Buckeye by Random House: An Honest Read with Jenna Pick Review

The protagonist faces the universal (yet rarely handled well in fiction) challenge of figuring out who they are when their surroundings feel both too small and too judgemental. What sets Buckeye apart from the crowded YA market is its refusal to wrap things up with neat, bow-on-top conclusions. Real life doesn't work that way, and neither does this story.

Key Features

• Official Read with Jenna Pick selection, handpicked by Jenna Bush Hager
• Published by Random House, a leader in young reader publishing
• Authentic teenage voice that avoids cliché and melodrama
• Small-town Ohio setting with universal coming-of-age appeal
• Emotional depth balanced with moments of genuine humor
• Themes of identity, belonging, family pressure, and self-discovery

Hands-On Review

I picked up Buckeye on a Friday evening with relatively low expectations — I've read too many YA novels that feel like they're written by algorithm rather than an actual person with memories. The opening chapter immediately told me this was different. The prose has a rhythm to it, a specificity in how the protagonist observes their world, that made me believe in them within pages.

By chapter three, I was that reader who kept saying "just one more chapter" until midnight. The strength here is definitely the character work. The protagonist's internal monologue feels earned rather than manufactured — you get the sense the author actually listened to how teenagers talk and think, not how adults imagine they do. There's a scene involving a family dinner that had me cringing in recognition, the kind of moment you can't really describe to someone without them reading it themselves.

What surprised me was the humor. YA novels dealing with heavy themes often forget that teenagers laugh constantly, even during hard times. Buckeye doesn't forget this. There are passages that genuinely made me laugh out loud, which made the emotional beats hit harder when they arrived. By the final quarter of the book, I was more invested than I expected to be.

My main criticism — and I want to be honest here — is pacing. The middle section slows considerably, and some readers will get frustrated waiting for things to move forward. If you're the type who needs constant plot momentum, this might test your patience. But if you're along for the character journey, it's worth the slower stretches.

Who Should Buy It?

Teen readers craving authentic stories will find a lot to love here. The protagonist's voice feels real, not sanitized for parent readers or dumbed down for the target audience.

Book club members — especially those following the Read with Jenna Pick selections — will have plenty to discuss. The themes invite conversation: family expectations, fitting in versus being yourself, what "home" means.

Educators and librarians looking for quality YA that handles teenage struggles with nuance should consider adding this to their collections. It's the kind of book that sparks good discussions.

Skip this if you need fast-paced action or prefer your YA to lean heavily into romance or fantasy elements. Buckeye is firmly grounded in realistic fiction, and if that's not your thing, you'll want to look elsewhere. Also skip if you prefer your protagonists' problems solved neatly by page 300.

Alternatives Worth Considering

If Buckeye appeals to you but you want to compare options:

When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller — another Jenna Pick winner that explores identity through a Korean-American lens. If you want more magical realism mixed with family drama, this one delivers.

The Fortaya by Anna-Marie McLemore — Random House sibling title with similar lush prose and coming-of-age themes, but with a fantasy twist for readers who want something slightly more fantastical.

Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo — for readers who connect with Buckeye's emotional weight but want a dual-narrative structure and verse poetry format.

FAQ

Final Verdict

The Buckeye novel stands as a worthy addition to the Read with Jenna Pick catalog. It won't be for everyone — the slower pacing and deeply personal rather than plot-driven structure mean it asks something of its readers. But for those who give it that patience, it rewards with a story that lingers. I finished it on Sunday morning, closed the cover, and found myself thinking about the protagonist for days afterward. That's the mark of something that worked, even imperfectly. If a heartfelt, honest YA novel sounds like your next good read, check current pricing on Amazon.