 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
The Adoration of Jenna Fox
- By Mary E. Pearson
- Genre: Science Fiction
Common Sense Media says
Amnesia's just the half of it for post-coma teen.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this sci-fi book includes some kissing between teens and violence that's mostly mentioned in flashback, including an epidemic and natural disaster that kills scores of people and a car accident that kills teens and lands one in a coma. One male student almost attacks the heroine, but help arrives on time.
What's the story?
When Jenna Fox wakes up from an 18-month coma, she remembers nothing, and she's in rural California in a broken-down house with her mother and grandmother instead of her home in Boston. All she has is every highlight of her old life on disc -- her life as the perfect daughter that her parents adored so much that deals were made to make sure they wouldn't lose her, even after an accident she wasn't supposed to survive. But once Jenna starts to unravel her parents' secrets, can she live with the decision they've made?
Is it any good?
This sci-fi story definitely gets you thinking. Not only about what kinds of ethical decisions humans will have to deal with in the future (way beyond cloning), but also about what the cost is of not letting go when it's time, both in the regular "empty nest" parent sense and the grieving sense. And all of that is wrapped in a taut mystery that Jenna dramatically unravels. Because of what Jenna's father does for a living, readers will be clued into the big secret way before Jenna is, but luckily there are more revelations in store.
Some of the characters in Jenna's new life seem too conveniently placed -- like her friend Allys with artificial limbs who volunteers for the medical ethics board, as well as both a love interest and a neighbor who have big secrets. But within Jenna's family, the tension feels real, and her grandmother is a great mediator between the strict order her parents try to maintain and the fierce need for independence of any 17-year-old. If the author followed today's trends, there would be hundreds more pages dedicated to Jenna's budding romance and her bickering with her mom. So it's refreshing that Pearson sticks to the heart of her story and leaves the rest to readers, whose imaginations will definitely still be reeling for days afterward.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about Jenna's parents. Do you think they made the right decision, even if it was against the law? What about Allys' parents? Teens, what would you do if you found out your parents were keeping such big secrets from you? Also, why do you think Lily told Jenna some of the things her parents tried to keep from her? Also, on a deeper level, do you think Jenna has a soul?
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- Teens & kids
AGE
A little sci fi, girl main character, but not a "girl"
Had some mild language that was unecessary and a character that was a bad guy/nemesis, but you never find out why.
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AGE
11+
I like it. I'm currently reading it and I only have 40 pages left. It's a pretty good book for anyone who likes sci fi
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AGE
I HAVENT FINISHED READING YET, BUT WHEN U FIRST START READING THE BOOK ITS HARD TO PUT IT DOWN, BUT AS YOU START GETTING TO THE END OF IT (where i am now) STARTS GETTING DIFFICULT TO KEEP READING. OTHER THAN THAT ITS A GOOD BOOK
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AGE
pretty good read for teens
this is a good sci-fi quick read, i rated it on for age 13 because younger kids may not understand it and the main character is a high-schooler
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Kid, 11 years old
April 6, 2011
AGE
Teen book
I read some of this book but I stopped cuz it got boring and confusing I would not recommend for my age
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Kid, 12 years old
May 21, 2011
AGE
I absolutly love this book acually I started writing my own story with twist and turns on my own adoration of jenna fox just the write combo of mystery action and every thing else
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AGE
waste of time
i don't mean to be rude but i think that this book is the most pointless book. if someone is only 10% human you will be dead, just because its the future doesn't mean that your going to be alive. sorry but its not going to happen
ohh also don't bother reading it, its a waist of time
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AGE
I think it gets students thinking about life and the value of it. It shows how parents will do anything to keep a child alive. It is well written and holds ones attention. Good characters.
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| Author: | Mary E. Pearson |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Science Fiction |
| Publisher: | Henry Holt & Company, Inc. |
| Publication date: | April 29, 2008 |
| Number of pages: | 265 |
| Hardcover price: | $16.95 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 13 - 17 |
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