Review – The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary Pearson
You can hear me blather on about The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary Pearson OR you can take my word for it that you should just drop everything and go read this book. I’d seen this book around and I was all, Mmhm, looks like a good book, I’ll pick it up later blah blah blah. But then finally, FINALLY, someone convinced me to go read it RIGHT THAT MOMENT. Hopefully I will do the same with you.
The Adoration of Jenna Fox takes place in the future when medicine is more advanced. Jenna Fox wakes up from an accident and doesn’t know where she is, doesn’t know what happened, and can’t even remember who she is. She has to rely on home movies her parents made from when she was a child until not long before the accident.
But what’s weird about this whole thing is Jenna has no friends and she’s not allowed to venture outside of the house.
WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON??!!
And it is from there that greatness is achieved in this book.
And it wasn’t just that it was a great story, though it really was a great story and really well written. I have no beef with either of those elements. It had great themes and it made me think and I think I tried to make out with the book. Err, scratch that last part.
How far would you go for someone you love? What are the pressures and expectations that parents put on their children? What kind of pressures do kids put on themselves? When does medicine go from helpful to harmful? When can someone make a choice for someone else? How far will a parent go for a child?
But with all the scenes, the birthdays, the lessons, the practices, the ordinary events that should have been left alone, what I remember most are Jenna’s eyes, flickering, hesitations, an urgent trying. That’s what I remember most from the discs, a desperation to stay on the pedestal. I see that in her eyes as much as I see their color. And now, in the passing of just a few weeks, I see things in faces I didn’t see before. I see Jenna, smiling laughing, chattering. And falling. When you are perfect, is there anywhere else to go? I ache for her like she is someone else. She is. I am not the perfect Jenna Fox anymore.
I loved this book, and I hope you go out and read it RIGHT NOW.
Rating: 95 out of 100
Other reviews:
Book source: I checked this book out from the library.
And one more thing? If you click on one of the The Adoration of Jenna Fox links and buy something from Amazon, I’ll make a commission! Mwahahahaha!! Maybe with the pennies I make I’ll be able to call someone who cares.
You can thank the FTC for this disclosure!
| Tags: Books, fiction, mary e. pearson, Reading, the adoration of jenna fox, young adult 27 comments »
November 5th, 2009 at 8:28 am
Ya convinced me. Requested!
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November 5th, 2009 at 9:19 am
I have this one checked out of the library right now, but I had forgotten what it was about since I added it to my list so long ago. Now you’ve got me excitied
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November 5th, 2009 at 9:51 am
I read this book earlier in the year and I really liked it, too! I am happy to see others enjoying it so much.
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November 5th, 2009 at 10:12 am
Excellent review … I think my daughter would love this book (and maybe I’ll read it too) … it’s now on the Xmas/Bday shopping list!
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November 5th, 2009 at 11:08 am
Sounds Excellent! Just requested it from the library!
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November 5th, 2009 at 11:17 am
alright, i’m in. my arm hurts from the twisting.
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November 5th, 2009 at 11:45 am
You’ve convinced me that I need to add this to my teetering TBR pile.
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November 5th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
Sounds like an amazing book! Your review has convinced me to add it to my list. Thanks!
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November 5th, 2009 at 4:04 pm
Very rarely does an excerpt from a book make me want to read it as much as the one you just chose. You’ve most definitely convinced me to add it to my to-read list.
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November 5th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
Just put this right on my Amazon wishlist no questions asked. It’s YA, sounds slightly dystopian-ish, and you got about as gushy as I’ve seen you get in a review. How can this book go wrong?
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November 5th, 2009 at 4:55 pm
You’ve convinced me! Next time I visit my library, I’m going to look for this one.
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November 5th, 2009 at 6:15 pm
I loved this one too!!! Very well written and really makes you think!!!
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November 5th, 2009 at 6:48 pm
LOL, I am reviewing this tomorrow.
It pulled me right out of my reading indecision.
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November 5th, 2009 at 8:01 pm
I am convinced. I already had this on my TBR list and now I have to put a star next to it and try to get to it faster!
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November 6th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
I’ll read it. And I like to make out with my books too.
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November 7th, 2009 at 12:08 am
[...] ~ The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary Pearson, reviewed by Trish at Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin’? [...]
November 8th, 2009 at 9:25 am
Sheesh – every time I see a review of this book, someone loves it. You’d think I would hurry up and read it already, wouldn’t you??
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November 8th, 2009 at 3:07 pm
Dang it, Trish! Between this book pulling Amy out of her funk and your first paragraph, I went and put this on hold from the library. I already have too many books out from the library! Plus I’m trying to get through review books AND I’m trying to make sure that 30% of my books this month are from my TBR pile for Swapna’s challenge. But noooo, you had to go and love this book, and make me want to read it!
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November 8th, 2009 at 5:44 pm
okay, i admit it. you forced me to put this on hold at the library. it’s all your fault. stop reading such good books!
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November 9th, 2009 at 6:20 am
I’m embarrassed to say that this book has been on my MP3 since the day it was published. Shame on me for not listening yet.
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November 9th, 2009 at 10:10 am
I picked this book up when I was not feeling well and was confined to spend the day resting. Just picked this up to see if it could hold my intrest turned out to be soo good that I finished reading it in one go. It was so captivating.
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November 10th, 2009 at 8:13 am
Rave review from Trish = automatically adding it to my wish list!
Actually I’ve had my eye on this one for awhile. Thanks for the review!
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November 11th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
Sounds great, thanks for the review! I love the sound of the futuristic psychological aspect of this combined with the universal themes you (so helpfully!) point out
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November 11th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
This sounds really good! Thanks for the review!
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November 12th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
Trish, I hope that book slapped you!
. Seriously, thanks for the review. xoxo
Okay, okay, I’m going to buy it, bossy lady
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November 23rd, 2009 at 8:05 pm
So I had seen this book on a lot of people’s blogs lately, but it didn’t seem interesting to me for some reason. Luckily, yours is the review that I ended up reading first. Now I think I have no choice but to read this … not sure if I’ll be picking it up immediately like you insisted, but I’m definitely adding it to my TBR pile and putting it near the top. Great review and I’m glad that you enjoyed the book so much. It sounds powerful.
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November 24th, 2009 at 10:55 am
I read this one last yearl and loved it! Here’s my link if you want it: http://www.savvyverseandwit.com/2008/07/to-adore.html
I’m adding your link to my post.
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