The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson

Pearson, Mary E. The Adoration of Jenna Fox. New York: NY: Henry Holt & Co. 2008. ISBN: 0-8050-7668-9.

Summary

Jenna Fox has just woken up from a coma. She lives with her mother, her father and her grandmother. Her grandmother seems to hate her, and she's not sure why. Her parents seem to be hiding something. Jenna's mother doesn't want her to leave the house. Jenna's memory is coming back, and she's remembering things she shouldn't, like her christening. Jenna can remember being a baby. At school, Jenna meets Allys who is part of a medical ethics committee. In their future world, medical science is unsure of the limits, so this ethics committee decides. Every person is allotted a certain number of points for their lifetime. More complicated procedures are worth more points. As Jenna learns about her accident, she wonders how many points did it take to fix her body? How much of her body is original and how much is manufactured by her dad's biotech company? Jenna begins to wonder if she should even be alive. And if she shouldn't, what does that mean for the rest of her illegal life? When Allys finds out, Jenna has to make decisions fast.

Evaluation

Told from the point of view of Jenna, the girl who is rebuilt by medical science, The Adoration of Jenna Fox is about valuing your own life against the values of society. Interestingly, the decision has already been made for Jenna so she must deal with the consequences of others' choices—a not uncommon scenario for kids and teens. Also, teens who are seeking a sense of self and identity will relate to Jenna's struggle. Interestingly, the book also implies another story—that of Jenna's parents who understandably value their daughter. Pearson forces readers to examine not only the choices they make for themselves but also the choices they make for others. Recommended.

Reader's Annotation

In a world where medical science makes everything possible, where does society draw the line? What if only 10 percent of your body was you? What if it was less? Does it matter which part? When Jenna is in a terrible accident, these are the decisions that her parents make for her and now Jenna has to live with them.

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness

Death, understanding or rejecting medical intervention

Why I choose it

If you liked the movie Gattica, you'll like this book.