<h3>Jellicoe Road</h3>

Marchetta, M. (2006). Jellicoe Road. NY: Harper Collins. ISBN: 9780061431838.

Plot Summary: Taylor Markham is not very popular. She is unpredictable, has no people skills and doesn’t show up to meetings. Then there was the incident when she ran off in search of her mother and only got halfway there. But she's lived at Jellicoe School most of her life and as leader of the boarding school residents, that's her greatest asset. Especially now that the cadets, led by the infamous Jonah Griggs, have arrived. The territory wars between the boarders, townies and cadets are about to recommence. But Taylor has other things on her mind; a prayer tree, the hermit who whispered in her ear, and a vaguely familiar drawing in the local police station. Taylor wants to understand the mystery of her own past. Hannah, the woman who found her when she was abandoned as a child, has suddenly disappeared, leaving nothing but an unfinished manuscript about five kids whose lives entwined twenty years ago on the Jellicoe Road.

Critical Evaluation:
This book is heartbreakingly sad, but also beautiful in its sense of hope by the end of the story. It requires patience, as the narrative progresses at a convoluted and measured pace, which can frustrate teen readers. If they are willing to stick with it until half way through, the story becomes more cohesive and we learn how intertwined and personal the five students’ lives are to each other. The writing is fluid and the story is intricate, but it’s amazing in its ability to convey the concepts of love, loss, secrets and reconciliation between the past and present. A good, challenging read for teens who are ready for something new.

Reader’s Annotation:
Taylor Markham is seventeen years old. Her mother abandoned her on Jellicoe Road when she was eleven. Hannah, the adult closest to her, has disappeared and Jonah Griggs, the boy from her past, is back in town. What is the difference between a trip and journey? Read Jellicoe Road to discover a journey that you will not want to miss.

Information About the Author:
Melina Marchetta was born in Sydney in 1965. She left school at age fifteen and enrolled in a business school where she gained useful office skills, such as typing, which helped her gain employment with The Commonwealth Bank of Australia and later at a travel agency where she worked as a consultant. Returning to school for a teaching degree, she then began teaching at St. Mary's Cathedral College until 2006. Jellicoe Road, first published in Australia, won the 2009 Michael L. Printz award for excellence in young adult literature.

Genre:
Teen Issues: Crime and Criminals, Homelessness and Foster Living
Contemporary Life: Coming of Age
Mystery: Suspense

Curriculum Ties: English class, Psychology class, Book clubs, Social clubs

Booktalking Ideas:
1.) The symbolic value of Jellicoe Road and the prayer tree
2.) What Hannah represents to Taylor
3.) The role of dreams and visions in the novel
4.) Taylor in love and how it’s different from Tate in love
5.) The depth of love and loss in the book

Reading Level/Interest Age: Ages 17 - adult

Challenge Issues/Defenses:

Potential Challenges:
• Adult Language
• References to Sex
• Violence

Defense Strategy:
• Provide our Collection Development Policy (which includes Young Adult scope): http://ww2.cityofpasadena.net/library/collection.asp

• Refer to recognitions received by reputable organizations:
http://www.harperteen.com/books/9780061431838/Jellicoe_Road/index.aspx

• Provide book reviews by actual readers on a publicly accessible website:
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Jellicoe-Road/Melina-Marchetta/e/9780061431838

• Provide book club discussion questions used to address issues and book content:
files.harpercollins.com/PDF/ReadingGuides/0061431834.pdf

Why This Book Was Included: A book full of poetic moments and deep emotional qualities. The writing style differs from most young adult books and it’s challenging to progress through the setup in the early half of the book, but it’s a worthwhile story for older teens who want an engrossing book that can be read and reread. I’m glad to have found a few new authors who aren’t American and can add a different approach to young adult literature.