The Adoration of Jenna Fox
Author: Mary E. Pearson
Publication: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) (April 29, 2008)
Product Description from Amazon: Who is Jenna Fox? Seventeen-year-old Jenna has been told that is her name. She has just awoken from a coma, they tell her, and she is still recovering from a terrible accident in which she was involved a year ago. But what happened before that? Jenna doesn't remember her life. Or does she? And are the memories really hers?
This fascinating novel represents a stunning new direction for acclaimed author Mary Pearson. Set in a near future America, it takes readers on an unforgettable journey through questions of bio-medical ethics and the nature of humanity. Mary Pearson's vividly drawn characters and masterful writing soar to a new level of sophistication.My Thoughts: This book was stunning and very thought-provoking. The language was both stark and lyrical. Told in the first person, we see the world through Jenna's eyes as she rediscovers it and rediscovers herself.
Here is her voice:
"The accident was over a year ago. I've been awake for two weeks. Over a year has vanished. I've gone from sixteen to seventeen. A second woman has been elected president. A twelfth planet has been named in the solar system. The last wild polar bear has died. Headline news that couldn't stir me. I slept through it all."
"I don't remember my mother, my father, or Lily. I don't remember that I once lived in Boston. I don't remember the accident. I don't remember Jenna Fox. Father says it will come in time. 'Time heals.' he says. I don't tell him that I don't know what time is."
As Jenna regains her memories more questions are raised than answered. Big questions like "what does it mean to be human?' and "what is too much to do for your child?' Jenna struggles to come to terms with the new her and we go along for the ride.
The book is easy to read and a fast read but it will stay with the thoughtful reader for a very long time. Check it out and never be the same again.
PS. I have included two different covers. Which one do you think is best for the book?
Great review! I thought it was fascinating too. Also, since you liked this, you should check out the Miles In Between also by Mary because it's great too. :) Oh, and I think both covers fit the book quite well in there different ways. Such as the paperback shows the feeling of Jenna having to put the pieces back together and the butterfly showing how she blooms in the novel. So, I can't really pick which one I like best for the novel.
ReplyDeleteGreat review! I've heard good things about this book, and I have to check it out. Having no real knowledge of the story I think I'd pick the second cover, simply because I think it's more eye-catching.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read the book yet, but I think I prefer the second cover with the puzzle pieces and the face. Unless butterflies are somehow relevant to the story, I'm not sure about the first cover...
ReplyDeleteI read this over break and really enjoyed it. I like both covers but for different reasons. The butterfly makes sense after you've read the book.
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