Jett Jamison & the Secret Storm by Kimberly Behre Kenna

What worked:

Jett struggles with social interactions and anxiety and she’s especially sensitive to noise. Jett’s safe place is the solitude found in libraries but two girls playing chess even upsets her. The sound of jets flying overhead really overwhelms her but the reason why is a mystery. She hears a little voice in her head and gets periodic headaches. Jett’s parents have an unconventional view of the world so she’s reluctant to speak with them about her problems. Jett’s hope for a peaceful, organized life is at the crux of the plot’s conflict and morphs into a story about censorship and healing.

The topic of censorship begins when a nun suggests a specific book might help Jett deal with her internal conflicts. Jett finds a copy in the library but black marker makes most of the sentences illegible and sections of pages have been torn out. She’s told many people living in the town don’t approve of what the book says. This makes Jett especially curious since she has no idea what the book’s actually about. She has some deep conversations with the nun about religion and what it means to be religious.

It's clear Jett is battling a horrible internal conflict and its source is suggested in the censored book’s subject matter. Suppressing the memories and emotions is causing her physical and mental issues while other characters are unaware of her issues. Most of the other students simply view her as odd and make fun of her behavior. Unfortunately, Jett’s problems are more common than they should be and the book gives girls hope and paths to recovery. The censored book from the narrative includes blank pages for characters to add their own stories and begin their healing. The author informs readers at the end of her book that she experienced the same trauma and encourages others to seek help.

What didn’t work as well:

Jett has a disagreement with her two friends about white lies and honesty. Readers might expect Jett to be the one devoted to honesty since the need for organization and planning are so important to her. She demands truth from the librarian and a nun so it seems inconsistent when she doesn’t have a problem telling white lies.

The Final Verdict:

I was expecting a book about censorship but the story goes far beyond that. Jett’s problems highlight the conflict as the book shares a powerful message of strength and healing. Overall, I recommend this book to middle-grade readers.