Edwards, Janet. Earth Girl. New York: PYR, 2013.

“Don’t judge a book by its cover.” That’s what one of my student readers said when she returned this to me. I have to say she was right on. The waif like girl in the pretty dress is not at all how I pictured 18 year old Jarra, earth girl. Edwards imagines a world in the very distant future where most of humankind lives on planets other than earth. In this time, the handicapped have become the babies, children, and adults who cannot survive on a planet other than the earth. These folks are discriminated against and marginalized, referred to as “apes.” When Jarra turns 18, she decides to challenge the status quo. Even though she is earth bound, she applies to a university based on a different planet, knowing that the first year history students will study on earth. She’s tough and pretends to be a Military. She intends to prove herself and then dramatically announce her status as handicapped. What she doesn’t bargain for, is developing friendships and more with the students she thought she’d hate. She is tough, sassy, and much more motivated than that girl on the book’s cover.

I struggled a bit with the book at first. Immediately the reader is thrust into this world very quickly and has to process quite a bit while also getting the basics of the story. Edwards coins words and slang. Readers have to navigate words like “zan” and “nardle.” I was a bit overwhelmed by it all. But I gradually became involved enough in Jarra’s world of feel a little bit like I was catching up.

I am in the midst of preparing several book talks right now. I am leaning toward 10th and 11th grade for this title. I have several dystopian fans and also adventure fans who might enjoy this one. The romance is there, just a bit um… other worldly. I’m not sure if my romance fans will find the relationship between Jarra and Fian satisfying or not. Certainly, the lessons Jarra learns - in part to value herself and value others, to tell the truth, to work in a team - are valuable ones for our students. I look forward to hearing what my readers have to say.