Sophomore Year is Greek to Me

Sophomore Year is Greek to Me is a YA contemporary novel by Meredith Zeitlin.

Growing up as a single child, raised by her dad in New York, Zona has never felt she was lacking anything. Since her mom died before she could remember her, the loss has never truly hurt – though she knows it has never left her dad.

She has her close-knit friends, her new position as features editor at the high school paper and enjoys a trust-based, roommate type of relationship with her journalist father.

When her dad tells her they are moving to Greece for six months for him to cover their economic crisis, Zona is upset for two reasons. One, she does not want to leave all she knows and loves in New York. Two, she knows that his work is not the only reason her dad is taking her to Greece.

That is where her mother’s family lives. Her big family. Her big family that returned her father’s many letters and has never attempted to contact her in her entire teenage life. The big, Greek family she has no interest in meeting.

Despite her protests, her dad is insistent. So shall begin Zona’s uprooting to Greece…

Sophomore Year is Greek to Me was an easy, swift read. It starts off presenting Zona in a rather immature way, putting up a childish fight about leaving the country. However, I cannot say that I didn’t sympathize with her plight – leaving everything behind for six months would be a hard pill to swallow.

Once she gets in Greece, the story picks up. There is some pretty entertaining and enlightening Greek customs that get highlighted. Zona faces many scenarios where she has to decide whether she is going to let new experiences change her.

Truly the best part of the book was everything to do with Zona meeting her Greek family. From the funnier, more obscure moments to the touching, heartfelt scenes – they definitely stole the show. It focuses on regret, bitterness and forgiveness. A pursuit of understanding and moving on.

There’s also some great friendship in Sophomore Year is Greek to Me. Small, but important, events highlighting pivotal everyday life.

Overall, Sophomore Year is Greek to Me was an enjoyable, fast read. I was not head over heels and felt some of the material was quite familiar, but it was nice to read after long, hard days at work and hours of studying.

There’s nothing wrong with a low-effort book here and there!