Knowles writes fluidly, and though calebs and corinnes scenes shine, ellie and josh never engage enough to set jumping off swings apart in the genre. Yalsa best fiction for young adults nominee yalsa top 10 quick. While the story never completely succeeds in shedding its problemnovel tone, it is nonetheless finely. Absorbing from first page to last, this sensitively written novel explores how a teenagers crisis rocks her. The topic of jumping off swings has so much potential, but unfortunately jo knowles just doesnt quite have the necessary skills to present it believably and powerfully to the reader. Interview with jo knowles, author of lessons from a dead.
Absorbing from first page to last, this sensitively written novel explores how a. Jumping off swings just came out in paperback, so its time to. I always do a lousy job at describing my books, so heres my publishers description. From four points of view, this book relates the ramifications of a pregnancy. Jumping off swings by jo knowles new rochelle, ny patch.
So when josh, an eager virgin with a troubled home life, leads her from a party to the backseat of his van, ellie. About the author 2009 jo knowles is the author of the novel lessons from a dead girl, jumping off swings jo knowles, author. Jo knowles is the author of the young adult novels lessons from a dead girl, jumping off swings, pearl, and see you at harrys. Jumping off swings by jo knowles candlewick 2009 young adult 230 pgs told in four alternating viewpoints, jumping off swings by jo knowles moves the teens, who are caught in an unexpected situation, through various feeling states to a conclusionand does. Jo knowles makes a common story more interesting by presenting it from four different perspectives. As i would scan through twitter each day, i would see people talking about this book and the new companion book living with jackie chan. Download or read online this books in pdf, epub and mobi format. The blaring contrast between stable kids from loving families versus lost kids from dysfunctional families oversimplifies a complex subject. Find a library or download libby an app by overdrive.
Jumping off swings by jo knowles awards other books works cited books by jo books jo knowles. Readers looking for a realistic and emotionwrought book the subject will be pleased with jumping off swings. In her second work of fiction, jumping off swings, knowles also explores the surprisingly widereaching influence of a single event. I still have it on the top shelf of my bookcase behind the set of narnia books my dad sent me for my sixth birthday. Were delighted to welcome jo knowles to the ya authors cafe. I know and like author jo knowles, and i had already heard praise from some. Jo knowles makes a common story more interesting by. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read jumping off swings. It all adds up to a profound time of change in this poignant, sensitively written ya novel. Throughout the story you go through ellies pregnancy and how each of these characters feel as they try to help her. Jumping off swings by jo knowles, candlewick press.
This is the sequel to the book jumping off swings which has the back story of this book. Age 14 and upellie remembers how the boys kissed her. So when josh, an eager virgin with a troubled home life, leads her from a party to the backseat of his van, ellie follows. From four points of view, this book relates the ramifications of a pregnancy resulting from a onetime thing between ellie, who feels. Jumping off swings ebook by jo knowles rakuten kobo. The more i saw these two titles, the more i knew i had to read them. In the card, he promised wed have a long visit some summer and hed read the whole series to me.
If you want to find another book from jo knowles just type the title or author in the top search box. Its one of the most beautiful, most honest ya novels ive ever read and reminded me of judy blumes forever in the way it approached the full disclosure. Josh was affected emotionally by the baby, even if he never had to directly deal with him, and knowles really emphasized how the pregnancy changed ellie, even long after her baby was born. Jumping off swings is a book about love and sex and friendship, about loss of innocence and how we all survive it. Jumping off swings by knowles, jo and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Jumping off swings 2009, a contemporary novel for young adults by jo knowles, centers on a teenage girl who becomes pregnant after sleeping with numerous.
Knowles characters are believable and i liked how she presented ellie as making another choice when pregnant. Some of her awards include the pen new england childrens book discovery award, yalsas best fiction for young adults, yalsa quick picks top ten, yalsas popular paperbacks, international reading associations young. Jumping off swings by jo knowles covers a teenage pregnancy through the eyes of four characters. Interview with jo knowles, author of lessons from a dead girl and jumping off swings september 8, 2009 in the age of edgy ya, jo knowles has given us two books to devour. And because there are consequences for actions, its a great book to start discussions with teens about sex and relationships. In jo knowles s wellreceived first novel, lessons from a dead girl, the author examined how patterns of abuse and dysfunction formed in childhood can have unforeseen implications years down the road.
Jumping off swings touches on many interesting issues in this book including those involving sex, love, teen pregnancy, teens and families. Jumping off swings by jo knowles overdrive rakuten. The author alternates chapters between four interlocking characters who are thrown together by ones untimely pregnancy. Where the heart is, still a work in progress, read between the lines, living with jackie chan, jumping off swings, see you at harrys, pearl, lessons from a dead girl. Jumping off swings has proven to be one of those types of books that i recommend to students all the time. It starts with a boy named josh who is going to live with his uncle who loves karate and who has a big impact with him in this story. If robert cormier is her big example, then she still has a long way to go. The recipient of the 2005 pen new england childrens book discovery award, jo knowles lives in vermont. The book i read was called living with jackie chan by joe knowles. See the complete jumping off swings series book list in order, box sets or omnibus editions, and companion titles. While the story never completely succeeds in shedding its problem novel tone, it is nonetheless finely. Ellie the would be mother, corinne her best friend, caleb the nice guy whos had a crush on ellie, and josh, the would be father. Read jumping off swings by jo knowles available from rakuten kobo. The jumping off swings book series by jo knowles includes books jumping off swings and living with jackie chan.
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