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crystalstarrlight's review against another edition
4.0
Disclaimer: I have been reading and reviewing for over a decade, and in that time, I have grown and changed a lot. My views in the following review reflect the person I was when I wrote them and may not reflect who I am today - for better or for worse. While I would love to be able to reread and update my reviews to reflect who I am today, I think my time is better dedicated elsewhere. If you choose to read this review, please bear in mind this attitude.
UPDATE from 2022: The movie isn't that amazing. In my opinion. I honestly feel like this movie was Christensen's attempt to become a leading man, but he wasn't quite the actor at the time cut out for leading roles (he was "OK" in Star Wars and in "Life as a House"; no clue how he is currently as an actor, so I am holding judgement).
Also Hollywood is terrible - all the hot leading women have just turned 19 and all the hot leading men are getting their AARP cards.
I had heard about this one through some daytime show of all places. Since the upcoming movie would have Hayden Christensen and Samuel L. Jackson of Star Wars fame, I figured I would check it out. As always (or at least most of the time), I started with the book upon which it is based.
David Rice is not your typical teenager. Besides being the victim of a drunken, abusive father, David learns he can teleport--which comes in handy as he avoids the seedy side of life. David uses this skill to leave his father for good, establish a new life--hopefully, with the girl of his dreams, and enact revenge for the death of his mother.
Trigger Warner: A character is almost raped in this book.
Good:
Although Jumper is neither an action book nor chalked full of hard-core science fiction, this book is incredibly interesting. We are promptly introduced to David (via first person view, a very apropos viewpoint for the scope of the novel, a good boy who loves to read. But when his father sees that he is reading instead of mowing the lawn, he gets out his belt to beat David. This is avoided when David suddenly teleports to the Stanville Public Library. The scene is well-written, the characters immediately interesting, and the word choices good. This smart writing and careful attention to character detail (namely David, as he is the only viewpoint given after all) is carried through the entire book.
David Rice is a very well fleshed character. He is good but not so good that he is above stealing from a bank, desiring revenge, and sometimes acting foolishly. He cries, he is angry, he loves, and he retaliates. Furthermore, he ponders rather intelligently how he developed the teleporting talent, the implications of the talent, and the science of teleporting (but don't expect to find the answer to this question). I enjoyed David's progression through life and hearing his thoughts about significant events in his life (his departure from his dad, meeting Millie, earning money, meeting his mother, etc.). His reactions are realistic and understandable.
Bad:
While a great book, the language and some of the situations are rather rough (particularly the attempted rape scene and the abuse scene). I didn't realize that this book was even targeted at "children" until I read some of the other reviews. Personally, I would not recommend this book for kids or for those who get tripped up by the aforementioned.
Lastly, David's life is rather grim. It would have been nice had there been a few more bright moments. But I understand what the author was trying to accomplish, so this is not a huge problem for me.
Overall:
I am pleasantly surprised about this book. Although a little violent and harsh (again, those with high sensitivity and children should not read), this is a good book. David is a great character with a unique talent. Those that like hard core science fiction may not like how this talent is explained, but Gould's purpose, I think, was to show how someone dealt with the ability to teleport, not how it was done. Therefore, this novel is particularly appealing for those who want a deep character study spattered with science fiction instead of action/hard sci-fi. Had the language, violence, and sexual situations (rape scene) been toned just a little bit, I might give this 5 stars. As is, I will give 3.5 rounded to 4.
Funny Story: When I read this back in 2008, I actually went through and crossed out ALL the curse words in this (these reviews used to have a section cataloguing the curse words, which I've since removed as I don't think that's helpful or necessary anymore). Fast forward many years - I am going through my books and realize, I will never read "Jumper" again, so into the sell bag it goes. I head to my local bookbuyer, and as he is thumbing through the pages, he comments (very bemused) that there are words crossed out. I honestly had forgotten I even did this, but now that he called it out, I was quite ashamed to think I would cross out words. So, being the sensical person I was/am, I pretended I didn't know anything about it. Fortunately, he still bought the book back (yay), but it was a stark reminder of how much I've changed and how I'm not so scared by "bad words" anymore.
UPDATE from 2022: The movie isn't that amazing. In my opinion. I honestly feel like this movie was Christensen's attempt to become a leading man, but he wasn't quite the actor at the time cut out for leading roles (he was "OK" in Star Wars and in "Life as a House"; no clue how he is currently as an actor, so I am holding judgement).
Also Hollywood is terrible - all the hot leading women have just turned 19 and all the hot leading men are getting their AARP cards.
David Rice is not your typical teenager. Besides being the victim of a drunken, abusive father, David learns he can teleport--which comes in handy as he avoids the seedy side of life. David uses this skill to leave his father for good, establish a new life--hopefully, with the girl of his dreams, and enact revenge for the death of his mother.
Trigger Warner: A character is almost raped in this book.
Good:
Although Jumper is neither an action book nor chalked full of hard-core science fiction, this book is incredibly interesting. We are promptly introduced to David (via first person view, a very apropos viewpoint for the scope of the novel, a good boy who loves to read. But when his father sees that he is reading instead of mowing the lawn, he gets out his belt to beat David. This is avoided when David suddenly teleports to the Stanville Public Library. The scene is well-written, the characters immediately interesting, and the word choices good. This smart writing and careful attention to character detail (namely David, as he is the only viewpoint given after all) is carried through the entire book.
David Rice is a very well fleshed character. He is good but not so good that he is above stealing from a bank, desiring revenge, and sometimes acting foolishly. He cries, he is angry, he loves, and he retaliates. Furthermore, he ponders rather intelligently how he developed the teleporting talent, the implications of the talent, and the science of teleporting (but don't expect to find the answer to this question). I enjoyed David's progression through life and hearing his thoughts about significant events in his life (his departure from his dad, meeting Millie, earning money, meeting his mother, etc.). His reactions are realistic and understandable.
Bad:
While a great book, the language and some of the situations are rather rough (particularly the attempted rape scene and the abuse scene). I didn't realize that this book was even targeted at "children" until I read some of the other reviews. Personally, I would not recommend this book for kids or for those who get tripped up by the aforementioned.
Lastly, David's life is rather grim. It would have been nice had there been a few more bright moments. But I understand what the author was trying to accomplish, so this is not a huge problem for me.
Overall:
I am pleasantly surprised about this book. Although a little violent and harsh (again, those with high sensitivity and children should not read), this is a good book. David is a great character with a unique talent. Those that like hard core science fiction may not like how this talent is explained, but Gould's purpose, I think, was to show how someone dealt with the ability to teleport, not how it was done. Therefore, this novel is particularly appealing for those who want a deep character study spattered with science fiction instead of action/hard sci-fi. Had the language, violence, and sexual situations (rape scene) been toned just a little bit, I might give this 5 stars. As is, I will give 3.5 rounded to 4.
Funny Story: When I read this back in 2008, I actually went through and crossed out ALL the curse words in this (these reviews used to have a section cataloguing the curse words, which I've since removed as I don't think that's helpful or necessary anymore). Fast forward many years - I am going through my books and realize, I will never read "Jumper" again, so into the sell bag it goes. I head to my local bookbuyer, and as he is thumbing through the pages, he comments (very bemused) that there are words crossed out. I honestly had forgotten I even did this, but now that he called it out, I was quite ashamed to think I would cross out words. So, being the sensical person I was/am, I pretended I didn't know anything about it. Fortunately, he still bought the book back (yay), but it was a stark reminder of how much I've changed and how I'm not so scared by "bad words" anymore.
bookstiana's review against another edition
2.0
Tuvo un buen inicio, pero el final fue algo, muy, alargado con tantas descripciones innecesarias.
cem_pasha's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
tadams_sg's review against another edition
4.0
The book is completely different from the movie. Also, the book is much better than the movie.
Davy discovers his jumping powers due to his father's physical and emotional abuse of him. Originally, just using his new ability to escape from a terrible life, Davy relocates to New York City. While living in NYC, he meets a girl and falls in love. Eventually, Davy's goodness bites him in the butt, because no good deed goes unpunished. When Davy overhears his neighbor beating his wife, Davy intervenes and rescues the woman after jumping the husband to Central Park. Well, it turns out the husband is a detective with the NYPD. Now Davy has an NYPD detective and his buddies looking into him. Earlier in the book, Davy robbed a bank by jumping into the vault while the bank was closed. Having the detectives after him scares Davy because he thinks they will find out about the bank robbery.
Davy, whose mother abandoned him and his father while Davy was still a boy, rekindled his relationship with her. Mary, Davy's mother, is a travel agent who has to go on a trip for the agency. While on this trip, her plane is hijacked and Mary gets blown up by the well know terrorist, Rashid. Once Davy hears of this, he goes on a crusade to avenge his mother's death.
While attempting to avenge her death, Davy attracts the attention of the National Security Agency. The NSA tries to reach Davy by going after his friends and family. NSA agents monitor his girlfriend Millie and his father. Millie soon gets taken into custody, unconstitutionally, the NSA agents actually kidnapped her and her roommate. Davy captures Rashid as well as agent Cox of the NSA who is agent in charge of Davy's case, and takes them to a remote place that no one find. Davy holds them captive until Millie's release. The NSA refuses to release Millie, so Davy jumps multiple NSA agents to airports on the other half of the world.
In the end, Davy and Cox come to an agreement. Millie is released, Rahid is handed over to the proper officials, and Cox returns to the NSA unharmed. Davy and Millie can live their lives without interferance from the NSA, although Davy promises to check the classified section of the paper where if the NSA needs his services, they will reach out to him.
I kept waiting for the part where Samuel L. Jackson chases after Davy trying to kill him, but this never happened. The NSA, it seemed to me, just wanted to use Davy as an asset to the agency and not harm him. I also waited to find out that Mary had to capture her son and kill him and that she wasn't really dead that was just a ruse so that she wouldn't have to kill her only son, but this also never appeared in the book. Like I said, the book and movie are completely different and I definitely prefer the book.
Davy discovers his jumping powers due to his father's physical and emotional abuse of him. Originally, just using his new ability to escape from a terrible life, Davy relocates to New York City. While living in NYC, he meets a girl and falls in love. Eventually, Davy's goodness bites him in the butt, because no good deed goes unpunished. When Davy overhears his neighbor beating his wife, Davy intervenes and rescues the woman after jumping the husband to Central Park. Well, it turns out the husband is a detective with the NYPD. Now Davy has an NYPD detective and his buddies looking into him. Earlier in the book, Davy robbed a bank by jumping into the vault while the bank was closed. Having the detectives after him scares Davy because he thinks they will find out about the bank robbery.
Davy, whose mother abandoned him and his father while Davy was still a boy, rekindled his relationship with her. Mary, Davy's mother, is a travel agent who has to go on a trip for the agency. While on this trip, her plane is hijacked and Mary gets blown up by the well know terrorist, Rashid. Once Davy hears of this, he goes on a crusade to avenge his mother's death.
While attempting to avenge her death, Davy attracts the attention of the National Security Agency. The NSA tries to reach Davy by going after his friends and family. NSA agents monitor his girlfriend Millie and his father. Millie soon gets taken into custody, unconstitutionally, the NSA agents actually kidnapped her and her roommate. Davy captures Rashid as well as agent Cox of the NSA who is agent in charge of Davy's case, and takes them to a remote place that no one find. Davy holds them captive until Millie's release. The NSA refuses to release Millie, so Davy jumps multiple NSA agents to airports on the other half of the world.
In the end, Davy and Cox come to an agreement. Millie is released, Rahid is handed over to the proper officials, and Cox returns to the NSA unharmed. Davy and Millie can live their lives without interferance from the NSA, although Davy promises to check the classified section of the paper where if the NSA needs his services, they will reach out to him.
I kept waiting for the part where Samuel L. Jackson chases after Davy trying to kill him, but this never happened. The NSA, it seemed to me, just wanted to use Davy as an asset to the agency and not harm him. I also waited to find out that Mary had to capture her son and kill him and that she wasn't really dead that was just a ruse so that she wouldn't have to kill her only son, but this also never appeared in the book. Like I said, the book and movie are completely different and I definitely prefer the book.
adbooks20's review against another edition
3.0
I read this before the movie came out. I know it's petty, but I refuse to see the movie on principle. Intriguing story, with good characters, a fair amount of suspense and tasteful romance.
beckylbrydon's review against another edition
2.0
This book suffers from the main problem that it is written in the first person and so David Rice comes across as a self-centred whiney child, which makes it really hard to like him. While primarily being a book about a kid who discovers he can jump through space to arrive anywhere in the world he has been before, it also deals with a lot of issues such as grief, abuse and alcoholism which are all very well portrayed as David moves through life reacting to each situation as it arises. I'll admit that I saw the film first, and it greatly differs from the book. I'll also admit that I thought the film was better, mainly because of the maturity of the main character in the film compared to the book, as well as Millie’s reaction to finding he can jump across the globe
However, this book is one of the very few that has made me so annoyed at the main character that I actually started writing in pencil in the margin. Understandably, David has abandonment issues
I think what annoyed me most is the attitude he conveys to his girlfriend Millie, a psychology major. David has Edward Cullen levels of creepy in the ways he acts towards Millie when they are apart
I was so relieved at the end of the book when he actually starts seeing that he probably does need help, something he denies for the majority of the book, and if he hadn't I wouldn't have given it the extra star. My most common thought throughout this book was that yes, David has been through a heck of a hard time. But does that excuse him for what he does and how he uses his powers? In my opinion, no it doesn't. What would he have done if he hadn't had his powers, if he were an everyday guy going through what other people have also gone through? This isn't a series I would go out and buy to continue, nor is it one I would recommend based on the first book apart from to see if some of my friends had the same opinion about David as I.
Spoiler
albeit in the book he jumps away from her making her doubt her sanity for weeks before explaining, where as in the film he jumps in front of her to convince her that he's being hunted and they need to run making her freak out and try to run from himSpoiler
. It's worth noting that the entire film basically encompasses the first half of the book only.However, this book is one of the very few that has made me so annoyed at the main character that I actually started writing in pencil in the margin. Understandably, David has abandonment issues
Spoiler
his mum runs away from his abusive Dad, and then dies in a terrorist attack after they meet for the first time in yearsSpoiler
but he is perfectly happy to go through life blaming every one that hurts him or angers him. The major anger management issues range from wishing to drop people in the middle of the desert for the smallest of slights to full on causing a car crash and nearly killing the driverSpoiler
a truck driver who nearly abused David when running away for the first time before he jumped awaySpoiler
, without showing any remorseSpoiler
when he first arrives in NY he robs a bank (which I can kind of understand seeing as he's a runaway with no way of getting money) of near to $1 million (which he never returns, even when he finally discovers how to get his birth certificate to get other important document to get a job so he can actually work for a living). He feels guilt for getting the bank workers in trouble but does the minimum he can to assuage his guilt. He also feels relieved that the guy in the car crash didn't die but not guilt for causing it.Spoiler
He spends most of the book stating that he doesn't want to be like his Dad or like terrorists, yet this is exactly what he becomes despite his many attempts to refute itSpoiler
Apparently, according to David, picking up NSA officers and dropping them all across the globe in retaliation for them holding his girlfriend is perfectly acceptable behaviour. Chasing after terrorists who murdered his mum while jumping between countries, then kidnapping them and the NSA and holding them in the middle of the desert, is all perfectly legal and he gets off with nothingSpoiler
I think what annoyed me most is the attitude he conveys to his girlfriend Millie, a psychology major. David has Edward Cullen levels of creepy in the ways he acts towards Millie when they are apart
Spoiler
he jumps outside her window every night to watch her turn out her lights before going to bedSpoiler
. When the relationship starts, it very much feels like he is using her as a mother figure/ therapist, and it amazes me that it isn't till the very end of the book that this psychology student suggests that he actually go to therapy.Spoiler
despite his revelation to her that he caused a car crash as pay back about half way through which should have been a red flagSpoiler
I was so relieved at the end of the book when he actually starts seeing that he probably does need help, something he denies for the majority of the book, and if he hadn't I wouldn't have given it the extra star. My most common thought throughout this book was that yes, David has been through a heck of a hard time. But does that excuse him for what he does and how he uses his powers? In my opinion, no it doesn't. What would he have done if he hadn't had his powers, if he were an everyday guy going through what other people have also gone through? This isn't a series I would go out and buy to continue, nor is it one I would recommend based on the first book apart from to see if some of my friends had the same opinion about David as I.
itsfreelancer's review against another edition
4.0
Verdict : I love it.
If you've watched the movie (ugh), you better go for this. This is a different and far better book.
From bank heists to terrorist extermination, this book will take you all over the world. There's love in the unlikeliest places and tragedy in swarms, guts when the last flame ebbs and failures when you're at the top.
Who needs X-Men's Nightcrawler when you've your own Ohio born David? I've laughed hard so many times it's embarrassing.
"we mean no harm to your planet", David says when cornered by intelligence agencies. This was a riot.
And if you're ever stuck between a rock and a hard place, just jump!!
If you've watched the movie (ugh), you better go for this. This is a different and far better book.
From bank heists to terrorist extermination, this book will take you all over the world. There's love in the unlikeliest places and tragedy in swarms, guts when the last flame ebbs and failures when you're at the top.
Who needs X-Men's Nightcrawler when you've your own Ohio born David? I've laughed hard so many times it's embarrassing.
"we mean no harm to your planet", David says when cornered by intelligence agencies. This was a riot.
And if you're ever stuck between a rock and a hard place, just jump!!
blastoise's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 (sorry dad). Good page turner. Heavy physical and sexual abuse trigger warning for the first 5-6pages. I'll give a sequel ago if it expands well on the concept