I still have it on the top shelf of my bookcase behind the set of narnia books my dad sent me for my sixth birthday. Living with jackie chan by jo knowles, paperback barnes. So when josh, an eager virgin with a troubled home life, leads her from. Families can talk about books and other media about teen pregnancy.
As a ninth grade english teacher, i am constantly prowling for books that are well written, with a compelling plot to keep the reader hooked. Jumping off swings by jo knowles covers a teenage pregnancy through the eyes of four characters. In an afterword, knowles writes that this companion to jumping off swings 2009 sprang from readers asking what happened to josh, whose onenight stand with ellie led to a baby given up for adoption. Some of her awards include the pen new england childrens book discovery award, yalsas best fiction for young adults, yalsa quick picks top ten, yalsas popular paperbacks, international reading associations. The book centers on a group of kids in high school. I turn it over in my hands and quickly look around before tucking it between two books and rushing to homeroom. I thought the author did a very good job portraying the chaos and confusion of teens having to deal with adult responsibilities before their time. We never really get to know our characters or why they behave the way they do. Caleb, in fact, has nursed a quiet crush on ellie for years and has been. See the complete jumping off swings series book list in order, box sets or omnibus editions, and companion titles. Jo knowles is the author of the young adult novels lessons from a dead girl, jumping off swings, pearl, and see you at harrys. Interview with jo knowles, author of lessons from a dead. Reviews of the jumping off swings until now with regards to the guide we have now jumping off swings feedback people havent but still left their particular writeup on.
Tells, from four points of view, the ramifications of a pregnancy resulting from a onetime thing between ellie, who feels loved when boys touch her, and josh, an eager virgin with a troubled home life. I climb out and adjust my clothes in the light, then slide the door shut. Lot 16 childrens kids books early readers beginning scholastic learn to read. You let go, you have just seconds to get in the stance to touch the ground. So when josh, an eager virgin with a troubled home life, leads her from a party to the backseat of his van, ellie. From four points of view, this book relates the ramifications of a pregnancy resulting from a onetime thing between ellie, who feels. Mar 16, 2010 jumping off swings ebook written by jo knowles. Lately ive been in the mood of trying different type of books. This is one of the most emotional books that i have read in a long time.
This is the case with jumping off swings by jo knowles. Absorbing from first page to last, this sensitively written novel explores how a teenagers. Told alternately from the perspective of four lifelong friends. Buy a cheap copy of jumping off swings book by jo knowles. Magic tree house set 55 books collection by mary pope osborne eb0kemailed. She ruffles my hair like she did when i was little, then heads off to bed. However, jumping off swings is quite a realistic look at an issue that many teens continue to face. The story is told from four points of view and highlights how mistakes and choices affect not only the people involved, but also close.
Jumping off swings has proven to be one of those types of books that i recommend to students all the time. Where the heart is, still a work in progress, read between the lines, living with jackie chan, jumping off swings, see you at harrys, pearl, lessons from a dead girl. Jumping off swings lexile find a book metametrics inc. Age 14 and upellie remembers how the boys kissed her. I lean against the cool metal and breathe in the clean night air. Interview with jo knowles, author of lessons from a dead girl. Knowles writes fluidly, and though calebs and corinnes scenes shine, ellie and josh never engage enough to set jumping off swings apart in the genre. A heartbreakingly honest, measured work of fiction about a teens unintended pregnancy is narrated in four voices in this latest from knowles lessons from a dead girl, 2007.
By the end of the novel readers not only like the 4 main characters, but they. After fathering a baby, a teenager moves in with his karateloving uncle and tries to come to terms with his guilt and find a way to forgive. The story ends with ellie walking through a grocery store and coming across a baby boy who looks like it might be hers. Jumping off swings, paperback by knowles, jo, like new used, free shipping in.
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. Reviews of the jumping off swings until now with regards to the guide we have now jumping off swings feedback people havent but still left their particular writeup on the overall game, or otherwise not read it but. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read jumping off swings. Jo knowles this is not your schools summer reading list. I try to brush off the hairs, but they cling to the cotton. Jumping off swings adventures of a blonde librarian. I have my higher level 9th graders read this as a novel study and they really like it. However, jumping off swings is one of the best books ive ever reada blunt, raw. In the companion novel to jumping off swings, a teen father tries to come to terms with the guilt. Books similar to living with jackie chan jumping off. I searched low and high for a longer summary but could only find the little blurb above. My favorite scene was when ellie sees the baby in the grocery store that might be hers. Im at my locker when i open my backpack and see it there, on top of my books.
Jumping off swings ebook by jo knowles rakuten kobo. Moms of passionate readers know that when teens read books that speak to the stories. August 11th, 2009 jumping off swings tells, from four points of view, the ramifications of a pregnancy resulting from a onetime thing between ellie, who feels loved when boys touch her and josh, an eager virgin with a troubled home life. It all adds up to a profound time of change in this poignant, sensitively written ya novel. It was a nice moment of closure for ellie to see that the baby was well taken care of and it assuaged.
Without parental support, teens are willing to try, or do, anything whether its good for them or not. Up at the house, indoor lights make the rooms look like theyre glowing. Although the vast majority of books that have lexile measures did not change, a small subset of books. Jumping off swings still certainly is a quick read meant for reluctant readers. As i read your book jumping off swings i was thinking thank god there are books like this out there for young readers. The blaring contrast between stable kids from loving families versus lost kids from dysfunctional families oversimplifies a complex subject. Jumping off swings, paperback by knowles, jo, brand new, free shipping in the us. Ellie finds out she is pregnant from a one night stand and she has to decide. What sets it most apart from the average pregnancy problem novel, however, is its uncertain ending. It took me about two hours to finish the book and i have to say for such a short novel, it certainly was a good read. Review the blurb for jumping off swings oversells the book, in my opinion. Just what we need another book like this about these darn kids today.
The hunger games, speak, ttyl, the perks of being a wallflower, harry potter, sex education, the geography club, rainbow boys, annie on my mind, the absolutely true diary of a parttime indian, a wrinkle in time, jacob have i loved, the chocolate war, jumping off swings, crank and others. Jumping off swings and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. It seems like most of the books im reading come from the advice of twitter. Ellie the would be mother, corinne her best friend, caleb the nice guy whos had a. Interview with jo knowles, author of lessons from a dead girl and jumping off swings september 8, 2009 in the age of edgy ya, jo knowles has given us two books to devour. Jumping off swings book midcontinent public library. A small envelope with my name written in blue capital letters. Jo knowles books together lessons from a dead girl, jumping off swings, pearl. Jumping off swings tells when it comes to facing the reality in life, and making hard decisions like choosing whether or not you want to keep your baby when youre so young, you must go through the grueling process of looking at whats led to you there and facing the truth about people you depend on. Josh was affected emotionally by the baby, even if he never had to directly deal with him, and knowles really emphasized how the pregnancy changed ellie, even long after her baby was born. Johanna knowles tells, from four points of view, the ramifications of a pregnancy resulting from a onetime thing between ellie, who feels loved when boys touch her, and josh, an eager virgin with a troubled home. Jumping off swings is an eye opener for teens and adults alike, and is a good book for parents of teens to read and discuss together. Read jumping off swings by jo knowles available from rakuten kobo. Sep 08, 2009 interview with jo knowles, author of lessons from a dead girl and jumping off swings september 8, 2009 in the age of edgy ya, jo knowles has given us two books to devour.
Did you ever make out in the walkin like ferns sister sarah did. This was a really wellwritten book about teenage pregnancy. The more i saw these two titles, the more i knew i had to read them. Ellie, josh and their respective best friends corinne and caleb have known each other since they were young kids playing together at the park. In the companion novel to jumping off swings, a teen father tries to come to terms with the guilt of his past and prepare for his quickly approaching future. As i would scan through twitter each day, i would see people talking about this book and the new companion book living with jackie chan. To say it was disappointing is a bit of an understatement. Mar 11, 2014 the blurb for jumping off swings oversells the book, in my opinion. There were multiple things i didnt like about this book. Although the vast majority of books that have lexile measures did not change, a small subset of books required updated lexile measures. Ellie the would be mother, corinne her best friend, caleb the nice guy whos had a crush on ellie, and josh, the would be father. As a mom it is hard to talk to my girls about certain issues, they are embarrassed or uncomfortable about taking about it or using certain words. Jumping off swings by jo knowles overdrive rakuten.
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