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epeolatrist's review against another edition
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Abortion, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Sexual content
kristid's review
3.0
Knowles did a fantastic job of depicting a delicate situation, very realistically and very emotionally, through the eyes of four characters. With so many different prominent characters, I'm sure it was no easy task making each of them three-dimensional and fully developed. Kudos to Knowles for that!
For me the novel was more than just a book about teenage pregnancy, it was the stark contrast between kids that come from a stable and loving home life, to ones that don't. Unfortunately, I think the plot relied on that a little to much.
Knowles writing flowed nicely. This was the first novel of hers that I've read, and I'm definitely a fan of her writing. Looking forward to more novels by this author.
For me the novel was more than just a book about teenage pregnancy, it was the stark contrast between kids that come from a stable and loving home life, to ones that don't. Unfortunately, I think the plot relied on that a little to much.
Knowles writing flowed nicely. This was the first novel of hers that I've read, and I'm definitely a fan of her writing. Looking forward to more novels by this author.
kaitrosereads's review
3.0
Ellie can't believe this is happening. She thought Josh was different than all the other boys. She thought he might actually care for her. Instead he proved that all he wanted was one thing and now that he's gotten what he wanted he has no more use for her.
Little does Ellie know, she's pregnant and Josh is the father. The only person she can tell is her best friend who doesn't know how to help her. Instead things get even more tangled when Corinne involves Josh's best friend, Caleb.
What will Ellie choose to do about her pregnancy? Can Josh prove to Ellie that not all guys are after one thing only? Will Ellie's home life ever improve?
Jumping Off Swings was one of those books that just didn't do it for me. I think it was just too short. I felt like I didn't get any background information about any of the characters and it really made the book hard for me to like.
In the book you can tell that Ellie's home life is screwed up and it even mentions it once or twice but I never knew why it was so messed up. I was really confused. Also, you saw glimpses of Caleb's and Josh's home lives but you never once got any insight into Corinne's family situation. It just didn't make any sense to me.
Also I just hated the ending. I felt like things were unfinished and I was just left thinking, huh? I know a ton of other people who really liked Jumping Off Swings but I was not one of them. I'm not saying don't read it if you think you might like it, I'm saying maybe check it out from the library before buying it.
Little does Ellie know, she's pregnant and Josh is the father. The only person she can tell is her best friend who doesn't know how to help her. Instead things get even more tangled when Corinne involves Josh's best friend, Caleb.
What will Ellie choose to do about her pregnancy? Can Josh prove to Ellie that not all guys are after one thing only? Will Ellie's home life ever improve?
Jumping Off Swings was one of those books that just didn't do it for me. I think it was just too short. I felt like I didn't get any background information about any of the characters and it really made the book hard for me to like.
In the book you can tell that Ellie's home life is screwed up and it even mentions it once or twice but I never knew why it was so messed up. I was really confused. Also, you saw glimpses of Caleb's and Josh's home lives but you never once got any insight into Corinne's family situation. It just didn't make any sense to me.
Also I just hated the ending. I felt like things were unfinished and I was just left thinking, huh? I know a ton of other people who really liked Jumping Off Swings but I was not one of them. I'm not saying don't read it if you think you might like it, I'm saying maybe check it out from the library before buying it.
trisha_thomas's review
3.0
This is not an easy topic. I picked this up for a challenge not really knowing what I would get myself into.
but I'm glad I did.
I think Jo Knowles does a great job of not victimizing OR shaming anyone in this book. It's a great example of the ultimate...oops. It does point out the inequalities - but these are things we already know. Does Ellie wear her proof every day while he just walks around with no one knowing. Does Ellie get to make all the choices and he has very few, if any. Yeah. but it's the closer look into their lives that is what makes this a good book. Josh isn't the horrible guy he looks like he could be. And Ellie isn't the tramp the school kids make her out to be. And Corrine and Caleb, Liz and all the surrounding families - collateral damage.
As a reader, you want to judge and label and be upset with choices in the book, but the reality is that each person's truth for this kind of situation is their own. And this one just happens to be Ellie's...and three of her friends. And it's a very real story.
but I'm glad I did.
I think Jo Knowles does a great job of not victimizing OR shaming anyone in this book. It's a great example of the ultimate...oops. It does point out the inequalities - but these are things we already know. Does Ellie wear her proof every day while he just walks around with no one knowing. Does Ellie get to make all the choices and he has very few, if any. Yeah. but it's the closer look into their lives that is what makes this a good book. Josh isn't the horrible guy he looks like he could be. And Ellie isn't the tramp the school kids make her out to be. And Corrine and Caleb, Liz and all the surrounding families - collateral damage.
As a reader, you want to judge and label and be upset with choices in the book, but the reality is that each person's truth for this kind of situation is their own. And this one just happens to be Ellie's...and three of her friends. And it's a very real story.
hiltzmoore's review
3.0
I started off thinking this was a 2 star book, since the characters seemed pretty cliche to me, but it grew on me a bit. I didn't feel like this had the same voice as some of the better young adult fiction that I've read recently, so it read a lot like an adult writing down to young people. For me, the sign of a good YA book these days is that I feel like it is told from the voice of a young person and forget that it was written by an adult. That being said, I think the author did a good job with the subject matter and I liked that it dealt with how a teen pregnancy doesn't just effect the teen & immediate family, but their circle of friends, too.