Sixth-grader Jett Jamison can’t catch a break. Her home in small town Wisteria is noisy as a zoo, and her mind buzzes with bits of a traumatic memory she’d rather forget. She’s filled a shoebox with one hundred thirty-three to-do lists, her roadmaps to peace, but they only lead to dead ends. Sister Gia, master gardener and cat-whisperer extraordinaire, suggests a book by an anonymous author, but it’s disappeared from all local libraries, and nobody wants to talk about it. Enraged at the injustice, Jett continues to dig for answers and is drawn into a censorship battle with a high-profile radio host. Her peaceful protest backfires big time, and the town goes berserk. Now, for peace to be within reach, Jett must either face up to her past or remain forever bound by silence much more suffocating than the din in Wisteria.
****************************
A powerful story sure to help heal and provide understanding.
Jett narrates her heartfelt quest in trying to look forward and avoid reliving the past. Family includes both parents and twin younger brothers. She likes lists and schedules which don’t often jell with the way her family operates.
Jett’s favorite place is the library where the librarian is a friend. She also has two friends from school. Jett begins to see her inner self differently when she meets Sister Gia tending to the church garden. From then on Jett focuses on finding a censored book that sister recommends, RESURRECTING THE DRAGON.
She does find the book and discovers the author lives in her town. Jett Jamison and the Secret Storm handles the tough topics of abuse and book banning in an engaging and heartfelt way. A perfect selection for discussion at school and at home. Highly recommended for middle grade audiences.
FIVE MORE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: JETT JAMISON AND THE SECRET STORM by Kimberly Behre Kenna
- I often complain about the growing length of middle grade books. At 174 pages this story is the perfect length that is both impactful and complete.
- Anxiety is dealt with in a believable way. Jett hates certain noises and the voice in her head can’t seem to be silenced. The emotional turmoil it causes will bring readers a growing empathy with Jett.
- Jett’s character arc is one of my favorites from the past few years. I will be reading this again at some point in the future.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson sneaks into the plot and his advice to Jett is perfect. At the end of the story there is also space provided for readers to write their own story,
- Don’t miss the author’s notes in the back pages. Enlightening and memorable thoughts from this gifted author.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR, KIMBERLY BEHRE KENNA
After years as an adolescent and family counselor, and then as a fifth grade teacher of ecology and language arts, Kimberly returned to school for her MA in creative writing from Wilkes University. Her middle-grade novel, “Artemis Sparke and the Sound Seekers Brigade” (Regal House/Fitzroy) was a finalist and received Honorable Mention in the 2019 Tassy Walden New Voices in Children’s Literature Competition. “Jett Jamison and the Secret Storm” (Black Rose) is the second book in her Brave Girls Collection. A third in the collection, as yet unpublished, won second place in The Institute of Children’s Literature 2022 MG Mystery Contest. Her poems and stories have been published in American Writers Review, Mused, Plumtree Tavern, and Rubbertop Review. Her full-length play, “Ana’s Hummingbird,” was given a staged reading at The Dramatists Guild in NYC. She’s a member of SCBWI and PEN America, and now devotes herself to writing full time. Connect with her at www.kimberlybehrekenna.com
Follow Kimberly Behre Kenna on social media:
Twitter: @KimberlyBKenna | Instagram: @KimberlyBKenna
Facebook: @KimberlyBehreKenna
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I hope you will return this Friday when ALWAYS in the MIDDLE will be giving away a copy of National Geographic’s Almanac 2024 (and you won’t need Rafflecopter to enter).
COMMENTS ARE WELCOME BELOW.
BE SURE TO ALSO VISIT THE OTHER BLOGGERS ON TODAY’S MARVELOUS MIDDLE GRADE MONDAY!
Always in the Middle... 
This must be a good one if you plan to read it again. I like that it’s short and also deals with book banning, a sadly current problem for many libraries these days.
Yeah, glad this book is getting more attention. Happy MMGM.
Thanks for your take on this book. It really sounds amazing. It’s on my TBR list.
Thank you for this wonderful review, Greg, and so glad you liked the book! I’m so appreciative of all of you MG reviewers who are helping to get Jett noticed…which in turn will hopefully get kids who need these kinds of books noticed 🙂
I keep hearing about this book, and it sounds like such a powerful story that tackles topics rarely discussed in MG books. And I love that the length is short enough to be accessible for many readers—and also that you were such a fan of Jett’s character arc! Thanks so much for the thoughtful review, Greg, as always!
I hardly ever re-read a book. This must be something special. I’ll put it on my list and try to get to it soon.
I really liked Artemis, and Jett sounds another memorable heroine. Some big topics which sound like they are dealt with well. Definitely a book to watch out for – thanks for the recommendation!
This book sounds so good.