The Adoration of Jenna Fox

The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson

Seventeen-year-old Jenna Fox has just awaken from a year- long coma-so she’s been told- and she is still recovering from the terrible accident that caused it. But what happened before that? She has been given home movies chronicling her entire life, which spark memories to surface. But are the memories really hers? And why won’t anyone in her family talk about the accident? Jenna is becoming more curious. But she is also afraid of what she may find out if she ever gets up the courage to ask her questions.

What happened to Jenna Fox? And who is she, really?

My review:

This is one of my absolute favorite books, the whole set up is spectacular, and the protagonist has such a unique view of her life, watching it all back on tape.

I wouldn’t categorize this as a dysopian era book, but readers of Westerfeld’s Uglies will really get a kick out of this one!

From the beginning you will sort of have a lock on what happened to Jenna, but hearing it won’t make the facts any easier to swallow and understand, you will still feel the kick and throw, even if you had her pegged from page one. The plot twists behind the accident are really the ones you won’t see coming, they remind me of tidal waves, you can’t get your head out of the water before the next one envelopes you.

I am recommending this book specifically to those who want a book with a worth-while ending. If you love a book that ties up loose endings, and gives you a nostalgic and peaceful aura at the end this is the book for you! One of the best conclusions I’ve ever read from a YA author, and in fact, Pearson didn’t intend to write it in the first place, her characters and their story took over, which really is the secret to a wonderful written work in my book.

Thoughts on the cover: Both are spectacular! The Puzzle piece and the Butterfly covers are brilliant, I have the puzzle piece cover, but would love a Butterfly edition as well. The blue scheme is fantastic! None of the cover space was wasted, the choices are essential to the story and only make the secrets that much more inviting.

Notes on the names: I have this secret love for the name Jennifer, it’s true! I would never use it, I mean everyone else already has, but all Jen names are so pretty to me and Jenna Fox is very spunky and personalized. Ethan is another classic choice, I liked the use of these popular choices, it made it easier for me to recognize that we were reading from the present day. To get a good look at how Jenna’s name affects her, here is the first paragraph from the book-

“I use to be someone.

Someone named Jenna Fox.

That’s what they tell me. But I am more than a name. More than they tell me. More than the facts and statistics they fill me with. More than the video clips they make me watch. More. But I’m not sure what.”