Being Jamie Baker by Kelly Oram
Published: 15th June 2010 by Bluefields
Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy / Paranormal / Supernatural
Page Count: 353
Series: Jamie Baker #1
Format: eBook
Source: Kelly Oram
Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy / Paranormal / Supernatural
Page Count: 353
Series: Jamie Baker #1
Format: eBook
Source: Kelly Oram
Review:
5 / 5 stars
I was fortunate enough to receive a copy of Being Jamie Baker from Kelly Oram in preparation for reading More Than Jamie Baker in exchange for an honest review shortly after its release, this will in no way effect my opinion on the book!
Even though I had hoped to get both of these read before MTJB released I hit a reading slump thanks to moving and what not this hasn't happened but I did finish this book on the release date of MTJB so I'm hoping I can make a swift start and finish on it too.
Anyway back to the review.
Being Jamie Baker actually has the perfect synopsis, its sums up the story perfectly without giving anything anyway, plus the cover is to die for. Jamie is the Ice Queen of her school, the loner and "freak", as she alienated herself from day one. But the Ice Queen image she has built starts to melt and crack after a kiss with Mr Popular - Ryan.
I think usually that kind of summary would leave me rolling my eyes and scoffing how silly it is one should change after an encounter with a boy, or because of the image she's created and trying to maintain but luckily this book isn't one that left me doing either of those.
And that is because Jamie has a reason to be the Ice Queen, she has super powers that she can't control all too well, that can be triggered by her emotions and whilst her school may know her as Ice Queen, her family know her as a Drama Queen so having super powers that like to go off when you're angry, sad, excited or well anything too emotional isn't the best of things.
The kiss changed Ryan before it changed Jamie though. He got a little super charged from the kiss and was surprised by her reaction and genuinely wanted to get to know her more, the trouble is Jamie had created this persona of herself to keep everyone safe and the truth about her hidden but as a class assignment happens that needs you to write a biography on another class mate, Ryan leaps at the chance to pair up with Jamie Baker.
I absolutely adored the development of their relationship, it was so gradual and lovely. You could see how hard to wanted to fight letting someone get close but eventually Ryan was just too persistent. Usually I'd probably be like "ugh stop being so needy or pushy" but it was done well in the book especially because you knew that Jamie did actually want to say yes and he was actually really patient with her.
But the book isn't just about their relationship no.
We also get to find out more about Jamie too, exactly what powers she does have, how and where they came from and the truth about the accident that gave them to her, plus we get to see her learning to have control over them and practising her ability to keep her emotions under control. Its great.
Plus there are a few other surprises outside of this that I don't really want to talk about because it'd just spoil it.
Of course we do come face to face with a bad guy, or two, which is all done really well.
But more importantly I want to talk about Mike and Becky. What I'm going to talk about here some may consider spoiler-worthy but I picked up on the truth very early on. In short, Mike raped Becky but it was all hush hush, hidden and only briefly referred too until towards the ending but that's because we were seeing it from Jamie's view and she had other things going on than to realise what had happened between people who were't even her friends at the time. But I was happy this subject was addressed, even if it was only briefly because its a very real thing that happens to so many people and I think that yes rape does need to be addressed in YA novels because I think readers needs to be aware just how cruel the world can be but how we, even as humans, can tackle it, fight the past and hopefully become a stronger person and know that the blame is never with the victim. Whilst I don't agree with Becky not going to the police, it was nice to show her as a character being not the usual popular girl you'd expect, but then also stepping back in to take her crown and facing her demons - Mike - and knowing who her real friends were and who should could actually rely on in her time of need.
Overall I adored this book and how it tackled both real life issues and that of the super world too. Nice mix up of the two. I can't wait to read the sequel.
I think usually that kind of summary would leave me rolling my eyes and scoffing how silly it is one should change after an encounter with a boy, or because of the image she's created and trying to maintain but luckily this book isn't one that left me doing either of those.
And that is because Jamie has a reason to be the Ice Queen, she has super powers that she can't control all too well, that can be triggered by her emotions and whilst her school may know her as Ice Queen, her family know her as a Drama Queen so having super powers that like to go off when you're angry, sad, excited or well anything too emotional isn't the best of things.
The kiss changed Ryan before it changed Jamie though. He got a little super charged from the kiss and was surprised by her reaction and genuinely wanted to get to know her more, the trouble is Jamie had created this persona of herself to keep everyone safe and the truth about her hidden but as a class assignment happens that needs you to write a biography on another class mate, Ryan leaps at the chance to pair up with Jamie Baker.
I absolutely adored the development of their relationship, it was so gradual and lovely. You could see how hard to wanted to fight letting someone get close but eventually Ryan was just too persistent. Usually I'd probably be like "ugh stop being so needy or pushy" but it was done well in the book especially because you knew that Jamie did actually want to say yes and he was actually really patient with her.
But the book isn't just about their relationship no.
We also get to find out more about Jamie too, exactly what powers she does have, how and where they came from and the truth about the accident that gave them to her, plus we get to see her learning to have control over them and practising her ability to keep her emotions under control. Its great.
Plus there are a few other surprises outside of this that I don't really want to talk about because it'd just spoil it.
Of course we do come face to face with a bad guy, or two, which is all done really well.
But more importantly I want to talk about Mike and Becky. What I'm going to talk about here some may consider spoiler-worthy but I picked up on the truth very early on. In short, Mike raped Becky but it was all hush hush, hidden and only briefly referred too until towards the ending but that's because we were seeing it from Jamie's view and she had other things going on than to realise what had happened between people who were't even her friends at the time. But I was happy this subject was addressed, even if it was only briefly because its a very real thing that happens to so many people and I think that yes rape does need to be addressed in YA novels because I think readers needs to be aware just how cruel the world can be but how we, even as humans, can tackle it, fight the past and hopefully become a stronger person and know that the blame is never with the victim. Whilst I don't agree with Becky not going to the police, it was nice to show her as a character being not the usual popular girl you'd expect, but then also stepping back in to take her crown and facing her demons - Mike - and knowing who her real friends were and who should could actually rely on in her time of need.
Overall I adored this book and how it tackled both real life issues and that of the super world too. Nice mix up of the two. I can't wait to read the sequel.
*When purchasing through this link, I will receive a small amount, once I have enough saved up I will put it towards a giveaway.
You always read interesting books, Lauren and the covers aren't shabby either.
ReplyDeleteI highly recommend it, the sequel is just as good if not better!
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