Jumping Off Swings

Jumping Off Swings
By: Jo Knowles

Ellie remembers how the boys kissed her. Touched her. How they begged for more. And when she gave it to them, she felt loved. For awhile anyway. So when Josh, an eager virgin with a troubled home life, leads her from a party to the backseat of his van, Ellie follows.

But their "one-time thing" is far from perfect: Ellie gets pregnant. Josh reacts with shame and heartbreak, while their confidantes, Caleb and Corinne, deal with their own complex swirl of emotions. No matter what Ellie chooses, all four teenagers will be forced to grow up a little faster as a result.

Told alternately from each character’s point of view, this deeply insightful novel explores the aftershocks of the biggest decision of one fragile girl’s life — and the realities of leaving innocence behind.

summary from book

My Rating 3.5/5

I was very excited to read this book and am glad that I did. It's an emotional portrayal of a girl who strives to be loved and who will do almost anything with a boy to feel that way. I really enjoyed the narrative in this story. It alternates between Ellie, Josh (the two main characters) and their friends Corinne and Caleb. I've always been a big fan of alternating points of view because it allows you to read how other character's are feeling, what they're thinking and so on.

The problem however with Jumping Off Swings is that I found Corinne and Caleb's side story more interesting to read than Ellie and Josh's story. I also found that they had more chapters than Josh and Ellie did which I didn't quite understand because Ellie and Josh are really what the book is basically about, whom it surrounds.

One thing I would have liked was for some areas to hold more description. This book is very fast paced and quick although I think it packs a powerful punch for a shorter novel. Aside from at times wanting areas to be more descriptive, I have to say that I really did enjoy the writing in Jumping Off Swings. A lot of it is straight to the point and staccato which I've always enjoyed.

I really would recommend this book. It's entertaining and realistic. It doesn't hold back, and tells an honest portrayal of a teen pregnancy and how it affects the main character, as well as those surrounding her.