Maria Jersey Tomatoes are the Best by Maria Padian - ESSENTIAL

Padian, Maria. Jersey Tomatoes are the Best, 341 p. Alfred A. Knopf, 2011. $16.99. Violence- G; Language- PG-13 (40 swears, 1 ‘f’) Mature Content- PG-13. Henry Lloyd is an intense tennis player, with an intense dad for a coach. Looks like a supermodel and hits the tennis ball like a guy. Eva Smith is a ballerina, with an overbearing stage mom. Perfection oriented, and Henry’s best friend. As Henry goes off to tennis camp in the summer, and Eva studies at a ballet school, they both face changes in their life. Henry finds her first love, and Eva fights her battle with anorexia. I absolutely LOVED this book. It’s easy to connect with both of the girls on different levels. You’re there when Henry gets her first kiss, and your heart aches for Eva as she ends up in the ER after starving herself. A must read! MS, HS- ESSENTIAL. Student Reviewer: AL