The Adoration of Jenna Fox (3 stars)

The Adoration of Jenna Fox
Mary E. Pearson
266 pages

       This book was ok. It was suggested to me by my biology teacher, who requested that the entire class read it as it deals with biomedical ethics and science. The book is about a girl named Jenna Fox, who awakens from a year long coma with no memory. Her parents won't tell her anything about the accident, and she has to find out what has happened. The story line was really great and original. However, the writing is choppy and takes some getting used to. The choppiness could be partially due to the fact that the plot is revealed through Jenna's thoughts, and she is still regaining her memory. All in all, it wasn't very good. I really liked the scientific aspect of it, and I wish that the author had expanded on that. I would recommend this book purely because of how interesting the material was. Happy Reading!


Sincerely,

Word Girl Paige

Russian Winter By Daphne Kalotay (4 stars)

Russian Winter
Daphne Kalotay
480 pages
Teen-adult appropriate

Russian Winter is about Russian ballerina who has defected to the United States. Half of it is set in the past, in the ballerina's prime in Russia, and half is set in the present, when the ballerina is retired and auctioning off her jewels to benefit the Boston Ballet. Every other chapter switches. I liked this book, but probably because it had a ballerina in it and because the Russian aspect was interesting. While I was reading it, I was transported inside the book. The language was very descriptive and well written. The happiness of her past is juxtaposed with the pain and loss of the present in each alternating chapter. There is a subplot of a scholar who seems to know Nina (the ballerina) and a young women who is managing Nina's jewels. It is a long read, but it is worth it. The imagery is fantastic, and you feel all of the emotions that the characters feel. I was truly transported to another world. I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in ballet, soviet Russia, or just plain likes to read for fun. Go forth and read it!

~ word girl Paige