Jersey Tomatoes Are the Best by Maria Padian. Published by Alfred A. Knopf, 2011.
Eva is a ballerina. Henry is a tennis star. The two girls have been best friends for years in spite of (or maybe because of) their wildly different goals. They are supportive of one another, in ways their families and other friends can’t.
Eva has an opportunity to go to New York for the summer with a possible internship during the following year. Eva’s mother agrees to drive Eva in every day because the family can’t afford the room and board. Eventually, an anonymous donor pays for Eva’s summer program so she doesn’t have to commute every day.
Henry goes to Florida with a well-known tennis program. Henry’s father pushes her very hard and he can be pretty aggressive if he thinks she is not being treated well. Henry has a strong physical game but when she overhears a conversation between some of her competitors, she begins to question whether she is the kind of player she should be or if she plays head games to beat her opponents.
Eva is doing some similar self-analysis, but not voluntarily. She is very committed to achieving her dream. Once she is there, though, she starts worrying about her weight and becomes overly critical of herself. She is tired all the time and gets injured easily. She thinks she is making health choices, but everyone around her is obsessed with weight and body shape.
Both young women must determine their dreams for the future, figure out what matters to them and balance it with family expectations.
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