Parents' Guide to

The Adoration of Jenna Fox: The Jenna Fox Chronicles, Book 1

By Carrie R. Wheadon, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Amnesia's just the half of it for post-coma teen.

Book Mary E. Pearson Science Fiction 2008
The Adoration of Jenna Fox: The Jenna Fox Chronicles, Book 1 Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

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age 13+

Based on 9 parent reviews

mj15
mj15 Adult
July 11, 2019
age 14+

Best Teen scifi

I've always been a scifi nerd and loved everything about it. But Jenna Fox connected with me. It was raw,interesting,thought provoking, and a very entertaining can't put it down kinda book. Their is swearing, making out, and talk about drugs and violence. However it's nothing a high school or older student can't handle and it's worth reading.

This title has:

Great role models
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
Nathalie G.
Nathalie G. Adult
December 19, 2017
age 12+

Sci-fi with Female Protagonist? I'm in!

This book will really keep kids on their toes and wondering about what is actually happening to Jenna and her family. Wonderful book for discussion about sacrifices and about the potential risks of "miracle" technologies. As a middle school English teacher, I recommend this book all the time to my students who enjoy mysteries or drama. While this book may not have a lot of explicit positive messages, the message does revolve around the weight of decisions and their consequences, which is definitely a salient topic for teens and families alike. As far as Jenna being a positive role model....well, she's a representation of a teenager in a high-stress situation, so take her actions with a grain of salt.

This title has:

Great messages
See all 9 parent reviews

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?

Our review:
Parents say (9):
Kids say (20):

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.

Talk to Your Kids 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?

Book Details

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