Boys, Bears, and a Serious Pair of Hiking Boots

March 22, 2010
The summer before her senior year, Jenna, a spirited environmentalist, leaves New Jersey for British Columbia to live with her godmother, Susie, and immerse herself in the outdoorsy life she idealizes. She assumes that her “Green Teen” initiative will be well-received and is disappointed to be mocked by local boys and shunned by Susie's goth stepdaughter (“I wonder if all my talk of sustainable eco-friendliness is making me sound like a good Green Teen activist—or just a spoiled brat”). Meanwhile, her best friend is becoming an eco extremist; her parents are edging toward divorce; and local stud Reeve pressures her to keep their romance a secret. Despite her environmental passion, Jenna is believably insecure, but slowly gets her footing, making inroads with her friends and taking inspiration from The Modern Mountain Man's Survival Guide
(“Nature ain't ever going to change for you—you've got to make your plans around what you can't control”). McDonald (Sophomore Switch
) composes a fun summer read, closely examining the conflict between sticking to one's beliefs and learning the art of compromise. Ages 14–up.

April 1, 2010
Gr 9 Up-Jenna and the Green Teens are on a mission to save the planet. They are a force in their New Jersey community and a positive voice for activism. They even have some serious plans for the summer, until a series of events results in Jenna spending the summer with her godmother, Susie, and her new husband and hostile stepdaughter in Canada. Shortly after she arrives, she's sorry she came. Susie, renovating her home into a bed-and-breakfast, cannot afford Jenna's conservation suggestions. The local teens, mostly boys, see her as a big city girl with ideas that focus on the planet, but ignore people. In a town hurt by environmental regulations, Jenna begins to realize that there is more than one side to the issue. But instead of forgetting about her concerns altogether, she takes a different approach to help the B and B and the town. She focuses on nature and the beauty around her to draw tourists, and the local teens buy in. While some of the incidents seem a bit far-fetched, the relationships among the characters are authentic. Jenna ceases to be a militant conservationist and becomes an introspective one. She makes the best choices she can for the people around her, the environment, and herself. Her story will have strong appeal for teens who like realistic fiction with great relationships and perhaps a hint of romance."Melyssa Malinowski, Kenwood High School, Baltimore, MD"

Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2010
Grades 9-12 Jenna, an active member of the Green Teen club, spends a summer with her godmother in the woods of Canada. She gets flustered when the outdoorsy folk dont think much of her eco-posturing, but more importantly, why is the gorgeous rock-climber Reeve such a jerk? A few kisses later the Reeve problem is mostly solved, and Jenna learns to temper her superficial environmentalism with real-world practicality. More for readers who dont mind the green theme than those actively looking for eco-friendly reads, this book makes good light reading for teens destined for a summer in the woods rather than at the beach.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2010
New Jerseybred environmentalist Jenna spends the summer in the "wild, rugged wilderness" of Canada, where she has trouble fitting in with the local teenagers, who mock her preachy ideals. Exploring nature and listening to her new friends, Jenna learns to appreciate the environment from a new vantage point. A scenic backdrop, a strong cast of secondary characters, and believable character development sustain the novel's momentum.

(Copyright 2010 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)