Jacky Hart, nicknamed Jacky Ha-Ha due to her speech impediment, is your not-so-average middle school girl. The story begins with the transition from the last day of summer to the start of a new school year, in which she makes a solemn vow on top of a ferris wheel in hopes of staying out of trouble. However, her dimwitted jokes and absolute ignorance have landed her in hot water. More specifically, twenty detentions in a matter of a few days! But when the option of choosing to perform in the annual play rather than sit in detention hall is presented to her, Jacky’s life is completely turned upside down. And moreover, what’s up with Jacky’s dad coming home late every night? And will Jacky ever see her mom, who’s serving in Saudi Arabia, ever again?
Don’t let the bright pink covering and cartoony drawings blindside you because the storyline will instantly get you hooked! One of the main reasons I loved this book was because Jacky stayed true to who she was through her ups and downs. There was never a dull moment, and the way her situations helped shape her up into a strong, confident woman is truly remarkable! Although Jacky’s foolish actions were frustrating at times throughout the plot, I found that her humor made up for everything. She never fails to impress, though her jokes sometimes land her in deep trouble!
I definitely enjoyed the authors’ incorporation of a prologue and epilogue. The prologue helped me gain background knowledge on the reasoning behind writing the story, and the epilogue answered all of my questions that were left after the book came to a close.
Reviewed by Mitali, Grade 8, Twin Hickory Area Library
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