Blog Tour: Jelly Bean Crisis Review ~ the life of fiction

The Jelly Bean Crisis by Jolene Stockman
★★★★☆
Release Date: August 1, 2012
Age: YA
Genre: Realistic Fiction, Contemporary
Format Reviewed: ebook
Source: A Tale of Many reviews Blog Tours
Buy it: Amazon

A total meltdown. The whole school watching. Now Poppy’s an ex-straight-A with no Plan B.
When Poppy Johnson throws away a full scholarship to Columbia, she can only blame the jelly beans. The yucky green ones? Midnight cram sessions and Saturday’s spent studying. The delicious red? The family legacy: Columbia, and a future in finance. Except now it’s starting to look like Poppy’s jelly bean theory is wrong. School has been her life until, but maybe it’s time to start living now.
Poppy has thirty days to try a new life. No school, no studying. Just jumping into every possible world. Thirty days to find her passion, her path, and maybe even love. The Jelly Bean Crisis is officially on.

My life has been turned upside down this last 2 months; and as my new/old journey continues and I'm back to doing what I want to do I could relate to Poppy as she navigates her Jelly Bean Crisis. Her story is one of determination, mind-setting, goal reaching and changing, and greatness. She's lucky to have the support in her life that she does. The book houses many inspirational passages that I think every High School student should experience and read.

The Jelly Bean Crisis features strong willed and determined, goal setting Poppy as she begins to question everything she's ever wanted. Being forced into a future she's not sure she wants Poppy steps back and re-evaluates her life. Ultimately she decides, and successfully convinces her parents, to take a "gap" month; in which she will explore possible career options. Poppy's character is relatable and easy to understand for anyone who has been in her shoes (pretty much anyone who's transitioned from child to adult). Choosing a future, a college, and a career are huge decisions to make and can sometimes be overwhelming. The book is her journey into discovering what makes her happy as she fulfills jobs that don't and searched for the one thing that will.

Throughout the book Poppy, wise beyond her years, has these small revelations that shape her personality and her adventure. I love how the author incorporates Jelly Beans into the book. Poppy loves red Jelly Beans (I personally am a green Jelly Bean girl) and she has, through careful calculation, decided to save them for last eating those she least desires first. As a metaphor for her life where she does all the nitty gritty work to get to her goals. Poppy is a bright girl, who will definitely succeed no matter what she chooses in life.

I kept thinking I had the path Jolene was setting for Poppy figured out, then she would surprise me. Poppy is one unpredictable character and I loved reading her story. Another plus, there is a really great boy in the story, who reminded me a lot of Ian Wallace from the film What a Girl Wants read the book to find out why!

The best element, for me, of The Jelly Bean Crisis is the family dynamics and relationships shown in the book. Poppy has support and guidance from her folks who are present and very active in her life. They are worried but not stifling and I think they offer a great balance to the story. As well as Bex, Poppy's friend, the stiff uptight one who always follows the rules and helps Poppy (even when she's not helping). Not only does Poppy have a lot of parental support, but her grandmother is the voice of wisdom that she seeks out when she needs to talk. These are the relationships that a lot of YA books overlook, and when I read books like Jolene's it reminds me why they are so important and shouldn't be left out.

It's a well sequenced and fun book that has a great soul searching background, some interesting looks into different fields of work, and a well rounded cast of characters that are interesting and pleasant. Poppy is an inspiring role model for girls of all ages. Her follow your heart view on life is fresh, uplifting, and heartening.

Follow this tour

Jolene Stockman Bio
Jolene Stockman is an award winning writer, speaker, and an expert for Girlfriend Magazine Australia. She is a Master of Neuro Linguistic Programming, and one of the youngest in the world to achieve the Distinguished Toastmaster Award. Jolene lives in New Zealand, and is the author of Total Blueprint for World Domination. The Jelly Bean Crisis is her debut fiction.

Her blog: jolenestockman.blogspot.com

Twitter: twitter.com/#!/JoleneStockman

Facebook: facebook.com/JoleneStockmanAuthor

Goodreads: goodreads.com/author/show/5129801.Jolene_Stockman

Librarything: librarything.com/author/stockmanjolene

Amazon: amazon.com/Jolene-Stockman/e/B005JN3YLK/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1