Review: Fun! Fresh! Loved it!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 5, 2013
I feel like I just took a trip inside the minds and hearts of two young teens and came out still smiling and feeling good! Following the journal entries of Kara and Jason we learn of how they met, their time spent together and what it means to them, recognizing a budding romance long before the characters do! For Kara, eighth grade was not looking to be a stellar year, as she became an outcast in the group she used to run with, and she openly shared her feelings in her journal. Jason is the new foreign exchange student, great fodder for teasing because he is definitely different, kind of dorky, but with an underlying sweetness that brings out the best in Kara as she befriends him when others don't. When Jason suddenly leaves the exchange program without a word to Kara and actually standing her up for a "sort of" date, Kara is left frantic with worry, then royally peeved that he could be so thoughtless and cavalier about their relationship. And then, long after Kara thinks she has gotten over her hurt feelings, when she is a senior in high school, Jason reappears in her life as suddenly as he left! He claims to need to apologize and to explain who he really is, but is Kara (or her heart) ready for this?ReadingThe Journals of Kara and Jason by Charlie Wood felt as refreshing as a running cannonball into the pool on a hot day! It was that good, and I didn't even have to hold my stomach in! Alternating Kara's and Jason's journal entries was a brilliant stroke of the keyboard, especially when it was clear that Jason's entries are not those of an ordinary teen, but not revealing just what those differences were. And the over-the-top teen angst? Non-existent, making this a quick and light read that was just plain fun and appropriate for a HUGE audience! If you're looking for an escape from reality, a few chuckles, with a touch of young love, or even just a brief reminder of those awkward years, you'll find it here with these completely loveable characters!