New Jersey Girl by Michelle Salmon

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

New Jersey Girl

by Michelle Salmon

Published by Independently Published on May 4, 2024
Setting: Los Angeles, California; Rinsteign Park, New Jersey
Genres: Middle Grade Historical
Pages: 193
Format: Hardcover, Kindle, Paperback
Source: the Author
Goodreads
Bookhype
Storygraph
Get Your Copy at: Amazon, Barnes & Noble

In 1993, when Melissa’s family decides to move across the country, she’s thrown from sunny California into the stormy halls of a New Jersey middle school. Melissa struggles to find her footing while simultaneously dealing with puberty, a growing interest in boys, and an increasing amount of anxiety. While navigating these challenges and overcoming amusing twists and turns, she discovers the strength to grow into her own, forming empowering friendship and celebrating the diverse quirks, dreams, and endless possibilities that make each of us unique. In this funny, heartwarming tale that echoes themes of feminism, Melissa ultimately learns the true meaning of friendship and finally carves a place for herself in New Jersey.

New Jersey Girl by Michelle Salmon follows Melissa from the end of fourth grade to the end of seventh grade.

Can Melissa survive middle school in another state?

Melissa

Melissa is the middle child with an older brother and a toddler little sister. We start this book with Melissa near the end of fourth grade and summer vacation. Melissa grows throughout the book when she needs to, and the biggest thing that helps Melissa out is having a group of friends that get her. The last part is especially true once she reaches New Jersey and loses her friend group twice. Melissa goes through things that any normal preteen girl does, and it’s never fun to be made fun of for things that happen naturally to our bodies.

I hope Melissa had a better time in high school than in middle school and that she stood up to two mean girls. However, I wish we had a redemption arc for one of the mean girls.

The Schools

Melissa had a lot of things changing for her. The first big thing was her cross-country move from California to New Jersey; for Melissa, that is a big change. The second big thing was finishing off elementary school without her friends around her. It was mainly because it was in a new state and school that looked very different from what she was used to. The reason for that is that, in California, the classes are in separate buildings, while in New Jersey or anywhere with weather not as lovely as California, they are all in one building. Melissa went through three school grades and had to make new friends in all of her classes since some of her friends from the previous year weren’t in her classes anymore.

Melissa definitely had a hard time in middle school, but really though, who doesn’t?

Four Stars

I am giving four stars to New Jersey Girl by Michelle Salmon. It was a lot to process, mainly to get used to the idea that my early childhood is now historical. I also had to look up some things to see if they were true. Ms. Salmon took me back to my preteen years to process what happened in this book. I recommend this book as it makes me realize how much kids need to embrace and be present in life without the constant electronic devices around us.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of New Jersey Girl by Michelle Salmon.

Until the next time,

Happy Reading!

Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• 2025 Alphabet Soup-Author Edition-RC
• 2025 Goodreads RC
• 2025 Middle Grade Reading Challenge
• 2025 Traveling the World

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