Nice Try, Jane Sinner

Jane Sinner’s only option for graduation is a local community college after “the incident” that caused her to leave high school. She embarks on a journey of self-discovery after deciding to join a reality TV show; she soon realizes that the complexities and challenges of the competition are a means to find meaning in her life and explore her identity. An engaging read, “Nice Try, Jane Sinner” is a coming-of-age story of a teenage girl who struggles to find her place in the world. The story’s reality TV show premise and her questions about her own identity and future may be particularly interesting for senior secondary students who can relate to her inner conflict. In the classroom, the novel may be suitable as a Literature Circle option or independent reading book, as its casual literary structure is appropriate for readers of most levels.