Jasmin

Jasmin tells the story of an alienated young woman who leaves home and in the process discovers that she is a good artist as well as a good person. Jasmin Marie Antoinette Stalke is failing the sixth grade. Burdened with the responsibilities of being the oldest child in a large, poor family, she lies awake nights staring at the stars but seeing no way to succeed. She can't do her homework because of noise from her family and the television set that is always on in the main room of their small house. Her science fair project has just been ruined by Nathaniel and Leroy's careless horsing around. She doesn't know what to do. For solace she reaches for a treasured book of poems and becomes inspired to imitate Meg in her favorite poem: from now on she will live "as she do please." She will run away. This haunting and sensitively written story of a girl's successful search for independence will resonate with many girls of a similar age.