Publisher: HarperTeen (August 26, 2008)
Bookmarks: 5 Bookmarks
2009 Printz winner for excellence in Young Adult writing
Jellicoe Road opens with a tragic car accident on the eponymous road. The first chapter introduces us to Taylor Markham, a seventeen-year old orphan who was abandoned at a 7-ll convenience store by her mom at the age of 11. Taylor has lived with Hannah who has since disappeared with no notice and Taylor must piece together various information of her life, Hannah's life and the way that life is being played out at the school that is known as Jellicoe.
I adored this story and found Taylor to be a vibrant, refreshing, protagonist. At first I stumbled over the Aussie-style of writing, but it really did begin to flow and you can't help but kept swept up in this grand style of storytelling. The threads of the story go back and forth from a story that Hannah is writing to what Taylor is living right now.
Taylor also becomes head of her school and has to deal with a war that has been going on between the school, the townies and the cadets that come to this area of Australia for six weeks every year. This war is fought by trying to get control over territories in the area surrounding the school.
Watching this story play out was like trying to figure out a puzzle that you only had certain pieces, but once you kept reading more pieces were being uncovered. Until it comes to a brilliant climax that literally takes your breath away. You know that Taylor will be okay and that is what makes this story so heartfelt. I recommend this book to anyone who loves a great story full with riches.
Posts
Great Review! I couldn't have said it better myself. It's really cool how certain bits of the story can completely alter your feelings toward certain characters. I look forward to reading Melina's other books.
ReplyDelete