Tattoo Heaven (Sidestreets)

Lori Weber
James Lorimer & Company (2007)
ISBN 9781550289022
Reviewed by Tabytha Joy (age 15) for Reader Views (6/07)


“Tattoo Heaven” is a book about a preteen girl who must face the changes in her life. Things are happening to Jackie so quickly. All she really wants is for things to be back to normal.

Jackie started out as one of those girls who judged people before she really knew who they were. Throughout this book, Jackie has every chance to change. But will she?
Throughout the story, Jackie refers to the girl across the road as “the sick girl.” After Jackie’s parent separate, Jackie’s mother forces her to meet the girl across the road once again. Of course, Jackie is not looking forward to it and would rather be talking to her boyfriend.

While Jackie is trying to figure out why her father’s new girlfriend likes her father so much, she befriends the girl across the road, named Theresa.

After spending a lot of time with Theresa, Jackie realizes that Theresa is nothing that she expected. Theresa is just like everyone else. Only thing different is that Theresa has an illness that could soon claim Theresa’s life. “Theresa might die. And she is my friend. She’s someone I care about.” Jackie admits to herself that she really likes Theresa for who she is.

This book goes up, down, and all around. It’s a must read for all preteens and teenagers. “Tattoo Heaven” teaches a great lesson about judging a book by its cover. Or in this case, judging a person by the outside, and not looking for what’s on the inside.

I enjoyed reading “Tattoo Heaven.,” but I do believe that there could have been a better ending. Does Jackie go back to her old friends? Does Jackie’s dad marry Nichole? Does Theresa live to see the next day? Does Theresa ever overcome the cancer? Does Jackie’s mother go back to college and study what she wanted?

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