Review: If I Tell by Janet Gurtler

Title: If I Tell
Author:  Janet Gurtler
Pages:  256
Publisher:  Sourcebooks
Genre:  Contemporary
Release:  September 21st 2011
Buy the Book at: Book Depository / Chapters.Indigo / Barnes & Noble / Amazon

Jasmine Evans knows one thing for sure... people make mistakes. After all, she is one. Jaz is the result of a onenight stand between a black football player and a blonde princess. Having a young mother who didn't raise her, a father who wants nothing to do with her and living in a small-minded town where she's never fit in hasn't been easy. But she's been surviving. Until she sees her mom's new boyfriend making out with her own best friend. When do you forgive people for being human or give up on them forever?

Understanding and Forgiveness

A Meaningful Life Lesson

Canadian Author ❤ 

Words can be very powerful and what we do say and what do not, can make big changes in our life as well as in the life of those around us. If I Tell by Janet Gurtler is a book that raises many "what If ..." questions and make readers put themselves in strong emotional situations. Heartbreaking and emotionally evocative, If I Tell is is a story of self-growing, understanding and forgiveness. Certainly after turning the last page, readers will be grateful to have read a book that exposes such a valuable life lesson.

Jez is half white half black a teenage girl who was raised by her grand-mother because when her mother gave birth to her, she was still in high school and too young to act in a responsible way by taking care of her own child. This has clearly weighted in Jez's life as well as her mixed heritage. Jez lives in a place where black people stick with blacks and whites with whites. This racial division doesn't allow her to fit in, or at least she doesn't feel she can be part of any group and she becomes a introverted girl with very few people to support her.

If I Tell by Janet Gurtler make us think about so many life issues through Jez' s life such as racial problems, family issues and low self-esteem. Jez is a very fragile character and so easy to sympathize with. Gurtler give us so many details of Jez life that everything she does and the way she thinks is understandable and justifiable. Also, Jez is keeping a secret that could break her family apart. She struggles with this secret and so many other problems in her life with no way to canalize them ...until she meets Jackson. Jackson is a boy who recently moved into town and goes to the same school as Jez. But Jackson looks 100% white and, for Jez, this is a barrier. However, Jackson is the sweetest guy ever and he achieves to get close to Jez. In addition, Jackson's friendship is a key in Jez's self-growing and, thanks to him, she takes the right decision. Jackson is more than a love interest; he is psychologically strong making him a great support for Jez and specially in what concerns her mixed heritage. Jackson is emotionally very Intelligent but he also has been through very harsh experiences to become the person he is in the book. In fact, Jackson has his own story.

If I tell is a book that I love in so many ways. It makes us think about what we should or should not say, it makes us think about the consequences of our acts. If I tell is an experience that tells us not to judge people's behavior or "jumping to conclusions based on appearance" (p.237) If I tell teaches us that "people might surprise you if you look harder [and that] sometimes you have to look beneath the surface" (p.39) Some things should be said, others things shouldn't. How do we know what can  be kept secret and what should not?  Look beneath the surface, see what the intentions really were and put yourself in other people's place. Then you will understand. Then, you will be able to forgive.

If I tell is an intense and breathtaking story of self-growing, understanding and forgiveness. This is a story filled with values and overwhelming feelings that readers will definitely treasure not only as a great book, but as a meaningful life experience. Highly recommended!

❤ Thank you so much to Raincoast Books for providing me this copy ❤

Visit Janet Gurtler's website at http://www.janetgurtler.com/