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mariabacterium's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Grief, Car accident, Abandonment, and Addiction
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Domestic abuse, and Pedophilia
albaface's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, Car accident, and Animal death
Moderate: Confinement and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Drug abuse and Murder
goodwitchs's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Cancer, Animal death, Car accident, Self harm, Violence, Death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Antisemitism, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Drug use, Racism, and Sexual assault
Minor: Domestic abuse
elwhits's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Blood, Car accident, and Gun violence
funky_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death and Suicide
Moderate: Abandonment, Addiction, Death of parent, Car accident, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Child abuse, Drug use, Pedophilia, and Terminal illness
lovesickreadings's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Grief
Moderate: Addiction, Car accident, and Drug abuse
Minor: Child abuse and Pedophilia
wonder_jenn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I don't have enough fingers to list the numerous tragedies this novel contains. The honesty and the brutality of these events made my heart heavy. I was sighing and shaking my head with despair, whether it was for something that happened or for something that could have happened. Because of that you might wonder: is this book not too dramatic? The answer is no. Because the author does it with finesse and cleverness.
I'm not gonna lie, the first quarter is hella confusing. We have two stories: one with Taylor and one with the Five. You don't have a clear distinction on page that tells you why a random italicized paragraph/page appears in the middle of the MC's POV nor do you have a precise timeline for it. Sometimes, these italicized bits are not even told in order. However, the more you read the more you understand the pieces. See it as a big puzzle that reveals a part of itself each time you add a new piece. Personally, I already trusted the author and simply decided to go with it without trying to understand everything at once.
I loved how a detail that, at first, seemed inconsequential turned out to be important or enlightening. I also loved the growing friendship between the characters. I have a soft spot for Chaz (his mother reprimanding her sons for swearing only to call them little shit was hilarious). Despite the dark themes, there are good moments and a magical element that counterweight the darkness.
This story and the characters moved me. The only thing that didn't make it a 5 stars was the confusion at the beginning. I feel like I missed crucial information because I didn't know what to understand. I think I would love it even more upon re-read, now that I know how everything is tied together.
Graphic: Suicide and Car accident
Minor: Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Cancer, and Domestic abuse
ravenreyess's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Bullying, Car accident, Grief, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Death, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Terminal illness, Murder, Abandonment, Addiction, Cancer, Child abuse, Death of parent, Drug abuse, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Child death, and Confinement
florinoakenshield's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Minor: Addiction, Car accident, Child death, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Kidnapping, Suicidal thoughts, and Terminal illness
chalkletters's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
On a first read, On the Jellicoe Road’s double narrative sweeps the reader along in exactly the same way Hannah’s manuscript carries Taylor. That it’s not immediately easy to make head or tail of the story doesn’t make the ride any less enjoyable. Even on a second read, it’s fun for the reader to piece together what they remember of the links between the two stories. It’s particularly rewarding to see the adults those kids in the eighties have become; Melina Marchetta gets to show off friendships that have actually lasted for decades, as well as ones which feel like they will.
Taylor Markham is as good an angsty teen girl protagonist as A Deadly Education’s Galadriel, and the cast of classmates and schoolmates that surround her are just as much of a found family, if not moreso. Like Galadriel, Taylor makes herself difficult to like at times, which only makes her character development more rewarding. Taylor’s relationship and love interest are a much more integral part of the story than Francesca’s were, which is why On the Jellicoe Road gets that extra half a star!
On the Jellicoe Road has as much character development as any of Melina Marchetta’s other novels and, on top of that, it also has more plot than most of the other Young Adult titles. The ending is big and brilliant and memorable. Even reading the book for a third time drives the reader towards it with eager anticipation. It’s not quite fair to compare On the Jellicoe Roadwith Finnikin of the Rock, because both stories are doing very different things, while sharing many Melina Marchetta’s trademark positives.
As it turns out, my Auntie Carol has spot-on taste, because On the Jellicoe Road is my favourite of the Melina Marchetta books I’ve read.
Graphic: Car accident
Moderate: Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Addiction, Gun violence, Child death, and Death
Minor: Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Animal death, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Child abuse, Drug abuse, and Cancer