Review: Living with Jackie Chan by Jo Knowles

Title: Living with Jackie Chan (Jumping Off Swings #2)
Author: Jo Knowles
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Release date: September 10th 2013
Pages: 384
Genre: Young Adult contemporary
Source: BEA - I received a free advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thanks!
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This isn’t how Josh expected to spend senior year. He thought he’d be hanging out with his best friends, Dave and Caleb, driving around, partying, just like always. But here he is, miles from home — new school, new life, living with his Jackie-Chan-obsessed uncle, Larry, and trying to forget. But Josh can’t forget. So many things bring back memories of last year and the night that changed everything. Every day the pain, the shame, and the just not knowing are never far from his thoughts. Why is he such a loser? How could he have done what he did? He finds some moments of peace when he practices karate with Stella, the girl upstairs and his one real friend. As they move together through the katas, Josh feels connected in a way he has never felt before. He wonders if they could be more than friends, but Stella’s jealous boyfriend will make sure that doesn’t happen. And maybe it doesn’t matter. If Stella knew the truth, would she still think he was a True Karate Man?

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Jo Knowles is one of my all-time favorite authors, and she's proven why with Living with Jackie Chan. Jumping Off Swings was my favorite of Knowles's books, so I was ecstatic when I heard that we would get to revisit one of Jumping Off Swings's main characters in this companion novel. And while I didn't love it quite as much as Jumping Off Swings, Living with Jackie Chan is another great one from Jo Knowles!

The writing is always what's best about Jo Knowles's novels, and Living with Jackie Chan is no exception. Jo Knowles can create an atmosphere like no other - no matter what the theme, I feel like I could just burst out crying any second, because the words always convey such strong emotions. For most of the novel, though, I didn't even know if I wanted to cry out of sadness or out of happiness - Jo Knowles's writing is full of ALL OF THE FEELINGS. I don't even know what it is about the writing, but it's so full of THINGS, of life, and it simultaneously makes me want to cry and never stop, and hug everyone in my proximity. So basically, it turns me into a crazy person. In a good way. (Sorry about the incoherence. This is what Jo Knowles DOES TO ME, OKAY!!?)

I was a little disappointed when I heard that not all of the characters I loved in Jumping Off Swings would be returning as narrators, but now that I've read the novel, I really appreciate seeing only Josh live in another town, with different people. Because these people are awesome. Josh is living with his uncle Larry, who is kind of a nutcase, but a very lovable one at that. I really liked the developments in the family storyline. And then there's Stella, whom I loved. I could see some readers being disappointed by the lack of romance, but I for one loved Josh's and Stella's relationship just like this. I really appreciated the focus on friendship in this novel. Anyways, I loved the cast of characters in Living with Jackie Chan - they're all fully-developed and engaging.

I'm not sure what to say about the plot, because there really isn't that much of a plot; this is a very character-driven novel. I could see some readers having a problem with this - you could definitely complain that nothing happens. There really isn't much of one set topic, but I really liked it that way; this is simply Josh's story, evolving naturally instead of creating drama for the reader, something I really appreciated.

This is a must-read for fans of Jumping Off Swings. And if you haven't read Jumping Off Swings - along with the rest of Jo Knowles's novels - WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH YOUR LIFE??? Read them all. Now. Anyways. With evocative, atmospheric writing and flawed and relatable characters, Living with Jackie Chan is an honest and emotional story of learning to love your family, your friends, and yourself. 

Review: See You at Harry's by Jo Knowles

Title: See You at Harry's
Author: Jo Knowles
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Release date: May 8th 2012
Pages: 320
Genre: MG; contemporary
Source: NetGalley - thank you to Candlewick and NetGalley for providing a free eGalley of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Find out more: Amazon | Goodreads


Goodreads description:

Twelve-year-old Fern feels invisible. It seems as though everyone in her family has better things to do than pay attention to her: Mom (when she's not meditating) helps Dad run the family restaurant; Sarah is taking a gap year after high school; and Holden pretends that Mom and Dad and everyone else doesn't know he's gay, even as he fends off bullies at school. Then there's Charlie: three years old, a "surprise" baby, the center of everyone's world. He's devoted to Fern, but he's annoying, too, always getting his way, always dirty, always commanding attention. If it wasn't for Ran, Fern's calm and positive best friend, there'd be nowhere to turn. Ran's mantra, "All will be well," is soothing in a way that nothing else seems to be. And when Ran says it, Fern can almost believe it's true. But then tragedy strikes- and Fern feels not only more alone than ever, but also responsible for the accident that has wrenched her family apart. All will not be well. Or at least all will never be the same.

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars


I loved Jo Knowles's Jumping Off Swings and Lessons from a Dead Girl, so I knew the writing and execution of this book would be great. But I didn't know whether See You at Harry's would work for me personally, since it's MG and not YA - I know a lot of people don't mind, but I don't usually like reading books where the main character is a lot younger than me. In See You at Harry's, though, that wasn't a problem, and I ended up loving it!


I don't want to say too much about the plot. I went in knowing almost nothing about this book, and I really think that's the best way to enjoy it - knowing what the "tragedy" is would have taken a lot from it. So I'll do my best not to spoil anything.


Like I said, I was worried about not being able to connect with the main character because of our age difference, but I ended up loving Fern. She has a distinct voice and you can't help but feel for her. She reminded me a lot of myself when I was that age. Except, you know, I never had to deal with anything like she has to deal with.


I love how family-focused See You at Harry's is. Each member of the family has a complex and dynamic personality. I love how the kids are all named after literary characters - such great symbolism! Charlie is adorable, of course, and I loved Holden. I really like how the topic of his sexuality is handled. I couldn't immediately understand Sarah, but she, too, grew on me. The dad is so, so sweet. The only character I wish we could have known some more about is the mom, but I guess us not seeing as much of her is kind of the point.


Fern's friends, Ran and Cassie, are great characters, too. Ran is adorable. His family owns a company that sells these awesome t-shirts that Ran is always wearing, and I loved those - I want shirts like that, too! The dynamics between Ran, Fern and Cassie are great, but I like that the family stayed the main focus of the novel.


The emotions are what's best about See You at Harry's. Again, I can't say too much, but...wow. I've read a lot of books dealing with grief, but for some reason, they always start after the loved one has already died, and I like that in See You at Harry's, we get to be with the family before, during and after the accident. That made the emotions that much more raw. I cried so much while reading See You at Harry's. Not, like, holding back a few tears, but full-out bawling. Seriously, I think I was crying for more than half of the time while reading this book. Jo Knowles just has a way of pulling at my heartstrings with every word she writes. All the sadness nearly killed me. But I love how at the end, we get to see it's not all sad - the ending restores your hope without being too happy and unrealistic.


***This paragraph contains spoilers!!!***
All the relationships between the different members of the family are great, but there is one thing I didn't really get - Charlie's role in the family. It's mentioned a few times that Charlie is the star of the family, that everyone loves him so, so much, and that the parents take care of him in a way they never took care of Fern (according to Fern). There are a few times when Fern talks about how she's jealous of Charlie because of that - I remember, in particular, how when Fern and Charlie used to share a room, and their parents came in to check on Charlie at night, Fern wishes the mom would, for once, check on her, too. So it looks like the typical youngest-child-gets-all-the-attention kind of thing. But, at the same time, it seems like the parents never have time for Charlie - he's always asking Fern to play with him because no one else will, and after the accident, the whole family feels guilty for not having spent more time with him. Combining those two ideas just didn't make much sense to me.


I loved See You at Harry's, and I'm very impressed by Jo Knowles's writing - she's quickly turning into one of my favorite authors! With raw, heartbreaking emotion, See You at Harry's is a beautiful portrayal of how one tragic accident can tear a family apart - and how you could possibly put it back together again. Read it if you're in the mood for some crying!


If you've read this book, what did you think?

Review: Jumping Off Swings by Jo Knowles

Title: Jumping off Swings
Author: Jo Knowles
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Pages: 230
Release date: August 11th 2009
Genre: Contemporary YA
Source: Bought
Find out more: Amazon | Goodreads

Goodreads description:

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 a while 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.

First sentence:

I can still feel a trace of his warm lips on mine as he slips away from me and fumbles for the door to his father's van.

My rating: 5 out of 5 stars


I really liked Lessons from a Dead Girl by Jo Knowles (review), so I was excited to read another one of her books. Still, I wasn't sure whether or not I would enjoy this one as much, since the idea isn't as unique as Lesson from a Dead Girl's, and I was a little worried about how the author would handle four distinct points of view, just because I usually prefer only one or two narrators. However, the different perspectives turned out to be what I liked best about Jumping Off Swings, and I ended up liking this one even more than Lessons from a Dead Girl!


The writing is what makes this whole thing work. Jo Knowles's writing is incredible, so beautiful. She manages to create a great atmosphere - even though the plot isn't the saddest story ever, the sad but beautiful atmosphere gives the whole novel a tragic feel. It's the kind of writing that can make you start bawling at any moment, no matter what's going on, just because of the sadness and beauty of it all. Jo Knowles's writing reminded me of Courtney Summers and Sara Zarr - all three can get me to burst out crying with just a few sentences.


Like I said, I'm not usually a fan of more than two narrators - it's really hard to give multiple narrators disctinct voices. But Jo Knowles made it work, and I could develop feelings for each character. I really liked how the narrative made us think of different ways of looking at the issue, and I enjoyed seeing how one problem affected these all characters differently.


Ellie's a conflicting but well-written character. At times I wanted to shake her and make her stop being so stupid and trustworthy and stand up for herself, but for the most part, I felt for her. Her feelings about the pregnancy are portrayed really well, and that made me understand the issue much better than other teenage-pregnancy books have. I wanted to hate Josh, but I just couldn't. In the beginning, he was easy to hate, seeing how he treated Ellie and all, but after seeing it his way, you can't help but feel for him, too. Caleb is my favorite character of the four - he's just so sweet! I found myself always looking forward to his chapters. Corinne is the only character I thought was lacking some depth. She's easy to relate to and a good friend to Ellie, but really, that's all she is. I would have liked to know some more about her as a person, seperate from Ellie.


Another thing I enjoyed in Jumping Off Swings is the depiction of different family situations. Each of the narrators has a differenty home life, but none of them have it easy. I really liked seeing how these family issues affected the characters.


Also, I love the cover of Jumping Off Swings! It portrays the atmosphere and beauty of the story perfectly. I really liked the scenes at the playground and the metaphors connected to the swings and all of that - I love when a cover has such a strong connection to the actual story.


With atmospheric writing and four distinct narrators, Jumping Off Swings tells the story of how one choice can affect each person differently. It's a beautiful portrayal of love, friendship and growing up.

Review: Lessons from a Dead Girl by Jo Knowles

Title: Lessons from a Dead Girl
Author: Jo Knowles
Publisher: Candlewick
Release date: October 9th 2007
Pages: 215
Genre: Contemporary YA
Source: Bought
Find out more: Amazon ; Goodreads

Goodreads description:

Leah Greene is dead. For Laine, knowing what really happened and the awful feeling that she is, in some way, responsible set her on a journey of painful self-discovery. Yes, she wished for this. She hated Leah that much. Hated her for all the times in the closet, when Leah made her do those things. They were just practicing, Leah said. But why did Leah choose her? Was she special, or just easy to control? And why didn’t Laine make it stop sooner? In the aftermath of the tragedy, Laine is left to explore the devastating lessons Leah taught her, find some meaning in them, and decide whether she can forgive Leah and, ultimately, herself.

First sentence:

Leah Greene is dead.

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

First off, I love the cover of Lessons from a Dead Girl. I've gotten kind of bored of covers with a pretty model but not much else, and this is a really good alternative - it's incospicuous but creepy, in a good way, just like the actual book.

This book is really different than I thought it'd be. I thought it was going to be about Laine dealing with Leah's death, and struggling to understand what happened when they were kids, but most of the story takes place before Leah's death - basically, the first and last chapters take place after Leah dies, and the rest shows us everything that happened before, starting in 5th grade, when they first became friends. If I'd known how much of the book focusses on Leah and Laine at such a young age, I think I would have been more reluctant to read Lessons from a Dead Girl, just because I like books about protagonists who are roughly my age. But I actually ended up enjoying the book the way it is - reading so much about Leah and Laine's past gives the reader a much better insight into both of the characters and into how their friendship works.

I loved Laine. I felt for her throughout the book - reading about what she has to go through, at such a young age, is heartbreaking, epsecially since we read about it from young, innocent, sweet Laine's point-of-view.

Leah... Oh, Leah. I wanted to feel for her, too - I don't want to spoil it for anyone, but she has some major issues, and what she has to go through is terrible, too. But I still couldn't really feel symapathetic towards her because what she does to Laine is so terrible. She traumatized Laine - she can't trust anyone, always afraid that if she were to become friends with another girl, she might do what Leah did. And even later, when Leah and Laine aren't friends anymore but still see each other occasionally, Leah is just such a bitch, always tormenting Laine about what they did, as if it were Laine's fault and not Leah's. I couldn't muster any sympathy towards Leah, but maybe that's because we only got to read from Laine's perspective - reading about Leah's thoughts and feelings and what made her do what she did would have been fascinating, but Lessons from a Dead Girl is Laine's story, not Leah's.

***This paragraph contains mild spoilers!***
One thing I disliked about Lessons from a Dead Girl is how it made what happened out to be Laine's fault, too. Maybe it's just because we read everything from Laine's point of view and she feels guilty about Leah's death, but a lot of the book talks about why Laine didn't try to stop Leah, or why Leah didn't try to stop Sam, the guy who abused Leah when she was younger. While of course that's something you should think about, too, I didn't like the way it was portrayed, Leah saying that there was some part of them, the victims, who liked what the abusers did to them. Obviously, I'm no expert, but that can't be right. I disliked how that puts part of the blame on the victim, which I think is just wrong. Maybe that's just my impression, though, since for the most part, Lessons from a Dead Girl has a positive message.

The plot, while horrifying, is great. It's fast-paced, and the book was hard to put down. I really like the idea of the "lessons" - each chapter begins with one "lesson" Leah taught Laine. I don't know what it is about this book, but it all feels so real, like it could have happened to anyone which makes it all the more disturbing. The writing is great, too, and the matter-of-factly way Laine describes what she had to go through is heartbreaking.

This book is a very hard read, but definitely worth it. The concept is something I've never heard about before, but it's fascinating. It's a heartbreaking story, but I definitely recommend Lessons from a Dead Girl, and I'll definitely read more by Jo Knowles in the future.