A super fast paced story, read in it's entirety in about 3 hours. So fast paced that huge gaps are missing and there is not real exploration of emotion and minimal character development. While I imagine the story is meant to serve as a bit of a cautionary tale for teens, the clean resolution and happily ever after ending take away from that. A good story, that had potential for being a good book.
Wow! This is a very open, honest look at life as an at-risk teen. It is very emotional, yet at the same time lets you stand above it all and see the whole train wreck as it comes along. This book totally reflects the world as it is today. I wanted to just tell them all to not be in such a hurry to be grown-up and having sex.
My Thoughts: Jumping Off Swings is the story of Ellie, Josh, Caleb, and Corinne. It is told in alternating viewpoints. I thought that would bug me but it didn't. It was evident whose thoughts we were experimenting which is great. It was easy to follow. Each character wants something. We meet Ellie who just wants everyone to like her, to even love her. She wants to be accepted. We meet Josh who just wants to be cool. He was a virgin and he just wants all the guys to respect him. We meet Caleb who...more My Thoughts: Jumping Off Swings is the story of Ellie, Josh, Caleb, and Corinne. It is told in alternating viewpoints. I thought that would bug me but it didn't. It was evident whose thoughts we were experimenting which is great. It was easy to follow. Each character wants something. We meet Ellie who just wants everyone to like her, to even love her. She wants to be accepted. We meet Josh who just wants to be cool. He was a virgin and he just wants all the guys to respect him. We meet Caleb who seems like a nice guy overall. Than we meet Corinne who is Ellie's best friend. She was a pretty good friend throughout the book. Ellie starts to hook up with a bunch of guys and they all leave her feeling the same way. Used and unloved. Than the unthinkable happens. She gets pregnant!!! We see the story through their viewpoints and learn how each person feels. I won't say much else or you will get spoilers. Great story, beautifully written.
Overall: Interesting and kept my attention. I know a lot of girls go through what Ellie did. Its rough today. I think all teens should read this, rather they are thinking about making love or just want to know what happens to Ellie. There are a lot of emotions in this book! Some smiles, some tears, some oh nos! whats going to happen? I feel for Ellie. I really do. I was 100% happy with the ending, but that is probably because I like the cookie cutter great ending. Most of the time that isn't realistic though. Overall, it was a great story about loss, love, emotions, pregnancy, boys, girls, etc
Overall: Interesting and kept my attention. I know a lot of girls go through what Ellie did. Its rough today. I think all teens should read this, rather they are thinking about making love or just want to know what happens to Ellie. There are a lot of emotions in this book! Some smiles, some tears, some oh nos! whats going to happen? I feel for Ellie. I really do. I was 100% happy with the ending, but that is probably because I like the cookie cutter great ending. Most of the time that isn't realistic though. Overall, it was a great story about loss, love, emotions, pregnancy, boys, girls, etc
Reviewed by Allison Fraclose for TeensReadToo.com
Ellie doesn't wonder why she keeps ending up in the same situation with so many guys. She knows that she likes the way they touch her and treat her like she's special, and each time, she hopes that she'll end up with someone who can love her.
But she only ends up heartbroken, and, after the last time with fumbling virgin, Josh, she ends up with much more than just the emotional aftereffects of a one night stand. A baby is now on the way, and Ellie can't hide the evidence of who she is any longer, since it's popping from her belly for all to see.
Josh had been promised by his friends that there'd be no strings attached with Ellie. However, he can't get over the way she looked at him when he left her there in his father's van. He knows he screwed up, and, now, he's sure of it. Even though he hasn't spoken to Ellie since, the baby that he is destined to never see will haunt him forever, no matter what Ellie decides to do.
For Caleb, Josh's best friend, Ellie's pregnancy turns his feelings for his friends upside down. He can't believe what jerks Josh and the others have been to the girl he's loved since the first grade, but, at the same time, he manages to be the confidant and provide solace to Josh, Ellie, and Ellie's best friend, Corrine.
As one used to picking up the pieces of her friend's bad decisions, Corrine does her best to push Ellie to make the right choices, but even she can only do so much while Ellie deals with her own emotions. As Corrine and Caleb grow closer despite the situation surrounding them, Corrine tries to protect Ellie as best she can from those who only see her for the mistake she made.
This emotional journey takes us right into the minds of these four characters as they all react in their own manner to the most delicate of situations. Full of heart-wrenching turmoil and tricky social balance, the author does an excellent job of showing us the most of these narrators with as few words as possible.
Ellie doesn't wonder why she keeps ending up in the same situation with so many guys. She knows that she likes the way they touch her and treat her like she's special, and each time, she hopes that she'll end up with someone who can love her.
But she only ends up heartbroken, and, after the last time with fumbling virgin, Josh, she ends up with much more than just the emotional aftereffects of a one night stand. A baby is now on the way, and Ellie can't hide the evidence of who she is any longer, since it's popping from her belly for all to see.
Josh had been promised by his friends that there'd be no strings attached with Ellie. However, he can't get over the way she looked at him when he left her there in his father's van. He knows he screwed up, and, now, he's sure of it. Even though he hasn't spoken to Ellie since, the baby that he is destined to never see will haunt him forever, no matter what Ellie decides to do.
For Caleb, Josh's best friend, Ellie's pregnancy turns his feelings for his friends upside down. He can't believe what jerks Josh and the others have been to the girl he's loved since the first grade, but, at the same time, he manages to be the confidant and provide solace to Josh, Ellie, and Ellie's best friend, Corrine.
As one used to picking up the pieces of her friend's bad decisions, Corrine does her best to push Ellie to make the right choices, but even she can only do so much while Ellie deals with her own emotions. As Corrine and Caleb grow closer despite the situation surrounding them, Corrine tries to protect Ellie as best she can from those who only see her for the mistake she made.
This emotional journey takes us right into the minds of these four characters as they all react in their own manner to the most delicate of situations. Full of heart-wrenching turmoil and tricky social balance, the author does an excellent job of showing us the most of these narrators with as few words as possible.
