Review: The Adoraton of Jenna Fox (Jenna Fox Chronicles #1)

Title: The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson
Published: April 29, 2008 by Herny Holt and Co.
Source: Library
Grade Rating: A-

Who is Jenna Fox? Seventeen-year-old Jenna has been told that is her name. She has just awoken from a coma, they tell her, and she is still recovering from a terrible accident in which she was involved a year ago. But what happened before that? Jenna doesn't remember her life. Or does she? And are the memories really hers?

This fascinating novel represents a stunning new direction for acclaimed author Mary Pearson. Set in a near future America, it takes readers on an unforgettable journey through questions of bio-medical ethics and the nature of humanity. Mary Pearson's vividly drawn characters and masterful writing soar to a new level of sophistication.

Review

I have been thinking about this novel from the moment I started reading it, until the moment I finished it.  It's one of those books that stays with you for a while.  In the spirit of not giving all the mystery away, I'll attempt to do a spoil free review.  The novel is a mix of a medical thriller, a view of a not to far future with a bit of mystery for good measure. It is told from Jenna's perspective. She is told by her parents that she has been in a coma for 18 months, after an accident.  Upon awakening Jenna doesn't remember anything and we are taken into a ride, as Jenna not only remembers, but pieces together the mystery that now surrounds her life.

The characterization of the story is wonderful, and the plot is magnificent.  It makes you ask yourself the same question over and over "How far would you go to save someone you love?"  I understood Jenna and the internal and external conflict she was going though, but I was not able to really identify myself with her (and frankly I wouldn't want to be in her shoes!)  The other characters were also likable and felt 'real'.   Even though you think you have some of the mystery figured out, in the end the twists and turns are somewhat unpredictable.

After finishing the novel, I was surprised to find out that there is part of a series.  'The Fox Inheritance'  that will be published on August of this year.  I hope you give this amazing book a try.

About the cover:  The cover is a little off-putting for me.  After reading the book you get the significance of the hand, the butterfly and the color blue.