Freaking Green

by Laura F Sanchez

Overview

Jasmine Hayward's dreams for her junior year focus on guys, friends and landing the lead roles in her high school's plays. Then Jasmine's cashed-strapped family is forced to cut their carbon footprint by 80 percent to win $5 million. Suddenly everything Jasmine does, from getting to school to making a sandwich, puts a fortune at risk. While Jasmine's family of reluctant eco-warriors frantically strives and connives its way toward their goal, Jasmine fears that winning the money means losing friends, guys and her dream of an acting career. In this refreshingly funny, skillful coming of age story, Jasmine finds love in the last place she expected it. She also makes it to Hollywood but not in the way she imagined.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781482714005
Publisher:	CreateSpace Publishing
Publication date:	08/07/2013
Pages:	296
Product dimensions:	5.98(w) x 9.02(h) x 0.67(d)
Age Range:	12 - 17 Years

About the Author

After years spent designing energy efficient houses, Laura Sanchez began writing, guided by the notion that any subject---housing, politics, computer graphics, environmental issues-can be both understandable and enjoyable. With Freaking Green, she's transformed teen angst and climate science into a downright guilty pleasure. Laura lives in Los Lunas, New Mexico, with her husband, four cats and assorted wildlife.

Editorial Reviews

03/24/2014
Sanchez (Adobe Houses for Today) channels a passion for energy efficiency and other environmental concerns into this thoughtful look at a family forced to change the way it approaches the world. It all starts when 16-year-old aspiring actress Jasmine Hayward's eccentric great-aunt Olivia dies, leaving the bulk of her estate to Jasmine's family. However, to collect the first half of the $5 million, the Haywards are required to reduce their carbon footprint by 80% in a year. To do so, they rethink every aspect of their lives, from automobile use to eating habits, appliances, and recycling. As the Haywards' drastically altered lifestyle plays merry havoc with Jasmine's plans, she tries to find a way to pursue her acting dream without jeopardizing everything her family has worked for. While the narrative voice is engaging and there are some entertaining moments along the way, Sanchez hammers hard at the green aspects of the plot—the family keeps a running tally of their progress ("A single home-cooked vegetarian meal saves about 1.5 pounds of carbon")—delivering a continuous message that sometimes overpowers the rest of the story. Ages 12–up.

Publishers Weekly