Nice Try, Jane Sinner by Lianne Oelke

Pages: 416

Intended Audience: Mature Teens

Genre: Contemporary / Mental Health

Notes for Parents: Contains coarse language, under-age drinking, sexuality, and other mature content.

The Inside Cover

Recently expelled from high school, Jane Sinner grudgingly enrolls in community college, a situation made slightly more bearable when she joins a student-run reality show. House of Orange is her chance to start over—and maybe even win a car (used, but whatever)—and no one there knows what she did in high school. What more could she want?

Okay, maybe a family that gets why she’s rather turn to Freud than to Jesus. But she’ll settle for using HOO’s growing fanbase, and whatever Intro to Psych can teach her, to prove to the world—or at least viewers of substandard TV—that she has what it takes to win.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

The story deals with a girl recovering from a mental health crisis.

What’s good?

With a dry, self-deprecating humor, the story’s main character tackles issues of mental illness, faith, family, trust, and second chances. Jane Sinner is a cynical, sarcastic high school dropout looking for a fresh start. She narrates her venture into community college, and onto a campus reality show, in a journal format with script-style dialogue. This creates a fast pace that delivers several twists and turns. There is plenty of conflict and tension thanks to the relationship dynamics between Jane and her sister, her parents, her youth group friends, and her fellow House of Orange participants. I really enjoyed the ending.

Best Part: Dr. Freudenschade.

What isn’t good?

The story felt longer than it needed to be. While I really enjoyed the character study, nothing really happens until the second half. Alluding to Jane’s distressing event without revealing the details until well into the story was unnecessary, and made the story drag. Jane isn’t exactly likeable, or even relatable, but she’s a lovely shade of imperfect.

Worst part: Mr. Dubs, the Donz, and the McNugz Club.

Recommendation ☺☺☺☻☻ (3/5)

The story was odd, but in a way that I enjoyed. I appreciate that it took place in college (a rarely used setting for young adult novels), and I like that her relationships included her parents, and friends from before her “incident.” The combination of diary format and script style made it a quick and easy read. Recommended.

Oelke, Lianne. Nice Try, Jane Sinner. New York: Clarion, 2018. (Hardcover)