Spring vacation begins with the 3 o’clock bell today, her instructor, Mr Shawnley, has just declared that over the break the class is to prepare a homework project about peace.  Jazzie cannot believe it, first her parents have been carrying on unending battling, Dad has left and they are going to get a divorce, and now this. 

Peace, what in the world does a kid know about peace.

Soon Jazzie steps in to prevent school bullies from bothering Oxford, a truly clever but also truly nerdy classmate who maintains he owes Jazzie his life.  As recompense, Oxy suggests he will work on the homework assignment with Jazzie.

The duo are quickly ensnared in the most astonishing action of their young lives, they work together to set up a website aimed at bringing together kids from the world over to share concepts about peace; what it means and how it affects everyone.

Populated with an appealing cast of characters including an Asian lad named Su and his cat, Cat Man Doo; Jazzie, Nelson her dog, and Oxy; readers will appreciate getting to know ‘Enery, a lad with a infirmity who lives in London, Finn a Swiss youth clad in lederhosen, Dutch sisters Rachele and Kristina, their pet Pookie and his seeing eye aid Nafferton, as well as Abraham an Israeli youngster and his new friend Hakim and others they meet during their adventure. 

Traveling on a CyberCoaster, meeting a blue-eyed pirate, skirting danger more than once, The Adventures of Jazzie G SEARCH FOR THE MISSING PEACE is a well written, fast paced book complete with snappy dialogue, and motivating settings certain to please the target audience of Middle Grades - Young Adult readers who relish a bit of make-believe, exhilaration and situations featuring kids their own ages. 

SEARCH FOR THE MISSING PEACE is chockfull with the expectation and fervor tween readers crave.  Readers encounter so many fascinating characters bringing viewpoint of other cultures in a non-preachy style leading to launching understanding of confidence, comradery and how peace and acceptance comes about on individual basis. 

Johnston proffers an ingenious work devoted toward helping tweens comprehend that contentment comes more from personal acceptance of others as they are without necessity to force everyone, family, friends, classmates and all to develop as carbon copies of themselves.  A large order indeed, and one many adults may not have really come to understand.  Anger is part of life, it is what we do with anger that regulates our consequence in situations.

Johnston gently guides young readers through the eyes of Jazzie as she commences to realize that the anger she harbors toward her parents, and others, is something she can let destroy her; or as Jazzie, readers also can learn the influence of forgiveness, acceptance of variance of understanding and how it affects Jazzie/themselves in a constructive manner.

I like that writer Johnston delicately and nimbleness exposes young readers to numerous of the global issues facing society, Jazzie G’s SEARCH FOR THE MISSING PEACE touches on folkloric, spiritual, social variances we addressed during First and Fourth grades social studies instruction taught during my years of classroom teaching.

Were I still in the classroom The Adventures of Jazzie G SEARCH FOR THE MISSING PEACE is a paperback I would use in my classroom as a read to book and as a choice for free time reading, and taking home to read with family. 

Interesting read sure to please the Middle Grade – Young Adult target audience, happy to recommend.         

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Reviewed by Molly’s Reviews

molly  martin

http://www.AuthorsDen.com/mjhollingshead
30+ years classroom teacher
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