Review: Nature of Jade

Title: The Nature of Jade
Author: Deb Caletti
ISBN/Publisher: 978-1-4169-1006-0/Simon Pulse (part of Simon & Schuster)
Age Group/Genre: Young Adult

Seventeen year old Jade DeLuna is a senior in high school struggling with her family's relationships (a sports loving father who goes to the basement while he's home; a mom who is more involved with Jade's high school than she is...for goodness sakes, this woman goes to prom and Jade doesn't even plan on going), friendships distancing, and above all...panic disorder. Panic disorder took over her life and she even goes to a psychiatrist and psychologist to help. But the things that seem to calm her down are the elephants at the local zoo. Jade visits them and when she can't, she watches them on the web cam.

And through her observations of these wonderful creatures, she finds a guy watching the animals too. This mysterious guy sometimes goes by himself and sometimes with a little boy. Jade wants to find this boy and in the process, she also gets a volunteering job at the elephant house.

It turns out, Jade does run into the mystery guy named Sebastian and they do hit it off. But there is still something mysterious about this Sebastian who is raising his son with the help of his grandma. Jade's panic disorder lessens when she's around Sebastian, but how does Jade deal with the other relationships in her life?

I read a few of Ms. Caletti's books and I enjoyed them all. So I was super stoked to start this one and I loved this one as well. The elephants do play a major part in this novel and each chapter starts off with a quote about animal behavior, which makes us think about how animals and humans are alike. Thus, how the nature of animals lead to the nature of Jade.

Jade does have a condition that is affecting her life. She fears many things and Caletti does such a good job of making this type of disorder realistic. I can say this from experience. The thoughts that Jade had and the feelings she felt while expressing her anxiety were things I felt and sometimes still do. Sometimes, this made it a little hard to read because it hit so close to home. But the book gives hope that this type of panic disorder can be healed.

This book incorporates so many different types of relationships...parents/children; friendships; husband/wife; boyfriend/girlfriends; animals/humans. And together in this book, it worked. As the reader, we pull for Jade and we want the best for her and her family. We want to get to the bottom of what her family issues are. But also, we fall for the elephants she cares for and the people that care for these animals (including Jade).

The Nature of Jade is story that I do recommend to young adults and even to adults that are fans of Sarah Dessen and of course Ms. Deb Caletti. I loved this book and can't wait to read more books by Deb!!!

Favorite lines...

Your sibling, after all, is the only other person in the world who understands how fucked up your parents made you. page 27

Well, if you don't feel secure, safe, you'll never feel free. If you're not free, you can't be secure. page. 93

Fear causes the greatest changes, when you think about it. Fear is a monumental force. page 188

My Rating

(This books was bought from a store called FullyBooked).

***Now go and grab your fave cup of tea or because it's Deb Caletti's month, grab her fave: coffee (or whatever beverage you prefer) and HAPPY readings***