On the Jellicoe Road (2006)

This is the first book I've read that was recommended to me by Goodreads based on other books I've read. I have to say, Goodreads, I am impressed.

I struggled in the beginning to understand the dynamics of the school kids, the townies and the cadets. I was confused and it took a while to make sense. But I persevered and was the reward was so worth it!

On the Jellicoe Road is the story of Taylor, a teenaged girl who was abandoned at a 7/11 by her mother when she was 11. Taylor was taken in by Hannah, a mysterious woman who lives next to a boarding school in the bush. The book begins when Taylor starts year 12 at Jellicoe School and Hannah goes missing. Through this book, we unravel the mystery of Taylor, Hannah and the origins of the war between the kids of Jellicoe School, the townies and the cadets.

This is the best book I have read for quite some time. It is intriguing, compelling, compassionate, and profound. It is about relationships, loss, friendships, love and family. I just can't praise this book highly enough. ( )

I don't really have anything else to say that hasn't already been said. But I will say...this was amazing. It snuck up on me slowly and I didn't realize until I had read the last page when the first thing that came out of my mouth was a deep sigh and, "Wow." ( )

This book was absolutely amazing.
Seriously, everybody read it! ( )

Wow! Amazing! Two books in a row now that, for my emotional makeup and mood at the time, rank among the most powerful I've read so far. I'm developing a great deal of confidence in the Prinz award. The previous book I'm referring to is John Greene's Looking For Alaska. ( )

recommended for: fans of boarding school stories & orphan stories & stories that make you work to understand them

In some ways this book is brilliant and amazing, and I’m tempted to give it 5 stars, but for enjoyment value and overall, it was a solid 4 star book for me.

I love orphan stories and boarding school stories and this story fit the bill.

I’ve rarely read a book where felt so confused by what is going on while simultaneously enjoying it. It took a good ¼ to 1/3 the book to basically get what was going on and much further on to get all my questions answered, yet reading it was a satisfying and fun experience; I was more intrigued than frustrated as I read and tried to fathom what was going on.

I do think it screams out for a reread, and because I’m committed to reading other books and knew I wouldn’t be rereading this book in the near future, about ¾ the way through I went back and skimmed/read all the passages in italics in order to to bring myself up to speed. I think reading it for a second time would be even more enjoyable, but I did love most of it.

There is a completely engaging writing style and memorable, complicated characters, both very satisfying!

Some things I liked best: The parts about To Kill a Mockingbird were great; Mrs. Dubose was a character that always made a huge impression on me. The humor comes at opportune times in this story, in many places; I thought page 300 was particularly hilarious, and all the humor was so welcome because this story has components that are sad, tragic, scary, and otherwise dark.

Some things I liked least: The dream sequences (except for one at the end that I did love, especially the way it solved one of the mysteries) and the allusions to life beyond death were not, for the most part, my cup of tea. And, maybe just a bit too much happened; I liked it all as I was reading it, but when I got to the end, I don’t know how to explain it, but it felt too busy. Given how much pleasure I got from reading it, perhaps I’m wrong and perhaps just the right amount of content was included. The seemingly mandatory teen romance(s) that are in young adult books with teenage characters; I’d like to read just a few sans that plot point.

It’s definitely worth continuing to read as the reader is eventually let in on everything that’s going on and all the mysteries are solved.

4 to 4 ½ stars ( )