Jesmeen Kaur Deo
Author of TJ Powar Has Something to Prove
Works by Jesmeen Kaur Deo
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- Works
- 1
- Members
- 45
- Popularity
- #340,917
- Rating
- 4.8
- Reviews
- 3
- ISBNs
- 3
Jesmeen Kaur Deo writes a coming-of-age story about the difficulties of body image, when society views hairiness as not beautiful. Tejindar (TJ) Power has everything a high school student needs to be popular: beauty, friends, soccer, and an extroverted personality. Except when her cousin Simran is compared to her in a cruel meme, popularity doesn’t feel so great. TJ starts doubting if her friends would still like her if she was hairy, and could she even find love. She is determined to debate this issue properly, to definitively prove that she can be hairy and beautiful. The hardest judge of this hypothesis may just be herself.
Jesmeen Kaur Deo captures the emotional struggles of being in high school really well. TJ Power experience all of the awkward experiences of growing up, and defining herself. She is a complex character as she genuinely struggles with the concepts of popular views on beauty, and her own identity. Though, in the end she still has some more to learn, as she becomes aware that she is not the only one who struggles with body image. Her biggest realization is that her friends have passions outside of TJ herself, and that in living entirely in her own problems she misses the individuality of others. TJ also never discusses her doubts with family, friends, or her esthetician until her anxiety becomes unable to hide.
The best part of this story is her relationship with Charlie, her debating rival. When other people in her life reject, misunderstand, or are unaware of her challenge, Charlie seeks to understand her point of view. Their interactions offer a sweet comedy in between some of the heavier issues. He challenges her to be a better person, while accepting whatever she wants to be. In the end it’s TJ’s decision to be comfortable in her own skin. This may be a hard-hitting issue, but Jesmeen Kaur Deo offers a challenge to discuss and debate beauty standards. But always remember your worth is definitely not debatable.… (more)