An Avid Reader's Musings: (Blog Tour) Book Review: OyMG

TITLE: OyMG
AUTHOR: Amy Fellner Dominy
IMPRINT: Walker and Company
PUBLICATION DATE: 10 May 2011
PREVIOUS TITLES IN SERIES: Standalone

Jewish girl. Christian camp. Holy moly.

Ellie Taylor loves nothing better than a good argument. So when she gets accepted to the Christian Society Speech and Performing Arts summer camp, she's sure that if she wins the final tournament, it'll be her ticket to a scholarship to the best speech school in the country. Unfortunately, the competition at CSSPA is hot-literally. His name is Devon and, whether she likes it or not, being near him makes her sizzle. Luckily she's confident enough to take on the challenge-until she begins to suspect that the private scholarship's benefactor has negative feelings toward Jews. Will hiding her true identity and heritage be worth a shot at her dream?

Debut author Amy Fellner Dominy mixes sweet romance, surprising secrets, and even some matzo ball soup to cook up a funny yet heartfelt story about an outspoken girl who must learn to speak out for herself.

OyMG description and cover art courtesy of Goodreads.
The OyMG Blog Tour was arranged by TEEN BOOK SCENE.

THE TWEET
OyMG is a funny and heartwarming story of a young woman finding out what is really important to her while holding on to her true identity.

WHAT WORKED
The thing I liked most about OyMG is that, despite the storyline being about a Jewish girl at a Christian camp, that's not the whole story. The story, in fact, is about a confident, smart and competitive young woman who isn't afraid to go after what she wants. The heart of OyMG deals with Ellie trying to hold on to her (religious and personal) identity and sense of self, while also fitting in at the Christian Society Speech and Performing Arts summer camp, where she is competing for a scholarship to the prestigious speech school.

I was very impressed with the character development in OyMG. Ellie is a amusing and brilliant young woman. As a reader, I was able to connect to her personality, as well as her determination to get what she wanted, even if it meant hiding an important part of her sense of self from others. I also loved the character of her Zeydeh (grandfather). Ellie's interaction with her family, especially her grandfather, is a refreshing change from some of the recent family dynamics I have encountered in young adult fiction.

I know some readers may have reservations about OyMG because of the religious aspect, but rest assured, it's not a big deal. Dominy was able to convey beliefs and traditions without being preachy. OyMG is a funny, heartwarming story that will make readers laugh and comiserate with Ellie in equal measure.

OVERALL
Amy Fellner Dominy has written a great contemporary novel with an engaging storyline and characters. Even though I am not Jewish, I was able to relate to Ellie's plight and her conflict between wanting to win the scholarship and speaking up for herself and her beliefs.

MY RATING IS