Jumped

The latest novel from Williams-Garcia offers a piercing snapshot of three girls in an urban high school, their daily struggle to realize their hopes and dreams, and the threat of school violence to shatter them all. --Horn Book Magazine

So well-observed that the characters seem to leap off the page, the novel leaves a strong and lingering impact. --Publishers Weekly (starred review)

With a realistic look at girl on girl violence and gripping characterization, Williams-Garcia masterfully builds tension to the momentous ending. --Kirkus Reviews

Williams-Garcia deftly creates portraits of each of the girls as the narration moves from one to another, with the triangulation of view resulting in some fascinatingly complex characterization. --Bulletin of the Center for Children s Books

This nail biter of a tale, told from the girls three viewpoints, has great insight into the lives of teenage girls and how they interpret and perpetrate bullying. --Chicago Tribune

Teens who live the reality of girl fights and getting jumped every day will surely see themselves and their friends in these girls. --Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)

Williams-Garcia has given her characters strong, individual voices that ring true to teenage speech. The ethical decision will get readers thinking about the larger issues surrounding community, personal responsibility, and the concept of snitching. --School Library Journal

Williams-Garcia makes the drama feel not only immediate but suffocatingly tense, as each tick of the clock speeds the three girls toward collision. Most impressive is how the use of voice allows readers to fully experience the complicated politics of high school; you can sense the thousand mini dramas percolating within each crowded classroom. --ALA Booklist (starred review)