The Nature of Jade

The Nature of Jade
By Deb Caletti
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2007. 288 pgs. Young Adult

Jade DeLuna is not a likely candidate for working with elephants. She suffers from anxiety and enjoys things that are safe and routine. However, the nearby zoo has an elephant cam, a 24-hour-a-day view of the elephant area, and when Jade catches sight of a young man, along with his young son, watching the elephants, she feels drawn to them. She meets the elephant keeper before she meets the young man, and soon she finds herself working with the elephants. A few months later, she finally meets Sebastian and is drawn into his life--and into the secret he is hiding.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book--beautifully written with likable characters, there's not much not to like about this one. A little bit of language, but not so much that it detracts from the story. Deb Caletti is an excellent storyteller who captures what it's like to be a teenager falling in love, struggling for freedom, and trying to find your place in the world.

AE