Signs Point to Yes by Sandy HallMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
I won a set of Swoon Reads titles in 2015 in their Swoon Reads NaNoWriMo Sweepstakes after winning NaNoWriMo (wrote 50,000+ words). With my continued problems with reading comprehension from my brain injury, despite my intentions, I didn't get to reading any of them until this one now.
To recap: I underwent the Lindamood-Bell Visualizing and Verbalizing Program to regain my reading comprehension about a year ago. 2019, and continuing in to 2020, has been about finding books to practice my regained skills on.
I'm writing this review on 11 April 2020 . . . why did I wait so long? Looking at the date I finished this book, that's when I began to feel unwell and then had a lot of fatigue and no recovery time. COVID-19 self-isolation has given me time to regain some of my energy. So let's see how much I remember!
Jane is an interesting character. She doesn't know what she wants; she only knows she doesn't fit into her high-achieving family. Jane sees herself as average, not having much to offer. It's summer time, and like most teens, she wants to figure out her own path, not have her mother tell her what to do. We the reader cannot tell if Jane is correct in her self-assessment, but I think most would relate to wanting to find their own way. Her way leads her into an unexpected encounter with a boy she barely remembered from school and then into deciding she's going to solve his problem for him. The back cover copy deceives a little bit in this. Teo's problem, how Jane finds out, what she does, and how he reacts is a big chunk of the book and keeps one reading.
Een as Jane puts her impressive problem-solving skills to work, she still cannot see herself as anything but average. I think that's part of the author's theme: that we don't see ourselves as others see us, and we downplay our strengths and find ourselves wanting in comparison to others' achievements. That message comes through as we remain glued to Jane's twisting and turning course through the summer as she seeks to help Teo and help herself figure out what she wants.
I liked the ending because it was realistic and because Jane was okay with what happens. Life isn't always a neat bow, and Jane learning to roll with it and accept consequences is a big part of her growth. It also allowed for a sequel if the author felt like writing it! This is the kind of light read that lifts a person up during suffering times because it isn't sugary, it isn't unrealistic, yet it's filled with possibilities.
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