I'm not sure how she does it so consistently, but Melina Marchetta has a talent for creating flawed yet compelling characters involved in plots with seriously dark aspects like death and broken families and yet not depressing the hell out of you. Jellicoe Road ranks at the top of my list for Printz winners for this very reason. I love flawed characters and I love that Marchetta still manages to make them funny, endearing and people you just can't help rooting for.

Taylor Markham has grown up at the Jellicoe Road school ever since her drug-addicted mother left her at a gas station when she was eleven. The story revolves around her adventures not only with those at her school but the kids from the military school and the nearby town. All three groups are involved in territorial wars and the first 100 pages or so of the book get confusing, especially as Marchetta weaves in the story of a previous generation of kids. It's worth it to read at least that far just because it takes awhile for her to weave the different parts into something really interesting. I loved it from about p.100 on and constantly thought about the characters anytime I wasn't reading it.

Sometimes young adult romance can get overblown and dramatic but the relationship that develops between Taylor and Jonah Griggs feels at once both real and completely adorable. It's easily one of my favorite romances in young adult lit because it deals with very dark subjects in a way that feels visceral and realistic and lovely. On the Jellicoe Road is a very well written and compelling young adult contemporary romance and I'd highly recommend it to any teen (or adult) interested in those genres.

I couldn't get into this book. I had a VERY hard time understanding the storyline and where the story was going. I was lost from the start. Maybe I'll go back to this one day and try again, but for now I am going to say I did not like it.