by Melina Marchetta
HarperTeen, 2008. 432 pgs.
Young Adult Fiction
Hardcover: $17.99
Annotation: On the Jellicoe Road, the Townies, Cadets and the Jellicoe School children all vie for supremacy in the territory wars.
Summary: Abandoned by her mother on the Jellicoe Road, Taylor Markham is found by Hannah and taken to the Jellicoe School. Now coming upon her senior year, Taylor has just been named a House Leader at the boarding school and commander of the unoffical organization that runs the children's clandestine after-hours activities--translation, the territory wars. What the adults don't know is that the territory wars are serious business and began nearly 20 years ago when the cadets first came to camp next to the Jellicoe School for a 6 week outdoor education program. Then began a war of territory between the school, the townies and the cadets. Each year the children vie for trail rights, make boundary negotiations and try to win back key landmarks, such as the Prayer Tree or the clubhouse. But neither Taylor nor the rest of the house leaders think she's actually up for this monumental leadership role and her continually deteriorating emotional state make her less and less capable. When Hannah leaves the school without word, Taylor grows even more upset and when she finds the story Hannah's been working on the line between fact and fiction blurs until she's not sure what to believe anymore. And through it all the wars continue, with violent skirmishes, unlikely friendships and the complexities of first love forming between Jonah, Santangelo, Raffaela and herself.
Evaluation: Told from alternating chapters of present day and the past of 20 years ago, Jellicoe Road is a difficult story to unravel. But the tantalizing bits Marchetta slowly divulges keeps the interest high and the mind working frantically to decipher the story within the story. Once you figure out what's actually going on in the story Hannah's writing, it's difficult not to want to go back to the first of the novel and re-read it with this newfound perspective and even the most sophisticated teen readers will likely struggle with the past/present connection. As for characters, Taylor Markham is a complicated soul, but her goodness of heart, exterior toughness and her ultimate vulnerability will win the reader's heart. Hannah's relationship with Taylor is a continuing mystery and when you finally hit upon the truth the answer seems like it was always there. The war between the three factions is always riveting and their constant battles and increasing closeness is a beautiful testament to the power of friendship and comraderie. The novel tackles deeper themes and can be melancholy, but there are spots of humor and resiliency of character that lighten it's overall feel. There are bouts of strong language and casual teen sex makes an appearance so it's not for everyone. However, I loved the book for its complexity and for the masterful way Marchetta reveals the intricate threads that bind the characters to each other.
Significance: The title explores the journey adolescents take as they make their way through the perils of death and abandonment and learn to trust their peers while discovering the complex nature of family.
Personal Choice: My best friend raved about the book, so trusting her discerning taste I, along with my bookclub, had to give it a try we all thoroughly enjoyed it.
Awards: Printz Winner, 2009
No comments:
Post a Comment