Since arriving in the U.S. from Antipolo, Philippines, at age nine, Jasmine de los Santos has spent every second striving for success, and she's got the credentials to prove it: cheer captain, future valedictorian, and now National Scholar Award winner. In the face of the all-expenses-paid honor, Jas' parents are forced to reveal a momentous secret: the de los Santos are undocumented immigrants, and Jasmine's acceptance of the award could entirely jeopardize her family's freedom. As the family works fruitlessly to obtain visas, Jas falls for charmingly offbeat Royce Blakely, son of conservative California congressman Colin Blakely. Over first kisses, favorite quotes, and Ferris wheels, Jas gives her heart to Royce. But to save her family, she'll have to put her faith in something far more unreliable. Despite a far-fetched solution to the family's palpable plight, de la Cruz's portrayal of a crooked political climate, peppered with useful words of wisdom (Jas prefers undocumented immigrant to illegal alien), is sure to inform. At its gooey heart, this is a love story suited for romance-thirsty teens.HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Perennial best-seller de la Cruz is getting an even bigger push than usual: a major Seventeen magazine partnership, an eight-city tour, and numerous web exclusives.

Jasmine de los Santos, an overachieving 16-year-old immigrant from the Philippines, looks forward to a vibrant future, until she discovers a family secret that threatens to take away her American dream. When Jasmine reveals to her family that she has been awarded a prestigious scholarship that will provide full tuition to the college of her choice, she learns that the family is undocumented; Jasmine cannot accept the award. She also realizes that the boy she's falling for is the son of a congressman who is fighting against an immigration-reform bill that could change the lives of her family forever. Despite this setup, Jasmine is not a single-issue character. In addition to navigating her future newly aware of her immigration status, she also struggles with universal teen drama-friendships, first love, family pressures, etc. An immigrant herself, de la Cruz, succeeds in presenting a complicated and multifaceted topic in a manner that is light enough to keep readers engaged throughout the novel's 300-plus pages. However, the neat-and-tidy conclusion, involving political connections and wealthy donors, may leave some readers believing that just by "being good enough" and "working hard," the undocumented can magically overcome their circumstances regardless of the political climate or financial situation in which they find themselves. Typical teen drama elevated by its exploration of a complex social issue but hampered by an unrealistically feel-good conclusion. (author's note) (Fiction. 14-18)

The future is bright for high school senior and all-American girl Jasmine de los Santos: the daughter of Filipino immigrants, she has spent her high school years focused on being a well-rounded and academically successful student, as well as a model Filipino daughter. When Jasmine receives the National Scholar Award, a highly competitive scholarship that covers college tuition, her dream of attending Stanford is within reach. To her surprise, her parents don-t share her excitement and reveal a long-kept secret: the de los Santos family is in the United States illegally. After her family-s status is discovered and they face deportation, Jasmine-s perception of herself is thrown into question. De la Cruz (the Blue Bloods series) presents a timely and thought-

Gr 6-10 Jasmine is valedictorian, a scholarship winner, and captain of a Nationals-winning cheer squad. Her Filipino family are close-knit, and they live in L.A. Her crush is the son of a senator, and he's sweet and devoted. Her college essay is about her storytelling project with terminally ill seniors. Early into the book, readers learn that Jasmine and her family are undocumented. Jasmine is not eligible for the financial aid she would need to attend college, and she and her family face the real threat of being deported. The plot unfolds with Jasmine's boyfriend's father's anti-immigrant Congressional bill being shot down and the family's lawyer telling them that the odds are against them being able to stay in the United States. Through a series of extremely fortuitous developments, Jas receives a full ride to Stanford, a university that reviews international students' applications without regard to their financial need. Her romantic troubles also end happily. De la Cruz received a need-blind scholarship to Columbia. She shares in an author's note more details on how this story is semiautobiographical, which will make the narrative richer for some readers. Though the work centers on a high school senior, the romance is chaste and the plot is not too complex, making this a great choice for younger teens. VERDICT Jasmine's tale feels too good to be true, but this possible shortcoming is offset by the timeliness and importance of the immigration issues raised and explained. This book belongs in every middle school library. Amy Thurow, New Glarus School District, WI

Jasmine was only nine but clearly remembers the day when her mom, dad, and two younger brothers arrived in the United States from the Philippines. Knowing that her parents gave up everything for better opportunities, Jas spent her childhood working longer and harder than other kids. That effort is paying off in her senior year: captain of the cheerleaders, high academic honors, and the extremely prestigious National Scholarship Award, which will cover the cost of attending the college of her choice for all four years. Expecting the scholarship to be the best kind of surprise, Jas is stunned to find out that her family has been living without legal documents for years and could be deported anytime.This story covers such dramas as dating, popularity, peer pressure, college/career choices, family relationships, and friendships and adds the unique twists of being raised on the values of one culture while living in the reality of something completely different. It offers something for almost everyone, including a number of secondary characters dealing with their own issues: The new boyfriend, Royce, son of a congressman, is trying to keep the peace in his fractured family. Royce's angry older brother abuses alcohol and is flunking out of college. Best friend, Kayla, is struggling with her parents' contentious divorce and engaging in destructive behaviors, which may cause readers to feel overwhelmed. Teens looking for a current, hot-button social topic or to celebrate a girl overcoming the odds will be pleased to find this book.Stacey Hayman.