequel to this book, maybe 15 years later. i want to see if they will end up together. i would really want to read it, if there was a sequel.
i love all the characters, and i really love this book. the ending is sad but its worth reading.
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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One of the Most Beautiful Stories Ever Written, June 10, 2008
By The Book Muncher (New York, NY)
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As a child, Jennifer Harris was a social outcast. She was nicknamed the Fattifier, because she was chubby, and made fun of for her lisp. Her only friend was another outcast named Cameron Quirk. They were always there for each other, and Cameron made everything bearable for Jennifer. And when he suddenly leaves without even saying goodbye, Jennifer is devastated. She thinks that he is dead, and no one tells her otherwise.
Now Jennifer Harris is Jenna Vaughn. Her mom got married and Jennifer changed her name and her personality. She's got friends, a first boyfriend, and a loving family, all that she could ever want. But she can never forget Cameron, and memories of him haunt her constantly. So when Cameron just shows up one day at school, everything is changed for her.
Throughout the story, Jenna has flashbacks to when she was Jennifer. And Jenna is not quite sure if she likes who she is now, and not sure if she wants to become Jennifer again. When Cameron was her best friend, she could be anyone she wanted to be, but as Jenna, her whole life seems to be a lie.
Sweethearts was a beautiful story about how the strongest bonds of friendship can span any distance or amount of time. It was one of the saddest and most romantic books I have read in a long time, and it made me cry. It was filled with such raw emotion that I felt I was inside Jenna's head, living her life with her. And while the ending isn't perfect, it is filled with contentment and hope.
I highly recommend Sweethearts to everyone, especially girls who can't let go of their childhood sweethearts. It was a beautiful story, and I am glad I took the time to read this incredible story. I hope all of you get to read it too.
[...]
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This one stays with you..., April 17, 2008
By Loretta (Midwest)
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I read Zarr's Story of a Girl and really liked it so I ordered Sweethearts with the hope that it wouldn't disappoint. Sweethearts is just as good, if not better. It is a quick, engrossing read, but not a simplistic book; Zarr is dealing with some complicated issues, and though they are quite sensitive, they serve to open up feelings in the characters that are universal and relatable. Zarr has the rare ability to create characters that are real people with real problems. She doesn't rely on hackneyed stereotypes or trite situations to convey the uncomfortable and confusing emotions of young adulthood. Her adult characters are a gift--so often in stories directed at teens the adults are portrayed as clueless airheads. Not here. I look forward to Zarr's next novel and would recommend them to any young adult, or old adult for that matter!
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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So dark, yet so hopeful, March 21, 2008
By avid fan (Fort Jones, CA USA)
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Zarr's second book (Sweerthearts) is nothing like her Story of a Girl, except for an amazing level of excellence. She has profound understanding of the interior, hungry places of childhood and adolescence as well as what it takes to heal and fill them up again.
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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Sweethearts by Sara Zarr, February 23, 2008
By Book Chic (Washington DC)
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Jennifer Harris is the outcast at her school, being called names all the time like Fattifer. But there's at least one good thing about school- her only friend Cameron. One day though, Cameron disappears, supposedly dead, and Jennifer has to somehow move on. Fast forward eight years later, and Jennifer Harris has transformed into Jenna Vaughn (the last name came from her mom remarrying), a completely popular senior at the start of her last year of high school. What happens though when former best friend Cameron comes back, causing the new Jenna to be confronted by their entwined past...?
In this fantastic follow-up to the amazing debut novel "Story of a Girl", Zarr does it again: creating believable characters and coming up with an interesting premise. The book itself is just a great read, keeping the reader turning the pages, wanting to know more and more about these characters and their shared past. The details in the story are just simply great too, revealing little intricacies of the characters without outright telling the reader. Sweethearts is highly recommended, as well as Story of a Girl!
1 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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Little Book With a Huge Story, February 21, 2008
By Pat Shand (Freeport, NY USA)
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After reading Sara Zarr's debut novel, Story of a Girl, she became one of those authors that I drop everything for when she puts out a book. Her first novel was short, to the point, yet overflowing with complicated and mature themes you'd be hard pressed to find so eloquently executed in most YA. I loved "Story of a Girl" so much--which is unlikely enough, as I am a twenty year old male, though my mind is considerably open to any type of book--that I lent it to my mother, who devoured it as quickly as I did, closing the book with tears in her eyes. So yeah, with this novel, "Sweethearts," Sara Zarr had a LOT to live up to.
Is it as good as "Story of a Girl"? Maybe it is. Thing is, it's so, so different. The quality of the writing is the same, but the story, the way the story is told, the way Zarr experiments with the present tense during the flash-back/memory scenes... You'll have to read it yourself to experience it, which I very much encourage. Reading this book early in the morning with the sun peaking through the window, bathing the pages in its warmth, has been one of my highlights of this year so far.
With "Sweethearts," Sara Zarr continues to craft short little books with huge heart, never crossing into the gooey path of over-sentimentality. Each and every character is flawed, even the strong female protagonist Jenna/Jennifer, so much so that at certain points in the novel you're unsure as to what you WANT to happen, what you WANT Jenna to do and what's the right way or the wrong way to go. Zarr is particularly talented in throwing the reader into the situation, making us as torn as Jenna herself is.
Next year, if and when Sara Zarr puts another book out, I'll have my schedule cleared and my car ready to take that trip to the bookstore on the day it comes out. I am a fan.
9/10
1 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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DEPRESSING!!!!!!, May 26, 2009
By me="R2V35VHWB71PEM">
1 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
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i did not like this book!!!!!! it was nothing but depressing!!! it barely had a happy ending and it made me unhappy! it was filled with her unhappy and depressing memories in the past. maybe it was just too deep for me but i hated this!!!!
1 of 17 people found the above review helpful.
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Parts of ourselves that we can never leave behind., December 23, 2011
By EKAnderson (Austin, TX)
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Jennifer (or Fattifer, as her classmates call her) is a nine year old struggling to fit in at an all-Mormon school in Salt Lake City. She has just one friend, Cameron, whose abusive father does a number on his self-esteem before he shows up for class only to be picked on by the mean kids. When Cameron disappears the day after Jennifer's ninth birthday, the mean kids tell her that he died, and she has lost her only friend and ally. At seventeen, Jennifer is now Jenna. She's worked hard to lose weight and stay healthy. Her mother remarried a man she considers her father, and both of her parents have good jobs. Jenna attends a special high school for gifted students and has a ton of friends and even a hot boyfriend. She has shed the ugly duckling skin that was Jennifer, and doesn't want to remember her past as a poor, fat, friendless kid. Then Cameron shows up, apparently not dead, and her past washes over Jenna in a way she never could have imagined. This is more than a teen romance - it rises above what we want to hear, the pretty girls and boys and their happily ever afters. Sweethearts gets at the truth of teen social behavior, the struggle that is growing up, and the parts of ourselves that we can never leave behind.
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Nothing really special., November 26, 2011
By Paige
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This book was a quick, easy read with a striking concept and memorable characters. Unfortunately, the plot was somewhat lacking. The whole book is Jenna/Jennifer trying to figure out what she wants, what she should remember and what she should forget, and trying to reconcile her current self with her past self. I did love Jenna's relationship with her stepfather, Alan, and Cameron was a good character, but we didn't get to see/hear from him enough. Ultimately I just didn't think this book itself was memorable, even if the characters were. Throughout the whole book I was honestly hoping that a happy ending for Jenna and Cameron would redeem the facts that 1) the main conflict of the book was set in the past, and 2) Jenna's interactions with her high school friends are slightly annoying, as are the friends themselves. But the ending was not satisfying for me at all. The whole reason for the book is that Cameron comes back into Jenna's life, and she wants to keep him there, but (spoiler alert) he ends up just leaving again and they are left with a lukewarm friendship and phone calls once in a while and the feeling of "unfinished business." The whole thing about always having "unfinished business" with a person you love seemed to me like a cop-out, like the author just didn't WANT her two main characters to end up together so she had to come up with a reason why they couldn't. All it did was leave me feeling like the book itself was unfinished. For me, it didn't really seem to end; it just faded out.
I would recommend reading Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins instead, because the characters deal with the same sorts of things (not child abuse, but accepting yourself for who you are, overcoming family issues, having that one person who loves you no matter what) but in much more solid, satisfactory way. Also the characters in "Lola" are similar (especially Cricket to Cameron) but MUCH more interesting.
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Hobbitsies Reviews: Upsettingly beautiful, November 4, 2011
By Tara Gonzalez (Florida)
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Sweethearts is my first Sara Zarr book, so I wasn't sure what to expect. And I picked up Sweethearts needing a light, happy romance. Because, hello. The cover. it's so happy looking. It's a freaking cookie and the title is Sweethearts and, you know.
And all I can say is oh my god guys, don't go into this book expecting a light and happy romance. Because the book you will get is AWESOME. It's effing phenomenal and beautiful and heartbreaking, but it is not light, it is not easy - you will sob.
I mean, I just sobbed and sobbed and sobbed. The characters in Sweethearts broke me. My heart ached for Cameron Quick and his broken life and I just wanted to fix him and help him and make everything perfect for him. Whoo, getting teary eyed writing this review.
Basically, Sweethearts is amazing. It's a wonderful and powerful contemporary and it's written beautifully. I cannot wait to read more books written by Sara Zarr.
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Good!, September 30, 2011
By Holly
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I got this book from a friend that brought me over a box of books. I started reading this one because I liked the cover. I thought I would read a little bit of it for a tiny while, but only for a little, tiny while because I had things I needed to do. But no, that's not the way it went. Once I started reading, I kept on reading. It's the story of a girl that tries to be perfect. Later we learn it's because she used to be picked on, but now she's figured out how to not be picked on--be perfect. Sadly, the book was really, super realistic about her relationship with her mom. The mom talks about how she and her daughter had to struggle to make it on their own but how they survived and it wasn't really that bad. But she didn't understand that she had neglected her daughter, Jennifer, in the process of their struggle and that Jennifer had been picked on because of her Mom's neglect--teased because her clothes hadn't been clean and things like that. Things that made Jennifer take great pains to correct. So, the Jennifer had issues about being perfect. Then comes along Cameron from her childhood. Cameron that had loved her back when she was chubby and picked on. Cameron who knows Jennifer's secret--that she wasn't always perfect.
I love books about childhood sweethearts. I eat them up and I devoured this book and neglected the things I needed to do, but it was worth it. This was a great book!
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My favorite of Sara Zarr's books, September 5, 2011
By Hannah @ Paperback Treasures
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Wow. I really enjoyed Once Was Lost and Story of a Girl by Sara Zarr, but this one blew my mind. There are so many beautiful messages in this book, so many emotions it evoked, I don't even know where to start. The description sounds only okay, at least for me, and I probably wouldn't even have read it had I not previously read a Sara Zarr novel. But it's so much more than the synopsis tells you. I don't even know how to explain it, it's just more.
The writing is great, like in Once Was Lost and Story of a Girl. Beautiful and vivid, it creates such a rich atmosphere, sad and beautiful and hopeful at the same time.
I loved the characters in this novel. Jenna is such a relatable character, so complex and dynamic. So is Cameron, but both are still utterly realistic characters. Their relationship is... I don't even know how to describe it - I don't think any word could do that relationship justice. Their bond is stronger than any relationship I've read about, as far as I can remember. Since this story is about Jenna and Cameron, the other characters aren't as fully-developed, but they're still realistic and easy to imagine. I especially like Alan's character.
Generally, I do not like preachy books, but I still want novels to have some kind of message. That's really hard to balance, but Sara Zarr does so perfectly. So many serious topics (child abuse, bullying,...) are addressed, and the story sends such subtle messages just by showing what Cameron and Jennifer have been through, without becoming a preachy "issue book".
What I loved most about Sweethearts are the emotions it evoked in me. No, it's not the most tragic story I've read, but there's just something about the writing and the depiction of raw emotion that had me feeling every single thing Jenna felt. Especially the scenes written from a young, innocent Jennifer's point of view are heartbreaking. I bawled while reading the last 20 pages or so, even though it's not really a sad ending - it's actually pretty hopeful. But there's just something so heartbreaking about Jenna's and Cameron's story, I was crying so hard I couldn't see the letters anymore by the end of it.
My one problem with Sweethearts (and this is really just a teeny-tiny problem) is how often Jenna talked about how much homework she has. Yeah, that's part of teenage life, but it's not exactly something interesting to read about, so it annoyed me how often that's mentioned. But like I said, that's petty and probably the smallest problem I've ever had with a book, not even really worth mentioning.
Obviously, I highly recommend Sweethearts! I loved all of Sara Zarr's novels, but this one is my new favorite. An absolutlely fantastic book - with great writing and characters, and evoking amazing emotions. Everything about Sweethearts is simply beautiful.
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Sweethearts.., July 25, 2011
By taylor
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Alright, well.. I really liked this book. Although, it was very slow going. Nothing realllly happened between them, love-wise. The ending wasn't fulfilling either. It was kind of like, what the heck? Okay then.. It's just I wanted more to happen. I absolutely couldn't wait to read this book, don't get me wrong, it was good, it just could have been better.
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Sweethearts, March 29, 2011
By Jenny, Wondrous Reads (UK)
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Sweethearts is another book I've had for ages that has been hidden away in a box, just waiting for the day when I'd finally feel like reading it. I've always liked the sound of the story, but I wasn't a big fan of Zarr's first book, Story of a Girl. This is the perfect example of not judging an author by one book, though, as I loved Sweethearts. I thought it was brilliant and heartbreaking, and Cameron Quick has the coolest name ever. Cameron. Quick. Just rolls off the tongue, doesn't it?
So when Jennifer Harris and Cameron Quick were younger, they were the outcasts of the school. Quiet, unusual, loners... every word like that was banded about when talking about these two. Yet they had this bond, a bond that saw them help each other, be there for each other and generally just exist together in a beautiful, innocent way. Then one day Cameron Quick disappears and Jennifer has no idea what's happened to him. All she knows is that people say he died, and no-one tells her otherwise. Devastated isn't the right word to use for the loss she feels, and the instant grief that eats away at her. Her best friend is gone, and she's left alone to navigate the cruel world known as high school. Fast forward 8 years, and Jennifer Harris is now Jenna Vaughn; a thinner, more popular person with friends, a boyfriend and a bright future. Things are great, until she sees Cameron Quick. He's back in her life, and stirring up all her old feelings for him.
What follows is a beautiful, poignant exploration of childhood friendships, love and what it means to let go. Nothing prepared me for what this book was about; I went into it having read nothing but the rather cryptic cover summary, and I'm glad that's how I did it. The way the story unfolds is shocking and expected in equal measure, and I just knew it would take something potentially life-changing to tear 9-year-old Jennifer and Cameron Quick apart. Funnily enough, I never wanted them to be romantically involved. Their bond goes so much deeper than that, and is the kind that is everlasting; unbreakable and strong.
After getting over the somewhat abrupt, at first unsatisfying ending, I can now appreciate what this story is about. I absolutely know that Jenna Vaughn and Cameron Quick are out there somewhere, happily living their lives and writing each other sweet, honest letters. I have to believe that, or there's a chance I'll burst into tears and not surface for a while. Sweethearts left me with a broken heart, but the positive kind that will mend over time and remember fondly what it once had. It made me think about friendship and love, and how one doesn't always have to lead to the other. I'm so glad I read it, and I will now unearth my copy of Once Was Lost. I need more from Sara Zarr, and I need it now.
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Hit home, March 29, 2011
By BOOKFreak! (Spanish Fork Ut.)
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What to say about a book like this. It stays with you, it makes you rethink a couple of things, the emotions were so real. Being a mom of someone who gets bullied because she is a little different this book spoke to me. I kept feeling like I was reading someones story and not made up characters. It was so weird to read about a place I grew up in that was so different for me. I knew all the places this character talked about and have been there. Probably another reason it was so real for me. This was an older teen read. There was some heavy making out and alcohol and child abuse mentioned.
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The Sweetest Sweethearts, February 4, 2011
By A Customer
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This book is very moving. It makes you realize the real hard life that everyday growing people have. Jennifer and Cam have a life that was hard but survived it together. They helped eachother in every sweetest way that was possible. Sara Zarr gives you the image of what people have to live through, and the saying goodbye, is the hardest part.
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SWEETHEARTS, January 2, 2011
By NiCoLe (NY)
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I freakin LOVED this book and i cried at the end<3 this is one of thoe books tha actually has truth to some kid, somewhere. it doesnt have that perfect fairytal ending. this book is the "real thing" for a lot of teens.
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Inspirational, Tear-jerking, and Amazing., December 28, 2010
By A Customer
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I can honestly say that I have never read abetter book. It will make your heart do flips and give your stomach butterflies. It had me at the edge of my seat, and wanting more. I finishedthe book in one day, wishing there was a sequel. this is definitely a must read.
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sweethearts, December 28, 2010
By katiegirl9111021379
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i loved this book i didn't read it on the kindle i read it before i got a kindle i read it about 4 years ago and i loved it it was sad and i cried it is kinda boring but it is over all a great book for ages 11+ i read it at age 10 but i'm an advanced reader. hope you read this book and enjoy
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A Book for the Keeper Shelf, October 14, 2010
By Novel Addiction (OH, USA)
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When Jennifer Harris was nine years old, she had a best (and only) friend - Cameron Quick. They were the Outcasts, the poor kids everyone else in school made fun of, but it didn't matter because they had each other. And they shared something more - a traumatic experience they couldn't tell anyone about. Shortly after that horrible day, Cameron disappeared, leaving her all alone. The other kids told her he died, and from that day on, she knew Jennifer Harris had to die with him. Now Jennifer is 17, and she goes by Jenna Vaughn, a new girl in a new school. But it's her birthday, and there's a birthday card in the mailbox from someone she thought was dead - Cameron is back.
I immediately regretted starting this book before I had to go to work. I should have waited until I got home, because I couldn't stop thinking about it. It had me hooked from page one, and I couldn't stand not knowing what was going to happen. Part of that is because we only get bits and pieces of that traumatic day Jenna and Cameron shared when they were nine. We get a little bit more of it every couple chapters, and after every bit of that memory, I was practically shaking, worried what was going to happen next, and afraid for Jenna and Cameron. After rushing home and finishing it, I tried to explain to others my thoughts on this book, and all I could say was "It made me feel." I had to wait until now to try and review it, or talk about it.. just to give myself time to think it over.
I ached for Jenna, having lost her best friend so young. And then suddenly he's back, the same as he was, but she's not the person she used to be. After Cameron "died," she buried her old self and her memories as well, and completely changed who she was, but the old Jennifer is still there, and as the story progresses, you get to see more of who she really is, and how she's changing. And as Cameron comes back into her life, she starts to lose her Jenna Vaughn persona, and the life that goes with it. Jenna Vaughn had everything Jennifer Harris never did - except Cameron. And maybe he was the most important thing of all.
I loved the character interaction, the way these two had to grow up both apart and now that they're together. I absolutely loved this book, and I think that the author, Sara Zarr, cannot be complimented enough. I was a nervous wreck while reading this book, emotionally distraught the whole time.. and I know that's exactly how Jenna had to feel. It's been a while since I've felt such true worry or hurt while reading a book, and Zarr pulled it off perfectly.
As for the ending.. It's not the ending I expected, and maybe it's not the ending the reader wants, but it felt right. I was honestly worried as I neared the end that I wouldn't get an ending that would satisfy me, but Zarr came through. In a way, I thought it was an incredibly beautiful way to finish the story, though I'll always be a little bit upset at how everything and everyone turned out in the end.
So for a rating, I'm giving this book a FIVE out of FIVE (5/5). This book is going on my keeper shelf, I'm telling everyone I know that they simply MUST read it, and I know this will be a re-read over and over for me. As soon as I get over how it made me feel, anyways.
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love story with a twist, October 6, 2010
By MOG (NH)
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I love books that have a back story that the author hints to throughout the novel so you dont get the whole back story because it bounces back and forth from past to present day so you keep turning those pages to find out the whole backstory; and this book has that!
It is a love story but not a conventional one by any means which is what makes it special. I loved Jenna/Jennifer and I think she is amazingly relatable. Highly recommend this book.
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Not your typical young adult novel, September 17, 2010
By Monkey Toes
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Instead of rehashing the story for you I will just say that this book is so much more than I expected it to be. I felt I could actually relate to the main character, and I learned a few things about myself reading this book. The ending may not be what most people want or expect, but I think it turns out exactly they way it should have. I am looking forward to more books from this author.
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on par with Story of a Girl, August 29, 2010
By candels40 (USA)
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What an mesmerizing, troubling, tear-inducing read. After finishing Story of a Girl, I immediately wanted to read everything else by Zarr, and Sweethearts basically follows the same story arc, a girl with a somewhat tragic past who learns to overcome. Wonderful writing, semi-poetic and so absolutely real. Nothing is tied up in a big happy package with a big pretty bow, because that's not how life is. Life is messy and unfinished and Zarr delivers that feeling perfectly. But I do have one minor question - kids were not dressing up as Harry Potter characters in 1998, were they? Surely kids were not already dressing up as the characters right around the time the first book was published in America. One minor, weird nitpick about an otherwise great book.
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Sweethearts, May 13, 2010
By Middle School Reviewer (Colorado, USA)
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Sweethearts is one book you won't want to miss out on. This book is about two good friends who are outcasts. The characters in this book are built so strongly. The characters are outcasts that are poor. They only have each other. The plot is also really important. When Jennifer's best friend suddenly disappears, her world falls apart. Then, in high school, she is Jenna. She has turned herself completely around. She is the new "it" girl. She has a boyfriend, designer cloths, and a new stepdad. Then, her old friend, Quinn, has suddenly reappeared. Jenna has no idea what to do. This is an amazing plot that is filled with drama. This is one read you don't want to miss.
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****, March 3, 2010
By sailor moon (houston,tx)
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great book for teens and young adults. it took me a few pages to really get into it but once i got into i could not put it down. i was a little surprised by the ending ... i'd recommend it.
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Loved It!, January 13, 2010
By Cin (IL, USA)
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My Thoughts: This was such a good book! We are introduced to Jennifer and Cameron as children. They are best friends. They do everything together, and Cameron "gets" Jennifer even when all the other kids make fun of her. All of a sudden, one day he is gone, and all the kids tell her he's dead, so she spends weeks crying over him. Years go by, Jennifer has changed into a whole other person. Now she goes by Jenna and has grew out of her "kid stage." Cameron shows back up in town! And he looks different, hot even. Jennifer still feels that connection towards him as kids, not quite a brother, but not a boyfriend either. Don't want to give away the whole book but this is truly a good book. Had me wanting to laugh at times and cry at times. Give it a read!
Overall: I loved it! It was such a good and heartfelt story!
Cover: Its so plain, yet so gorgeous. I love the cookie. It looks like a sugar cookie with pink frosting. Makes me very hungry!
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Review of Sweethearts, December 18, 2009
By The Lost Entwife (Illinois)
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You know that friend you had when you were younger - that one that just "got" you? That's part of what this book is about.
Granted, it's a bit darker than just happy memories of that best friend. Sara Zarr thoughtfully explores abuse and the repercussions of it years later.
Jenna Vaughn used to be Jennifer Harrison. In middle school she was an outcast, fat and spoke with a lisp. Her best friend was Cameron Quick, and he loved her and she him.
This is not one of those stories where the boy and girl friends need to be romantically involved and I think that's what I loved best about this story. Just two children able to understand and support one another and an ending that is so incredibly realistic that it brought tears to my eyes.
Wonderfully written story - short and easy to read in a few hours, there's no reason not to read this book.
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Beautifully told story, November 5, 2009
By Catrin
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I loved this novel by Sara Zarr but not as much as I adored Story of a Girl.
The life of Jenna, the main character in this heartbreaking novel, is irrevocably changed when her best friend Cameron disappears after he is assaulted by his abusive father. When he reappears years later, Jenna is forced to confront the person she has become in his absence.
My biggest criticism of this story lies in its predictability. The reader knows Cameron will be back and when he does show up, he is predictably handsome and haunting.
That said, the story was told in a beautifully nuanced way that engages the reader from the very beginning. I have to admit that I cried during a few of the scenes.
I'm glad this book was reissued, and I recommend it wholeheartedly to young readers.
I can't wait to read Sara Zarr's new novel! It is on my nightstand now....
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Emotional and dramatic story. love it!, October 20, 2009
By Janet C (West Covina, CA USA)
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Sweethearts is a very emotional book. i stayed up until 11 at night! it was a wonderful book and i would strongly recomend this book. although, the end got me disapointed. it got me thinking WHATS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT?! Other then that, this book is amazing!
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Amazing story with unanswered questions, September 3, 2009
By J. Thompson
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I just got finished reading this book. I was hooked on the book the entire time until the end. Once I finshed the book, I wanted to throw it across the room. There was no ending. There are so many unanswered questions. The story isn't over.
Read it and make your own judgements.
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And Another Book Read Reviews, August 1, 2009
By And Another Book Read
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I read this book on Valentine's Day, which was the absolutely perfect day to read it. I actually bought the book right when it first came out, but had tucked it away until yesterday (on purpose!). It really shows the true meaning of love and is definitely not your typical romance book. Plus the cover looks irresistibly yummy....just like the book!
Jennifer Harris and Cameron Quick are best of friends. Not the best friend that lasts one year of elementary school, but life long best friends. They are both social outcasts in elementary school and have no one except each other. Jennifer's father is long gone and her mom is always either at work or at nursing school. Cameron's parents don't seem to be in the picture at all. In a nutshell Cameron and Jennifer are in love. That is until Cameron disappears out of the blue and is not seen again. Jennifer is distraught and assumes that Cameron is dead.
The summer between 8th and 9th grade Jennifer re-invents herself. First her mother gets married to the perfect guy. This allows Jennifer to change her name and be gone with Jennifer Harris forever. She is now Jenna Vaughn and ready to make new friends. She's lost 25 pound, has great clothes, and has even snagged herself one of the most lust after boys in school. She is everything that she wished she could be and more. Her life is perfect up until Cameron makes a reappearance in her life.
When Cameron comes back he makes Jenna open all the doors she swore she had sealed forever. All of a sudden she is doubting herself and thinking that she is the same girl that people used to call "fattifier." Seeing Cameron again also brings back the dreaded memories of her ninth birthday when her Cameron experienced one of the most horrible things children can experience. Mixed with emotions Jenna starts to look at her present life with new eyes and sees that that her boyfriend isn't the right guy for her after all. She also learns tons about herself when Cameron comes back and continues to learn from him throughout her life.
This book is the perfect example of short and sweet. Usually short books are lacking that certain something that thicker books have, but not Sweethearts. It was one of the best love stories I have ever read. I remember reading something that Sara Zarr said about this not being a romance because its not mushy gushy love, but it's a love story because the characters work through their faults together and make each other feel special. This book captured me from the very first page and I was stunned at the end. For a short book (216 pages), it is definitely very powerful. The characters are so likeable and I couldn't get enough of the Jenna/Cameron relationship. Also the message was one of a kind and certainly one we all need to take to heart. Once again a great read and I would recommend it to anyone.
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Don't judge the cover, March 13, 2009
By YALitTeacher (United States)
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When I finished SWEETHEARTS, I stared at the cover for a long time. A cookie heart? Really? What the inside of the book reveals is a dark, heart-stopping story of a young lady with a heavy past and, I think, an even heavier present. Jenna hides from her past like many who have made great changes in their lives for what they think is the better. Is it really? When she sees Cameron and their story begins to emerge, you realize the complexity of Jenna. Having been bulimic, I applaud Zarr for showing Jenna's issues with food, even when Jenna thinks she is past them. A wonderful story.
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Gorgeous story, March 8, 2009
By Y.A. fanatic (Los Angeles, CA)
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This book is absolutely gorgeous. Beautiful prose, beautiful characters, beautiful meaning... I think I love it so much because I relate quite a lot to the main character. But I can really believe in characters like these. Good characters. Absolutely recommend it.
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Enchanting YA Review: Sweethearts, July 8, 2008
By Lisa
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SWEETHEARTS
SARA ZARR
Rating: 4 Enchantments
Jennifer Harris' life has undergone a serious transformation since the last time she saw her childhood best friend Cameron Quick. Gone is the shy, chubby outcast Jennifer and in her place is Jenna Harris, a teenager who is popular, happy and dating one of the most hottest guys in school. She is in fact everything that `Jenna' knows Jennifer never could be. But when her long lost friend Cameron suddenly reappears in her life, a friend she thought dead, both are faced with the stinging memories of the past that no transformation can truly leave behind.
Confronted by her past and the truth about Cameron's disappearance, Jenna struggles to come to terms with who she was then and who she is now, all while rebuilding one of the most important relationships of her life.
Full of emotion, SWEETHEARTS is a beautifully written story about the power of friendship and its ability to transform. Anyone who's struggled to fit in will be able to sympathize with Jennifer's desire to transform herself into someone else.
This is Ms. Zarr's second young adult novel.
Reviewed by Lisa
YA Director
Enchanting Reviews
February 2008
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Sweethearts, May 4, 2008
By Chel (Chicago, IL)
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Cameron and Jennifer were best friends and fellow rejects when they were younger, until Cameron mysteriously disappears. She is left alone, with no idea what happened and dealing with her vicious school bullies all by herself.
Now, 8 years later, she's reinvented herself as Jenna. She lost weight, moved to a new school, and became someone that she thought everyone would like. She's made new friends and a boyfriend, Ethan, who have no idea about her past or Cameron, or what they went through together.
Until Cameron comes back on her 17th birthday. He shows up just as quickly as he disappeared, and he's bringing back memories that Jenna had tried to forget, and invoking feelings she'd never imagined she'd feel.
This book was absolutely mesmerizing. I was hooked from the first page, and I remained entranced until the very end. I started it yesterday morning, and then I had to stay up late to finish it. It's been a long time since I've read a story with a mystery and intrigue and emotions that match this book. I could really understand what Jenna was going through, and Cameron was such a unique and dynamic character that I couldn't help but be drawn to him. All of the characters, in fact, were unique and original. I know that this will be a book that I pick up a year from now and want to reread. I'm not likely to forget how amazing Sweethearts was for a long time.
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Disappointing, May 10, 2011
By Klb1991
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I really wasn't happy with this book. I was expecting a romance especially given the title and the entire book is pretty melancholy and not much happens between the characters, overall I was just disappointed, I would recommend passing this one up, because it isnt worth the time or the money.
0 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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yay, September 10, 2009
By Auri (Oklahoma, USA)
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the book was short but sweet. i enjoyed and as always with good books couldnt put it down
0 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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Sweethearts, July 10, 2009
By Jennelaine (South Florida)
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After reading this book, I felt kind of empty. Cameron, who had disappeared for eight years from Jenna's life suddenly comes back and for lack of a better way to put it, turns her life upside down. Jenna begins to ignore everything and everyone else for Cameron, who in my opinion gives Jenna very little. If you are looking for a happy book, this is not the one for you, but if you want a good cry go for it. I did enjoy the fact that Jenna and I have the same name..Jennifer Elaine.
0 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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Sweetharts, May 5, 2009
By dolly (Malvern Iowa)
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this book was so amazing. the writing was amazing... i cant wait to read other books by this author.
0 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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