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A review by halcyone
The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson
3.0
A couple of months ago (or maybe less, I don't really remember), I received a copy of The Fox Inheritance by mail. I had no idea where or why I received it (and I'm still wondering!), because I couldn't recall entering a giveaway for it, much less being told that I'd won. Regardless, it intrigued me, so as soon as I realized it was a sequel to this novel, I requested The Adoration of Jenna Fox at my local library.
This is a book that makes you think. It deals with a lot of very intriguing issues, and touches primarily on the idea of what makes us human. This, of course, ties in with the central conflict of the novel: the ethical implications involved in extensive use of incredible scientific advances in the field of biotechnology.
I don't know how to talk about this book without mentioning any spoilers. I'm sure you can make some educated guesses as to what it's all about, why the question "Who [or what, rather] is Jenna Fox?" is so important. But beyond that, the story at the heart of this novel is much more emotional and heartbreaking. It is about the lengths a parent will go to in order to save their child. It's very much a family drama, although we view it through the disconnected, deeply introspective POV that is Jenna Fox post-accident.
It was this detached narrative that failed to reel me in and leave a deep impression. I understood the message that Pearson was driving at, the message practically hammered into the reader throughout the entire novel, but then the entire effect is ruined by the epilogue. Suddenly, we're being treated with some sugary-sweet ending that is totally out of sync with the rest of the novel.
By that point, I realized that not a lot had made an impact. Sure, this was a compelling read, but as a whole? There's just something missing.
This is a book that makes you think. It deals with a lot of very intriguing issues, and touches primarily on the idea of what makes us human. This, of course, ties in with the central conflict of the novel: the ethical implications involved in extensive use of incredible scientific advances in the field of biotechnology.
I don't know how to talk about this book without mentioning any spoilers. I'm sure you can make some educated guesses as to what it's all about, why the question "Who [or what, rather] is Jenna Fox?" is so important. But beyond that, the story at the heart of this novel is much more emotional and heartbreaking. It is about the lengths a parent will go to in order to save their child. It's very much a family drama, although we view it through the disconnected, deeply introspective POV that is Jenna Fox post-accident.
It was this detached narrative that failed to reel me in and leave a deep impression. I understood the message that Pearson was driving at, the message practically hammered into the reader throughout the entire novel, but then the entire effect is ruined by the epilogue. Suddenly, we're being treated with some sugary-sweet ending that is totally out of sync with the rest of the novel.
By that point, I realized that not a lot had made an impact. Sure, this was a compelling read, but as a whole? There's just something missing.