Reviewed by Sylvia Heslin for Readers' Favorite

Poppy Johnson, an exemplary, exceptional and a super-focused high school junior, is given the prestigious Denton Award. The full paid scholarship to Columbia University has been Poppy’s and her family’s dream ever since Poppy could remember. It is awarded only to one outstanding student. In addition, although Poppy will be considered a legend like her father and grandfather before her, Poppy is starting to have doubts about her future in the investment-banking world on Wall Street. In addition, when Poppy had trouble making decisions before all of this happened, she would just fall back on her 'jelly bean theory.' The red jelly beans along with the orange and the blue ones were Poppy's most favorite, so those were usually eaten last and then became the 'award'. The white, yellow and the green jelly beans were her least favorite, so Poppy would just eat those jelly beans first. Before the prestigious Denton Award, Poppy had always felt as though her life and her chosen career aspirations were on the right track. The 'jelly bean theory' had seemly always worked for her, but Poppy’s dream future and all that she knows become shattered when she sees what she calls the 'splinters'. Poppy’s life and her infamous 'jelly bean theory' become unglued the theory is tested when Poppy struggles to find happiness on a completely different path.

The book "The Jelly Bean Crisis" by Jolene Stockman is a very fun read and a very cute story for young adults and older adults alike. I really enjoyed Jolene Stockman’s story line and was impressed with the character Poppy, as well as Poppy’s family and friends. I think that Poppy’s view of the 'jelly bean theory' is hilarious as well as ingenious. Moreover, while reading "The Jelly Bean Crisis", I could not even count how many times that I just wanted to go out and buy some jelly beans and test the theory for myself. I kept thinking that it would be just great if all of life’s problems and major decisions could be solved with just a few yummy jelly beans. Author Jolene Stockman has made her characters intelligent and strong-minded, as well as very loveable. I think if we all look deep within, probably most of us would identify with Poppy, and with her struggle to find happiness and a sense of belonging.