Review - Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

Readin'
Jellicoe Road
Melina Marchetta
HarperTeen
Pgs: 419
Ttl Rdg Time: 4hrs. 15 min.



Writin'
Taylor Lily Markham was just left by the second person she loved. At the age of 11, her mother left her at a 7/11 on Jellicoe Road. Now Hannah, who has taken care of her for the past 6 years, is gone and no one is giving her any answers. In the meantime, the "war" between the Townies, the Cadets, and the Jellicoe School is heating up and Taylor is being forced into leadership. Taylor starts reading the book Hannah was writing, hoping it will somehow make her feel more connected to the missing Hannah.

'Rithmetic
The beginning was a little confusing for me. I was trying to make connections between Taylor, the Cadet, and the four students on the side of the road. I was also a little distracted by Marchetta's use of "feral". I must say that I kept reading even through my confusion because the writing was entertaining and beautiful.

"And my House leaders used to flush my head down the toilet. Consequently, I'm going for a more pastoral approach." p. 78

"I recognise Santangelo's dad, who saves police brutality for when he gets to his son." p.92

"Yes, she lived in the same street as Jem and Scout Finch." p. 105

And then I understood what was going on. I noticed the formatting of the book. Marchetta's use of italics helped me understand what was happening now and what was from Hannah's book. Once I got that - things moved even faster for me!

The story kept me trying to guess what was going to happen and how things would come together. Although I was engrossed in the story, I kept writing down quotations that I thought signifyed the beauty of Marchetta's style.

"...he had spent the last two days not being able to look at her because her gaze was so sharp and focused that it pierced through him." p. 177

The budding romance, the building loyalty, and the unfolding mystery all add up to a wonderful story. I can't really tell much because the story is in the unraveling. Read it, you won't regret it. Recommended. Will buy for school library.

In My Mailbox - April 3 - Part 1

Ah. Time for me to tell you what books I received this week. This meme courtesy of The Story Siren. Check out her blog for more books and contests!

Bought:

Yes, I'm not supposed to being more books. I know. But I couldn't help it. Now I have my Powells.com virtual credit though so that will help for a month or two!

If I Stay by Gayle Forman
Willow by Julia Hoban

These two books were the talk of the YA blogosphere and were on my Waiting on Wednesdays posts. I will review them over on Book Blather rather than here though. I already finished If I Stay and will get to Willow soon.




Borrowed:

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles
Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta
Outside Beauty by Cynthia Kadohata

I got these from the library. Perfect Chemistry follows the age-old story of love with one person from the wrong side of the tracks. Let's see if Ms. Elkeles puts a new spin on it. Jellicoe Road won the Printz back in January 2009. I'm slowly working my way down that list. Outside Beauty is a new Cynthia Kadohata. I enjoyed Kira-Kira and Cracker! so hope to enjoy this one too!

Begged:
Queen of Cool by Cecil Castellucci
London Calling by Edward Bloor
SLOB by Ellen Potter
Five Minutes More by Darlene Ryan

The first two books I traded Wicked Lovely and Ink Exchange to a student to read over break and she's letting me read Queen of Cool and London Calling. I've read The Plain Janes and Boy Proof and loved them both. I've read Tangerine and Taken by Edward Bloor. Five Minutes More is courtesy of LibraryThing and I must say - I LOVED IT!

Coolest thing I received this week is the ARC of SLOB by Ellen Potter. I follow her on twitter - @ellenpotter8 - and asked for a copy to review. She SIGNED the ARC and sent a personal note. How cool is that!!! She is nerdtastically awesome and I can't wait to read this!

That's some of what I have! What do you have in your mailbox this week?