Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

Last Tuesday after work, I pulled into the driveway, planning to hurry inside, turn on my computer and "go" to class. Instead, I found a tree lying across the path to the front door -- the power line under it, and all of the electrical wiring ripped off of the side of the house. No power. No internet.

So, I skipped class, got out my little battery powered reading light and curled up in bed with Jellicoe Road.

I'm going to skip my usual plot summary here (see Worldcat if you're curious), because the plot is just too complicated to describe without accidentally revealing spoilers, but it's typical Marchetta -- realistically complex teen characters in complicted relationships (with each other and with the adults around them).

And of course, I loved it. I'll admit that I found it a little harder to get into than Saving Francesca -- though I kept getting distracted by my book light, so that may have been part of the problem -- but once I got into it, I was completely hooked. Marchetta has a gift for characterization; her heroines are strong but unique, and I always find myself falling a little bit in love with her heroes.

Highly recommended -- especially if you enjoyed Saving Francesca and Looking for Alibrandi. I'd also recommend Marchetta's books to teens (and adults) who enjoy Sarah Dessen's novels.

Other reviews: A Reading Odyssey, Never Jam Today, Random Thoughts by a Random Teen, Book Divas, Chicklish