"Hold my hand because I might disappear."
"Instinct tells me to go to Hannah's, but she doesn't live there anymore and that's when I realize the major difference between my mother and Hannah. My mother deserted me at the 7-Eleven, hundred of kilometers away from home. Hannah, however, did the unforgivable. She deserted me in our own backyard."
Paperback: 43 pages Publisher: Harper Teen (9 March 2010) Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary Source: Bought
Rating; 
"Never,' he tells me in a tone full of ice, 'underestimate who or what I care for." My Thoughts - I wasn't even sure if I should write this review. The hesitance came from that fact that I had no idea how to form the words that could possibly explain the actual beauty and brilliance of this book. When I think of it a lump forms in my throat and I imagine this distant place called Jellicoe Road, a place I wish I could be a part of, and meet the wonderful people that reside there; the kind of people you come across once in a lifetime.
I've decided to do this. I'm attempting this even though everything is blurry as I write this which makes it all the more harder. It's exactly 4am and somehow I feel like I've just woken up. You know after I turned that last page and closed the book I felt peaceful, so why I am getting emotional whilst writing this review is strange to me too.
So lets go over the not so great news first. It will take you around 90 somethings - 100 pages to get into the book. Everything before all that is confusing and slow. But if you can bring yourself to trudge through those first 100 pages guys, then you will delve into heck of a treasure.
The only way to describe my personal reading experience is to let you know that I stopped functioning almost. The need for food was gone, the need for breaks was gone. I didn't get up once even though I was pretty sure I had ran out of tissues and panicked over the thought of having no more to use for bookmarking. Leaving the book did just not seem like an option though. I worked with what I had and only let myself take a deep breath when I felt chocked up, laughed, or sighed. And yes, I did all that. Let's just say I was lucky that I had tissues nearby because I would need them to bookmark countless pages throughout. Also I was lucky that I had my Laptop nearby because the perfect song, besides the book, would be the one thing to keep me company. * 1+1 by Beyonce, it's perfect for the book. Listen to it whilst you're reading it and you''ll see why* I'm not sure when I started reading. It's been a couple of hours though. So bring some snacks, tissues and anything else you might need because as soon as I cracked this book open I didn't move an inch. I kept reading, replaying the song, bookmarking; this became my whole routine. I breathed this book and completely fell in love. Just to let you know; I have been wowed the odd times like this in the past - through The Sky Is Everywhere and Thirteen Reasons Why but it's been a very long time since I've found that wonderful connection with a book again. Reading Jellicoe Road makes me slap away the reading slump I have been battling recently, and makes me look at treasures like these and ask myself; can I ever imagine ever missing out on this?
Audrey over at Holes In My Brain told me how fantastic this book was. We have very similar taste in books, and I completely trust her, so there was no question about it. I bought myself a copy. However, it took her recent, wonderful review to inspire me to stop thinking about review books for a second. To take a good look at my bookshelf and pick out a book that I have wanted to read for a long time. Jellicoe Road came to mind, and I am so glad that I went on a whim. Thanks for that hun.
For the first time I feel like I can't find it within me to elaborate on the plot or characters. But maybe it's better this way. Leaving as much a mystery as possible will only reward you with a greater reading experience as you peel away the layers of this book. Let me make another thing clear. The first 100 pages are worth it not only because the book is such gem, but because it's only after those 100 pages that things start to make sense and the links between the present and the past start to unfold. Also, you should know that every character held their own. At one point it felt as though history was repeating itself, only without all the loss, without all the tragedy. This time around it was almost like a second chance; they were better equipped and more prepared. This time they found that place that would ensure their togetherness, that would always be there.
All the characters are so lovely, mature and lovable. They all bring something unique to the table. And then you have the whole concept of the Townies, Cadets and the school leader being our MC Taylor. I could take you through the beauty of those 5 individuals who 18 years ago were young, alive, strong and in love. I could take you through how this whole concept of the Cadets and Townies first came, and how when I see Jonah, Chaz, Taylor, Jessa and Raffy - I see Tate, Narnie, Jude, Fritz and Webb.
I miss each and every one of them so much. I miss the thought of knowing that I will probably never read a book like this again. Knowing that it ended the only way that it could have, but in doing so wiped away any chance of a sequel. Oh, how I would love that sequel. I knew though when the end came that this is was the part where I took a different road and walked away from it all. That is always the hard part when you become attached; that is the hardest of all.
Jellicoe Road has taken me through a unique journey, and one I'm highly unlikely to forget. Maybe this review will give you that push to pick up your neglected copy of Jellicoe Road, or maybe it'll be just the thing you need to put the book on your radar, either way, that is more than enough for me. However, after I've posted this I know my greatest frustration will lie in knowing that I could never fully express how I felt about this book, how I can't give you that experience. That is the part that truly gets to me above else.
My review can't even come close to doing this book justice, I know that. And maybe when I wake up in the morning I'll read this and be horrified by all these jumbled up thoughts, and slightly embarrassed at this emotional me, but right now, it feels so right.
Oh and Jonah; my favourite. I'd watch out for that one girls. He's a mystery and a complete heart-breaker <3
"Chaz," Jonah Griggs says snidely. " Your mum wants you to smile." "And yours wants you to eat shit and die." I'm standing between these two intellectuals while the local photographer snaps away, asking us to say words like holiday and pornography. "Your's thinks you should loosen up," Griggs continues to bait. "Really?" "Yeah. She told me last night."
"Hey," I call out after Jonah Griggs. He stops with Anson Choi by a tree and leans against it, a ghost of a smile on his face. He looks pleased with himself and I give him that little moment of triumph before I get up close and slap him hard across the face.
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