Alicia Emamdee

Jennifer Gonzalez, a shy and quiet girl of almost 16, desperately wants to visit her cousin, Sara, in Hawaii for the summer. The only way her Mom will allow her to go is if she improves her grades. Her worst subject is Psychology and the topic for her term paper, which counts for half of her grade, is due in only a few days, and having no idea what to base her paper on, Jen falls into a deep state of complete and utter panic.
It’s not until she hears her little sister talking about being too fat that she comes up with the brilliant idea to write her paper on self-esteem and ways to improve it. As Jen delves into her research, she discovers why so many teen girls suffer with low self-esteem and finds techniques to help increase it. Despite the pressures society places on women and teenage girls to look perfect, Jen realizes that she needs a boost of self-esteem as well, and takes us on her own journey of self-confidence and self-discovery.
Experiencing many obstacles along the way, Jen keeps bumping into her guy crush but is extremely shy and hesitant to attempt any kind of interaction with him. Her hopes of ever falling in love fall to the wayside as she struggles with her insecurities. Will Jen improve her grades enough to be allowed to visit her cousin in Hawaii? Will she overcome her shyness and gain self-confidence? What about her guy crush? Will she ever be confident enough to talk to him? Will she ever fall in love?
The reader gets a personal look at Jen and her best friends as they attempt to step outside of their comfort zones and discover the tools for gaining high self-esteem. Original in its presentation, this charming and quirky story of self-confidence, self-discovery, friendship and love will leave the reader feeling empowered, inspired and motivated.