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4.22 AVERAGE
4.22 AVERAGE
Should be read at least 1/2 or all the way through in one fell-swoop.
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
4.5 stars…definitely. Why am I always surprised when teen fiction novels are well-written and well-developed? I feel like it is a little sad for the genre as a whole that I hold it to such a low standard. And yet, every once in awhile, you get a book that reminds me how good teen fiction can be. Jellicoe Road is definitely one of them. It is a story of an abandoned teenager, Taylor. Her mother and now her mentor, Hannah, have left her…literally…stranded on the side of the road. There are flashbacks told in pieces (not in chronological order) that give the story as a whole some mystery. But slowly, the reader (and Taylor) begin to piece together the puzzle and the result is both heart breaking and heart warming. Definitely worth the read.
Lyrical. Where’s BookTok exposure when you need it?
medium-paced
This was a really different book, but after I read it I realized how much more interesting it was to me then a lot of teen books. There's a lot of subplots that take place within the main story, but I think that it would be a great book to discuss and I'm glad it was chosen as the Printz winner this year. Part mystery, part romance, some action (territory wars)...I think a book a lot of teens would enjoy.
I totally understand why this book has won numerous awards; I highly recommend it. Taylor was abandoned on the Jellicoe Road and taken in to be a part of the Jellicoe School. Tucked away from any urban area, the students at this school are often alone already; some orphaned, some not, Taylor fits right in. Looked after by Hannah, Taylor's life takes a bizarre turn, when Hannah disappears. Already dealing with the annual "war" between the Townies and the Cadets, Taylor is torn between her duties as House leader and her desire to find out answers from her past. Beautiful writing makes this story one that stays with you, long after you finish this book. A novel about love, the power of family and friendship and of the resilience of the human spirit, Marchetta has created a book that begs to be discussed.
I finished this book for the SECOND time at 2 a.m. because I couldn't put it down. I even woke up my partner with my sobs because yes - it hurts just as much when you know how it ends. But it hurts SO good. This book definitely isn't for everyone, despite the fact that the writing is so beautiful. Marchetta knows just how to weave her words into your emotions and leave you wanting to thank her for making you feel. My advice for reading it is to persevere - the first chunk of it can be confusing and insubstantial...but then it sneaks up on you and you'll be so glad that it did. I remember I couldn't stop thinking about it after the first read, and I was reminded why this time around.
Be patient and reap the reward!
Be patient and reap the reward!
It took me a bit to get through this book; it was well written with some truly inspired prose and some interesting characters, but the dual narrative confused me and pulled me out of the story. Plus I though Taylor was such a whiny ungrateful jerk sometimes, she got on my nerves! She was not a likable character for me, and it brought the book down a bit. Nevertheless as the story progressed I felt drawn into the characters' tragedy, and the beauty and sorrow hit close to home. This is how it is, sometimes, just so dang sad. Marchetta had a gift for articulating it.