Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

Title: Jellicoe Road

Author: Melina Marchetta

Published: September 2008

Source: The Library

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Abandoned by her mother on Jellicoe Road when she was eleven, Taylor Markham, now seventeen, is finally being confronted with her past. But as the reluctant leader of her boarding school dorm, there isn't a lot of time for introspection. And while Hannah, the closest adult Taylor has to family, has disappeared, Jonah Griggs is back in town, moody stares and all.

In this absorbing story by Melina Marchetta, nothing is as it seems and every clue leads to more questions as Taylor tries to work out the connection between her mother dumping her, Hannah finding her then and her sudden departure now, a mysterious stranger who once whispered something in her ear, a boy in her dreams, five kids who lived on Jellicoe Road eighteen years ago, and the maddening and magnetic Jonah Griggs, who knows her better than she thinks he does. If Taylor can put together the pieces of her past, she might just be able to change her future. 

Jellicoe Road is probably the most original book that I've ever read. I've never read a book where I had no clue what was going on but still had to read it. I've never read a book that makes me care so much about five characters who are barely in the book. I've never read a book that makes me think so much trying to piece things together. I've never read a book like this one, and I loved every minute of it.

Don't be discouraged if you're a hundred pages into it and you still have no idea what's going on. It'll come. One thing that confused me was that the narrator in the prologue, is not the same person as the narrator of chapter one. Also, the prologue is important, so pay attention. Go back and read it once you have more of a handle on things.

Taylor (Hey, that's me!) was a really complex character. She had so many emotions and she knew what they were, most of the time. She had trouble knowing how she felt about people. She's good at making connections too. Her relationship with Jonah Griggs is odd, but works so well.

The territory wars are hard to understand, but really fun to read about once you do. They're kinda like a life size version of monopoly, with certain people owning certain places.

This book is really beautiful, and heartbreaking, and wonderful. And the ending. Oh the ending... If everyone reads this, I will be happy.
 
Here's a passage that really stuck out to me:

...And I figure that somewhere down the track we'll work out the right way of doing this but I don't want to let go, because tonight I'm not looking for anything more than being a part of him. Because being a part of him isn't just anything. It's kind of everything.  

 So basically: Everyone read this, right now.

Characters: 10/10
Writing: 10/10
Plot: 9/10
Originality: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Overall: 49/50