Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta - NO


Marchetta, Melina Jellicoe Road 419 pgs. Harper Teen

~Language PG-13, Sexual Content~PG-13 Violence~PG-13

MS/HS PUBLIC 

Jellicoe Road in Austrailia is the main character in this novel about finding who you are and the importance of family relationships. Taylor Markham, age seventeen, is the leader of a house of girls at a boarding school in Austrailia. Each Summer, the boarding school kids participate in territory wars with the Cadets (Summer camp attendees from the military academy in Sydney) and the Townies (kids from the local town.)

The novel begins with a flash-back that grabs the reader’s attention immediately, however, when chapter 1 begins it is slightly disorienting and it takes a few pages for the reader to orient themselves in the world of Taylor. There is a mystery embedded in the narrative that may initially cause confusion among readers, but those who stick with the storyline will be highly rewarded. I personally had a hard time wanting to stay with the story but I loved how it all came together. This title won the Michael L. Printz award for 2009. There are 2 sex scenes that are descriptive and sensual but not highly graphic. The swearing is scattered throughout narrative and includes 10-15 “f” and several “a**.” I would recommend letting the public libraries house this one.

Allison Madsen~Youth Services Librarian-SJO Public Librarian

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