Ten Percent

Earlier this summer I went to a week-long writing workshop at the home of a local YA author. It was awesome. See, because I want to be a writer. And I feel like the workshop really helped cement that decision in me. And it helped me become a better writer and a more critical reader, which is an incredibly important aspect to writing. Anyway, before the workshop, in order to have a common medium for talking about things, we all read The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson. It's very thought-provoking, both in the story and the writing. At one point I was going to use it in one of my college essays, if that says anything, but that didn't end up working out. Anyway, tadaaaa!

The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson

Seventeen-year-old Jenna Fox has just woken up from a year-long coma that resulted from a car accident. She cannot remember the accident, and she cannot remember anything from before it. She doesn't recognize her mom, or her dad, or her grandma; she doesn't even recognize herself. They have given her family videos documenting her whole life, some of which begin to spark too-vivid memories, but there is something wrong. There is something wrong with the her parents' story, and there is something wrong with her. All Jenna wants is to live a normal life, to live her own life. And maybe to know the truth. What really happened the night of the accident? Are all these memories really hers? Whose voices scream for her help when no one is around? And who is Jenna Fox, really?

This is the kind of book that gets in your head and eats your brain for snack, and then you're just like ...Wait, what? I kid you not. It's blow-your-mind twisty (means it has twists, people; use your noggins). It's slightly futuristic, as in, it's not at all, but there are borderline sci-fi elements that can't be ignored. Very mysterious. Also, the idea that this book surrounds is just crazy. How on earth did Mary E. Pearson come up with it? I'm still getting little "aha!" moments from it, and I read it like... weeks ago. Anyways, like I said, this book is super thought-provoking and will leave your mind spinning for days. And, the characters are so interesting! Lily and Dane especially, if you ask me, though I was expecting more of a storyline for one of them (no, I won't tell you whom). And Jenna, of course. Watching her struggle with her conflicting needs to know the truth, protect herself, and save her loved ones is familiar, and seeing the choices she makes is inspiring. Also, I feel like this book is secretly about every teenager's uncertainty about who they are and if they're normal.
Another really interesting thing about this book is the writing style. Little chaptered scenes divided by (usually) single-paged, poetically-flowing snippets of thought, on slightly darker paper. And it's the kind of writing that is wonderfully easy to read, that just streams through your head like you're drinking it. A bit of a page-turner, too, but it just glides so easily, on and on and on like you're not even turning pages. The kind of book you could curl up in a chair and read in a day, without lifting your eyes to look out the window or getting up for a snack even once. You wouldn't notice the time passing, because it flows just as smoothly as the words.

As far as I know there is no movie, which is kind of good cause I really don't know how they would do that. Actually, scratch that. That would be incredibly easy for them to do. Obviously everyone should ignore me because I have no idea what I am talking about.

ThereisgonnabeasequelandIamsuperjuiced. It's coming out this August on the 30th!!!!!!!!! And it's called The Fox Inheritance. It's gonna be awwwwesommmmme.

Thanks to Deborah, for having the writing workshop, because it was an amazing week. And thanks to all the wonderful friends I made there. I don't want to name everyone, though I will say that one of the best non-writing activities I took part in was hot-actor-obsessing with Riley, Courtney, and Amy. Which was so much fun.

Recommendation: Technically, this is a YA book, but I know adults would like it, too. Let's say, anyone who likes some good thought-provoking sci-fi. Anyone who wants to be left with something to continue turning over in their mind for days afterwards. Moral dilemmas abound, so if you like those, go for it. And anyone who wants a book that they can just sink into and flow through, as easy as gliding down one of those lazy inner-tube rivers at a water park.