Author: Melina Marchetta
Release Date: March 9, 2010
Pages: 418 (HC)
Publisher: HarperTeen
Most Appropriate For Ages: 14+
Where I Got It: Library
In this lyrical, absorbing, award-winning novel, nothing is as it seems, and every clue leads to more questions.I have read really great things about this book. Like, "it changed my life," great things. So needless to say, my expectations were high...and they were beyond met.
At age eleven, Taylor Markham was abandoned by her mother. At fourteen, she ran away from boarding school, only to be tracked down and brought back by a mysterious stranger. Now seventeen, Taylor's the reluctant leader of her school's underground community, whose annual territory war with the Townies and visiting Cadets has just begun. This year, though, the Cadets are led by Jonah Griggs, and Taylor can't avoid his intense gaze for long. To make matters worse, Hannah, the one adult Taylor trusts, has disappeared. But if Taylor can piece together the clues Hannah left behind, the truth she uncovers might not just settle her past, but also change her future.
I spent that first 100 or 150 pages of Jellicoe Road pretty confused, but still oddly absorbed. And then once my questions were answered and my confusion was lifted, I was even more absorbed.
The characters in Jellicoe Road are each funny, unique, and wonderful. Taylor is an extraordinary narrator, with such a dark past and sarcastic outlook on life. Then there's Jonah Griggs, who has definitely made it onto my Top Guys List. Yeah, he's just that completely and utterly awesome. His past is as dark as Taylor's, and he's trying to cope with it. Something about him just really made me fall for him hard. (You'll understand my freakish obsession if you take my advice and read this.)
This book blends the past, present, and future beautifully and naturally. The result is a grabbing plot that's completely different from anything I've read before. After I got about 100 pages into this book, I never wanted to stop reading it.
Marchetta is an incredibly talented and gorgeous writer. Seriously, there are so many passages in this book that I re-read. I would share some with you, but there are way too many.
This book make me laugh and clutch my stomach in sympathy pains.This book made me swoon and want to scream. It broke my heart only to put it back together again. Melina Marchetta is a genius, and she's written a super fantastically amazing book, so go read. it.
Book Report:
Plot: Brilliant.
Characters: Looooooooove them!
Writing: Kinda freaking amazing.
Ending: Perfect!
Kid friendly? There's language, sex, drug use, and mentions of pedophilia.
Should I read it? YESYESYESYESYES.
Overall:
Um, wow. We SO want to read this.
ReplyDeleteDamn, this sounds awesome. I've heard great things too. I guess I really need to get going on reading this one though.
ReplyDelete-Lauren
everyone keeps telling me to hurry and read this. idk why i keep putting it off. taylor and jonah sound so intriguing!
ReplyDeleteNow I know what book to read next. I have read Marchetta's Looking for Alibrandi twice and loved it! :)
ReplyDeleteOMG! I recently read this book too and felt just like you described where I was SO confused the first half of the book it seemed, but the writing was mesmerizing anyway. It was an amazing one and I'm glad you like it overall :)
ReplyDeleteOkay, I have this one in my TBR pile, and now I know I need to read this one this summer. Thanks for the review!
ReplyDelete