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Tells, from four points of view, the ramifications of a pregnancy resulting from a "one-time thing" between Ellie, who feels loved when boys touch her, and Josh, an eager virgin with a troubled home life.
Told alternately from the perspective of four life-long friends: Caleb, Corrine, Josh and Ellie, Jumping Off Swings is a book that deals with the consequences of teen pregnancy - and the fact that it affects the life of everyone, not just the young mother. Parents, friends, teachers, classmates, the father, mother, the child - everyone. Ellie and Corinne has been friends since elementary school but Corinne has been worried about her beautiful friend ever since she started sleeping with guys and feeling heartbroken when it didn't lead to anything long-term. Sporting a massive crush on Ellie ever since second grade, Caleb is disgusted to find out his friend Josh not only slept with Ellie at a party but then left her and bragged about it to his friends afterwards. Now all four are caught up in the aftermath of depression, anger and scorn as Ellie discovers she is pregnant at 16.
This is a delicate topic all around and I felt like Jo Knowles handled it with all the acre it deserved. That said, I still wouldn't recommend it to just anyone: it was such a mature, emotional roller coaster which brought out so many feelings. It wasn't just a fluff story of a girl facing the scorn of family and friends while trying to decide what to do. There was very real character development. All four of the teens voices came across so clearly I understood the choices they made because I knew them. My only problem was I felt like every one of the teens portrayed had a terrible home life, minus one. Which of course can lead to someone making not so wise choices, but still, it seemed more than a little depressing at times.
I was a little unsettled about the relationship between Ellie and her mom however. Ellie basically goes through the whole book with some serious self-esteem/self-worth issues. Coming from a family that isn't exactly the most loving or touchy-feely, she has tried to find that fulfillment in the boys she dates. Okay, I get it: teenager doesn't feel loved (especially by parents) and so turns to boys at a young age. What I have a problem with is the face that even though her mother is basically MIA from her entire life at one point she and Ellie have sort of a kodak moment which seems to ask the reader to believe that even though their relationship has been non-existent up to this point, it will be better in the future. Personally, I really don't see that happening. It wasn't even that grand of a peace offering on her mother's part in the first place and I just felt that Ellie's pain was perhaps a little too serious for her mom's 'too little, too late' gesture. That said, Jo Knowles could have just been illustrating the point that these two completely opposite people will probably struggle to connect for their entire lives.
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8 out of 10 people found this review helpful.
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Posted January 23, 2012
I once jumpped off a swing... i brused my spine..... it wasnt fun....
6 out of 27 people found this review helpful.
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Posted December 3, 2011
Great book could not put it down it did a great job explaining things and it also explained how different things affect different people in different ways again great book would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a really good book i know i loved it.
5 out of 6 people found this review helpful.
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Posted January 2, 2012
I really love this book. As a foutreen year old who knows a girl who is pregnant, it really opened my eyes to the difficulty of going through teen pregnancy. This is a great book.
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Jumping Off Swings by Jo Knowles covers a teenage pregnancy through the eyes of four characters: Ellie the would be mother, Corinne her best friend, Caleb the nice guy who's had a crush on Ellie, and Josh, the would be father. Throughout the story you go through Ellie's pregnancy and how each of these characters feel as they try to help her through her ordeal.
I found it a very sombre story. Ellie just wants to feel and be loved. Although she's going about it the wrong way, as you read more into her character, you see her family isn't your typical loving one. As you figure out how her family really is, you understand and start to sympathize with her as the story progresses. I have to admit I didn't really have much patience for Ellie. I just felt like shaking my head and slapping her across the face and telling her to wake up, grow up and do the responsible thing whatever it is. On the other hand, she's extremely scared. This sort of thing is very life changing, so her behaviour is understandable.
The plot flows well throughout this story, each chapter is told in each of the character's perspective so you have a glimpse of how they live and they problems and issues they face even though it's all centralized with Ellie. I can't help but think this is like one of those made for TV after school specials for teens. It sure seems that way when I was reading this book. However, it does the job of engrossing me and kept me turning the pages to read on. Most of the time you just feel so sad for Ellie and what she's going through (once your initial anger phase goes away). I changed my mind about her more than halfway through the book and realized that she indeed is a very brave person to go through her decisions regarding her baby.
The only thing that irks me is Josh. I don't know how the rest of the guys feel when they're having an unexpected surprise spring on them by a girlfriend. I suppose the pessimistic side of me expects them to just take a hike and leave. Although I know most guys probably aren't that way, you just hear about the bad ones more. So I'm not sure if Josh as a character is realistic but that's just me. You would think most guys would run away at the sound of "baby" and "yours" put together.
Other than that, I thought all characters had a sense of realism to them. They weren't the cookie cutter ones you read in some of those teen books where everything is perfect. They each have their issues and problems too. It makes the characters almost "three dimensional" so to speak. The ending leaves with a sombre note too, but with a sense of optimism for some of the characters.
Overall a good sombre, serious read, but a satisfying one.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Posted January 4, 2012
Great book read it in one night couldn't put it down!!
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Posted December 3, 2011
Omigoosh this is a really good book. I read it in 2days.it is so hardvto put it down onve youve started
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Posted June 2, 2012
I could't put this book down. I loved how it was told from four different characters point of view. That was interesting to know how different people viewed how Ellie got pregnant. The story was so good and amazing. I cried at the end. The ending was so sad! But it made the book good. I recommend this!!!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted May 25, 2012
Idont read a lot but this is a very good book. Very detailed i can connect with each character and see everything as i am there. I will totally recommend this book.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted May 14, 2012
Love this book. I read it in less than a day. Now all of my friends are reading it and loving it also.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted April 16, 2012
Im only 13 ( not prego) haha... but i when i was reading this book i pictured myself in her place(: this book is by far the best book ive ever read in my entire life.. i love it and if your not a very good reader and it takes you forever just read this book, i finished it in 1 and a half days! It was amazing, so touching, sad, cute, enspiring all in one!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted April 16, 2012
This was a great book that really just gets you into it&emotional. I couldn't put it down!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted April 11, 2012
This book is just. Wow. There are no words to describe how great it is...I just wish the book ended a little different..
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted April 6, 2012
Jo Knowles' writing is simple and inviting. Yet the exploration of themes, and emotions of each of her characters is skillfully done.
The book is about connection, or disconnection in most cases, communication and lack of communication. It also explores what it is like to feel all alone, ostracized and misunderstood by society, or the peer-normal world.One night two young people are together in a car. Afterward the boy brags about the act to please his friends. The girl sinks into depression as she didn't get the loving relationship she thought she would get.Through Knowles writing, we get to see how these actions affect the two young people, their best friends and their parents. We also see the critical need for a loving adult figure in a teen's life.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted March 17, 2012
I really liked this book, i felt like i could relate well to ellie since i got pregnant as a teen, this book made tear up several times, it is however a very short read like i feel they could have at least added an extra 50 pages to it, but i liked how it had differemt views on the situation other then just the girl who is pregnant, i thought that was pretty neat
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted December 29, 2011
The moment I read this book I couldn't put it down. It was actually one of my fastest books in a long time. I liked every second of it; the different point of views, Caleb's love for Ellie turning into something for Corinne. To me it shows the way that some of us teens act today, which makes it realistic with people's words and actions. The ending wasn't truly happy, but it makes you hope that there's something good out there for Ellie.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted December 29, 2011
I read this book not too long ago and it turned out to be the best book in the work i hope she write another like this i would love to read it
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted December 27, 2011
Ive only read the sample and so fa its good. I think that most teens could relate to many of these problems.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted December 26, 2011
I recommend this book to teens its such a great book!(:
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted December 2, 2011
This was a really really good book to begin with. I really enjoyed the authors writing style and discriptions. Althought i have to say i hated the ending of this book sooo much!!!!! I think it took so much away from the story. Its a good book to rent from somewhere and read but i wouldnt recolmmend buying it. Your just wasting your money on nothing
1 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
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Overview
Tells, from four points of view, the ramifications of a pregnancy resulting from a "one-time thing" between Ellie, who feels loved when boys touch her, and Josh, an eager virgin with a troubled home life.