Something in Between by Melissa de la Cruz

Title: Something in Between
Author: Melissa de la Cruz
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication date: October 4, 2016
Pages: 432
Source/format: Finished copy from Ellie

Rating: ☆☆☆☆ 

Synopsis (from goodreads.com):

It feels like there’s no ground beneath me, like everything I’ve ever done has been a lie. Like I’m breaking apart, shattering. Who am I? Where do I belong?

Jasmine de los Santos has always done what’s expected of her. Pretty and popular, she’s studied hard, made her Filipino immigrant parents proud and is ready to reap the rewards in the form of a full college scholarship.

And then everything shatters. A national scholar award invitation compels her parents to reveal the truth: their visas expired years ago. Her entire family is illegal. That means no scholarships, maybe no college at all and the very real threat of deportation.

For the first time, Jasmine rebels, trying all those teen things she never had time for in the past. Even as she’s trying to make sense of her new world, it’s turned upside down by Royce Blakely, the charming son of a high-ranking congressman. Jasmine no longer has any idea where—or if—she fits into the American Dream. All she knows is that she’s not giving up. Because when the rules you lived by no longer apply, the only thing to do is make up your own.

M Y  T H O U G H T S

Jasmine de los Santos is a hardworking high schooler who wants to attend a good college. She makes sure her grades are high and she is currently a cheerleader at her school. She is lucky to be selected to receive the United States National Scholarship from the Department of Education. Unfortunately, she finds out her family does not have green cards. Jasmine's perfect life starts to crumble.

Something in Between is Melissa de la Cruz's first contemporary book and it's an important read for everyone. Not only are readers introduced to a diligent, over achiever Jasmine de los Santos but readers are introduced to immigration policies and what it means to be undocumented in the United States. Because of my current job, I can relate to what Jasmine is going through with finding out that her family doesn't have green cards and that they are in the United States undocumented.

The risk of being deported is very high. Students who are undocumented can attend school with no problems until they reach the college level. In order to receive federal aid through scholarships, work-study, federal loans, etc., one must be a citizen or be a permanent resident. Unfortunately those who are DACA students, get the short end of the stick.

Proving ones citizenship can be a struggle for most students in order to apply to college. Without the financial aid, they cannot attend school due to lack of money. Their parents work long hours in low paying jobs for a better life in America. All Jasmine wants is to attend college. Many students in her standing would want to do the same; they want to better themselves.

I applaud Melissa de la Cruz for introducing some of these issues to readers. Many do not know too much about certain immigration policies and de la Cruz educates readers about what is fact compared to what is fake news. This leads to less assumptions about immigrants living in the United States. De la Cruz breaks down stereotypes; she creates the foundation for readers to become more aware of what is going on in the United States in terms of immigration policies.

Something in Between is a thought-provoking coming-of-age novel I recommend to everyone. Not only is it enlightening but it's a vital novel to read during this time of age of the new presidency and the current issues raised in politics.