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Just Be Cool, Jenna Sakai Hardcover – August 3, 2021

4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 83 ratings
Editors' pick Best Books Ages 9-12
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Fans of Lisa Greenwald and Wendy Mass are sure to fall head-over-heels for this funny, sweet story of crushes, competition, and the confusing reality of middle school.

"Heartbreak is for suckers." -- Jenna Sakai

When Jenna gets dumped over winter break, it confirms what she learned from her parents' messy divorce: Relationships are risky and only lead to disappointment. So even though she still has to see her ex-boyfriend Elliott at newspaper club, Jenna is going to be totally heartless this semester -- no boys, just books.

But keeping her cool isn't always easy. Jenna's chief competition for a big journalism scholarship is none other than Elliott. Her best friend Keiko always seems busy with her own boyfriend. And cute-but-incredibly-annoying Rin Watanabe keeps stealing her booth at the diner she's been hiding at every day after school. Rin is every bit as stubborn and detached as Jenna. And the more Jenna gets to know him, the more intriguing a mystery he seems. Soon Jenna is starting to realize that being a loner is kind of, well, lonely. And letting people in might just be a risk worth taking.

Read more Read less
Previous page
  1. Reading age
    8 - 12 years
  2. Print length
    304 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    3 - 7
  5. Lexile measure
    580L
  6. Dimensions
    5.75 x 1 x 8.5 inches
  7. Publisher
    Scholastic Press
  8. Publication date
    August 3, 2021
  9. ISBN-10
    1338671561
  10. ISBN-13
    978-1338671568
  11. See all details
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Teachers' picks | Explore children's books by grade

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From the Publisher

First Crushes. Friendship Fallouts. Following Your Heart.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for Just Be Cool, Jenna Sakai:

* "A tightly written narrative that is as fearless as it is balanced...offering glimmers of friendship and hope." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"A beautiful story about healing from heartbreak, and discovering the strength that comes from opening your heart to others. Jenna is a gem!" -- Jo Knowles, award-winning author of Where the Heart Is

"A worthy inheritor of the teen romance tradition, and it comes right on time." - NPR

Praise for Keep It Together, Keiko Carter:

"Sweet and smart." -- Kirkus Reviews

"Charming." -- Booklist

"Florence's tween drama will resonate." -- School Library Journal

“This is the book I wish I could take back in time and give to my tween self.” -- Christina Soontornvat, Newbery Honor-winning author of A Wish in the Dark

“Keep It Together, Keiko Carter takes an honest look at friendship fallouts and changing family dynamics with sweetness and sincerity that will make you cheer for Keiko as she learns to manage it all without losing herself.” -- Jessica Kim, author of Stand Up, Yumi Chung!

"In this deft, empathetic, and humorous narrative, Debbi Michiko Florence has expertly captured the joy and heartbreak of middle school." -- Andrea Wang, award-winning author of The Many Meanings of Meilan

About the Author

Debbi Michiko Florence is the author of Keep It Together, Keiko Carter, a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection and New England Book Award finalist, Just Be Cool, Jenna Sakai, and the Jasmine Toguchi chapter books. A third-generation Japanese American and native Californian, Debbi lives in Connecticut with her husband, rescue dog, and rabbit. Visit her online at debbimichikoflorence.com.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Scholastic Press (August 3, 2021)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1338671561
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1338671568
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 8 - 12 years
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 580L
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 3 - 7
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.75 x 1 x 8.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 83 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Debbi Michiko Florence

Debbi Michiko Florence

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Debbi Michiko Florence is the author of over 20 books for children and tweens. Her upper middle grade novels are Keep It Together, Keiko Carter; Just Be Cool, Jenna Sakai (Kirkus starred review, Amazon Best Books); Sweet and Sour; and the forthcoming This Is How I Roll. She is also the author of three chapter books series including Jasmine Toguchi (the Amelia Bloomer and CCBC Choices lists, and a Cybils Award winner) and co-authored a picture book biography, Niki Nakayama: A Chef’s Tale in 13 Bites (starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly and Booklist). Her newest books are for the Jasmine Toguchi chapter book series: Brave Explorer, Peace-Maker, Bridge Builder, and Great Gardener!

You can read more about Debbi on her website debbimichikoflorence.com and follow her on Twitter @DebbiMichiko and Instagram @debbi_michiko_florence

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
83 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Heather
5.0 out of 5 stars Great tween/teen book
Reviewed in the United States on November 19, 2021
Verified Purchase
My 6th grade daughter loved this book as well as the first book in the series, Keep It Together Keiko Carter.
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Arthur
5.0 out of 5 stars Sweet book
Reviewed in the United States on September 2, 2021
Verified Purchase
I loved this book the series where amazing if there was another book I would buy it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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A Y Wang
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful & poignant enemies-to-friends middle grade rom-com
Reviewed in the United States on September 4, 2021
After experiencing her parents' divorce and being dumped by her boyfriend Elliott, Jenna Sakai is done with heartbreak. She keeps everyone at arm's length, even her best friend Keiko, who is busy with her own boyfriend anyway. About the only thing Jenna cares about is the school newspaper club, but even that isn't a safe haven for her because her ex Elliott is in the club, too. Soon, she finds herself competing against Elliott for a big journalism scholarship. When Jenna is asked to write outside her comfort zone for the competition, it all becomes too much. She discovers a neighborhood diner where she can hide out, but that doesn't stay a solitary refuge for long -- a boy named Rin refuses to budge from her table, which he claims is his. She just can't seem to get away from incredibly irritating boys! But with Rin, Jenna's journalistic curiosity is piqued and, against her better judgment, she starts to let her walls down and maybe feel a personal interest in him, too...

I loved this book, maybe even more than the previous "Keep It Together, Keiko Carter," because Jenna's character resonated with me so strongly (but definitely read Keiko's story, too!). Tweens everywhere will identify with Jenna's heartache over her losses and putting up emotional barriers to protect her heart. They'll see, too, that sometimes the best way to move forward is to let someone in.
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Laurie Morrison
5.0 out of 5 stars As fun and sweet as the cover!
Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2021
I love a good stand-alone companion novel and this one is great! It was so much fun to reconnect with Keiko from Keep it Together, Keiko Carter and get better acquainted with her best friend, Jenna Sakai! Jenna is such a relatable character, and readers will root for her as she gradually begins to rethink her “heartbreak is for suckers” motto and open up her heart. Debbi Michiko Florence is a master of tween romance, and middle schoolers are going to devour this book—and wish they could devour the milkshakes and cheesy fries at the Broadway-themed diner that features prominently in Jenna’s story! A must-have for middle school collections.
One person found this helpful
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T
5.0 out of 5 stars Good book
Reviewed in the United States on July 13, 2022
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Daughter likes it
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Top reviews from other countries

Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars A good read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 23, 2021
Verified Purchase
My 10 year old daughter really enjoyed this book
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