Jumping Off Swings

Aug 16, 2009 Kristi (The Story Siren) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Knowles did a fantastic job of depicting a delicate situation, very realistically and very emotionally, through the eyes of four characters. With so many different prominent characters, I'm sure it was no easy task making each of them three-dimensional and fully developed. Kudos to Knowles for that!

For me the novel was more than just a book about teenage pregnancy, it was the stark contrast between kids that come from a stable and loving home life, to ones that don't. Unfortunately, I think the...more

4 likes · like · see review

Dec 10, 2009 the golden witch. rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2009, arc-galley, first-reads-early-reviewers, what-is-this-i-dont-even, teenage-shennanigans, reviewed

This was a fairly quick read, as it was relatively short.

However, this book was fairly dull. No surprises, no new additions to the "teen gets pregnant and ruins her life" genre. It was incredibly drab and cliche in the characterization of teenagers as irresponsible when it comes to sex. If anything, that's what turned me off the most. It even angered me. Just what we need - another book like this about "these darn kids today".

I was quite disappointed, as the blurb had made it seem so much more...more

8 likes · like · see review

Marita Hansen I've got this on my to-read list, so your review sparked my interest. A good percentage of teenagers are irresponsible with sex—it's reality, so this...more
Aug 27, 2012 05:21pm

the golden witch. I have seen both versions of "Skins", yes. I rather liked both them.

As for this one, it's more like it was just another book about teenage cliches and...more
Aug 27, 2012 07:51pm

Marita Hansen the golden witch. wrote: "I have seen both versions of "Skins", yes. I rather liked both them.

As for this one, it's more like it was just another book...more
Aug 27, 2012 08:02pm

Nov 14, 2012 Jennifer Wardrip rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: trt-gold-star-award-winner, trt-posted-reviews

Reviewed by Allison Fraclose for TeensReadToo.com

Ellie doesn't wonder why she keeps ending up in the same situation with so many guys. She knows that she likes the way they touch her and treat her like she's special, and each time, she hopes that she'll end up with someone who can love her.

But she only ends up heartbroken, and, after the last time with fumbling virgin, Josh, she ends up with much more than just the emotional aftereffects of a one night stand. A baby is now on the way, and Ellie...more Reviewed by Allison Fraclose for TeensReadToo.com

Ellie doesn't wonder why she keeps ending up in the same situation with so many guys. She knows that she likes the way they touch her and treat her like she's special, and each time, she hopes that she'll end up with someone who can love her.

But she only ends up heartbroken, and, after the last time with fumbling virgin, Josh, she ends up with much more than just the emotional aftereffects of a one night stand. A baby is now on the way, and Ellie can't hide the evidence of who she is any longer, since it's popping from her belly for all to see.

Josh had been promised by his friends that there'd be no strings attached with Ellie. However, he can't get over the way she looked at him when he left her there in his father's van. He knows he screwed up, and, now, he's sure of it. Even though he hasn't spoken to Ellie since, the baby that he is destined to never see will haunt him forever, no matter what Ellie decides to do.

For Caleb, Josh's best friend, Ellie's pregnancy turns his feelings for his friends upside down. He can't believe what jerks Josh and the others have been to the girl he's loved since the first grade, but, at the same time, he manages to be the confidant and provide solace to Josh, Ellie, and Ellie's best friend, Corrine.

As one used to picking up the pieces of her friend's bad decisions, Corrine does her best to push Ellie to make the right choices, but even she can only do so much while Ellie deals with her own emotions. As Corrine and Caleb grow closer despite the situation surrounding them, Corrine tries to protect Ellie as best she can from those who only see her for the mistake she made.

This emotional journey takes us right into the minds of these four characters as they all react in their own manner to the most delicate of situations. Full of heart-wrenching turmoil and tricky social balance, the author does an excellent job of showing us the most of these narrators with as few words as possible.
(less)

1 like · like · see review

Dec 17, 2012 Linda Lipko rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

After reading See you at Harry's, I simply wanted to follow this author and learn about her other books.

She is a very credible worker of words who captures emotions in a wonderful way. She doesn't resort to drama and is able to hook the reader into the story of a painful subject in a non overbearing manner.

This is a story of teen aged pregnancy. Like many young girls, Ellie simply wanted to find someone to love her. With each sexual encounter, she felt used, but still put herself out there in th...more

like · see review

Aug 05, 2012 Carrie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Ellie comes from a good, if strict, family. Her parents are still married and her mother is the quintessential housewife. But, while her family looks perfect from the outside, it is definitely lacking from the inside. Ellie’s mother is nice but distant – emotionally and physically. Her father is a busy breadwinner. So, in a cloud of romantic idealism, Ellie goes seeking love and acceptance and validation in the arms of teenage boys at parties. Boys who say all of the right things and hold her th...more Ellie comes from a good, if strict, family. Her parents are still married and her mother is the quintessential housewife. But, while her family looks perfect from the outside, it is definitely lacking from the inside. Ellie’s mother is nice but distant – emotionally and physically. Her father is a busy breadwinner. So, in a cloud of romantic idealism, Ellie goes seeking love and acceptance and validation in the arms of teenage boys at parties. Boys who say all of the right things and hold her the right way… and then leave her when it’s over. The last boy to “love” and leave Ellie is Josh. Ellie’s actions do not earn her the affection she seeks; they instead earn her the label of “slut” and an unplanned pregnancy. Ellie’s friends, Corinne and Caleb, want to stand by her and help her through this difficult time, but they are dealing with their own feelings and challenges related to Ellie’s circumstances. Ellie must decide how to “deal” with the situation she has found herself in. But, regardless of what she does, Ellie, Corinne, Caleb, and Josh will all be left viewing the world a little bit differently.

“Jumping Off Swings” was a good book. Not great, but good. It was a quick read that held my interest. The setting was unremarkable… just any ol’ town in the U.S. of A. The characters were believable and relate-able. The plot, told from four alternating points of view, developed quickly and steadily. I was left feeling a little unsatisfied with the ending – it felt kind of abrupt – but it was real and honest. I’m not sure that this book adds a great deal to the general “teenage pregnancy” narrative, but it is a good, solid story. It is one that I think most teens would find engaging, easy to read, and honest.

For me, “Jumping Off Swings” is a three-star read; it’s good, but not great. I read it in a matter of a few hours, teared up a time or two, wished the best for the characters, but closed the book ready to move on to the next. One thing that I think is a big plus for this book, though, is that I think both boys and girls could like it. The two female narrators and two male narrators provide a balanced telling, offering both perspectives to readers for contemplation. Not all books can boast appeal to both genders.(less)

like · see review

Jun 18, 2012 Lthelibrarylover rated it 4 of 5 stars

Hmmm so as most people would be able to tell by now I am fascinated by pregnancy and babies...

This is a novel about a teen girl who seeks love and acceptance in random hook ups from guys at parties. Of course the guys don't give a crap about her once the hook up is over, leaving her feeling more rejected than before. This cycle continues until on one occasion she falls pregnant. She tells no- one thinking that she will get a secret abortion, but soon realises she can't go through with it. Her p...more

like · see review

Dec 25, 2011 Chelsea rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: to-buy

As someone who, at 17, has read more books than most people twice my age, it is rare that I say a book is 'one of my favorites' because it is too hard to pick favorites. However, Jumping Off Swings is one of the best books I've ever read-a blunt, raw look at teenage pregnancy as well as alcoholism, abortion, loyalty and the deep rooted problems teenagers face in their lives.

The novel is told from the perspectives of four characters: Ellie, an insecure girl who sleeps around in a misguided attemp...more

4 likes · like · see review

Nov 01, 2011 Gabriela Manzano rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 8th-grade

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

like · see review

Sep 02, 2011 Lena Hillbrand rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: people who want to die

Shelves: disturbing-sh-t

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Okay, wow. I read this book in a few hours. I couldn't put it down, although it was incredibly sad. The kind of sad that's sort of like watching mangled victims being pulled from a car crash with limbs missing. You really don't want to see what's happening, but you can't quite look away, and you can't decide if you want to vomit or sob.

This is a YA book, but the sex is very graphic, describing everything from how his fingers felt inside her (from both points of view), to the way his hand smelled...more Okay, wow. I read this book in a few hours. I couldn't put it down, although it was incredibly sad. The kind of sad that's sort of like watching mangled victims being pulled from a car crash with limbs missing. You really don't want to see what's happening, but you can't quite look away, and you can't decide if you want to vomit or sob.

This is a YA book, but the sex is very graphic, describing everything from how his fingers felt inside her (from both points of view), to the way his hand smelled afterwards. It's the most graphic and scandalous YA book I've read in terms of sexual content. Also, the language is very crude. If there's a nasty or dirty word invented, it's probably in this book. So, not for the faint of heart.

The book is about a girl who sleeps with guys at parties, and they all just walk out afterwards and let their friends smell their fingers to prove they hooked up. It's pretty vomit-inducting, the way the guys in this book behave. And of course they talk about her in the locker room and share their stories with each other, since they've all hooked up with this girl who thinks that if she lets a guy have sex with her (and she never seems to do much participating) that one of them will like her. Or, that THIS one will like her. This one being Josh, who takes her to the back seat of his alcoholic father's van and tells her all this stuff so she thinks he likes her, then leaves her covered by his dog blanket without even looking at her so he can go drink w/ his friends and brag about how she was all about it, "easy come, easy go." Meanwhile, the girl feels horrible (obviously) when she sees him doing the whole hand-smelling thing, so she goes and pukes and gets a ride home w/ her friend, too humiliated to show her face at the party. Josh, meanwhile, never notices that she disappeared, and never speaks to her again throughout the book. Although the author tries to make us feel sympathy for him when the girl ends up pregnant, but mostly I just wanted to kick him in the nuts. He never speaks to her again, although he supposedly feels guilty. Even when she's pregnant and he knows it's his through their mutual friend (oh yeah, this is a girl he's known since kindergarten that he's treating like this). Josh is just glad she's not asking him for money, that she's taking care of it. Actually, he says he feels guilty about that, but he never even says sorry or says one word to her. Nice guy. Really. I felt SO sorry for HIM having to see her walking around pregnant and alone.

Mostly, this book just made me hate guys a whole lot. The only good people in it are the girl's friend and the guy-friend's mom. Everyone is totally screwed up and the main girl goes through her whole pregnancy completely alone. It made me want to cry a lot, for a long, long time. Even the good-guy who was her friend only feels sorry for Josh and never tries to make anything better or get Josh to be a man and at least help the girl out when she goes to get an abortion. Or talk to her or something. Anyway, every guy in this book is completely evil, not active evil, but like evil inside by not doing anything to stop the awful things going on. At least the friend's mom and the friend are somewhat supportive. And the main girl is just pretty much pathetic and heartbreakingly needy, but pretty transparent. She was not as well-developed as the others. You never really feel like you know her, only that she wants love so desperately and never gets it from anyone. And she never seems to get mad about the guys using her and leaving her crying or puking from being so upset. I really wanted someone to stand up to Josh and put him in his place, but everyone just felt sorry for him, most of all himself. He constantly says how he's such a screw-up and he didn't come through for Ellie or be there for her, but he never even tries! Not even to maybe say hi to her in the hall. He just avoids her and brags about their hookup to his buddies and gets drunk a lot. Then he feels sorry for himself b/c he wasn't there for her, even though she would probably have let him if he tried anything. But no, he never even attempts to do one.single.thing. Oh, right, he DOES apparently write her an apology note, although we never see it. Really? A NOTE!!??

Gaaa! This book made me so mad, mostly because it was very realistic as to who is held responsible and who ends up taking the fall and bearing the burder when two people have sex. The girl gets labeled a slut b/c she's pregnant and it's like a badge on her stomach, and the guys who just used her so they could say they got laid just laugh about it in the locker room and smell each other's fingers. Disgusting and tragic, but not untrue.(less)

2 likes · like · see review

Feb 12, 2011 Lilibeth rated it 4 of 5 stars

I have to say up front that this is not a happily ever after book, and I'm slowly starting to realize that most books in general--excluding romance, of course--are not all going to end up that way. When it comes to facing the reality in life, and making hard decisions like choosing whether or not you want to keep your baby when you're so young, you must go through the grueling process of looking at what's led to you there and facing the truth about people you depend on. Jumping Off Swings tells...more I have to say up front that this is not a happily ever after book, and I'm slowly starting to realize that most books in general--excluding romance, of course--are not all going to end up that way. When it comes to facing the reality in life, and making hard decisions like choosing whether or not you want to keep your baby when you're so young, you must go through the grueling process of looking at what's led to you there and facing the truth about people you depend on. Jumping Off Swings tells a story about how one girl's decision affects the lives of the people around her. So many voices are to be heard in this book, you will not be able to ignore any. Speaking of ignorance, I noticed that it was a major theme, as well as emptiness. Ellie feels like she has no one except her best friend, Corrine to help her through this process of gradual-heartbreak and undeniable situations. Slowly, she figures out that Corrine's not the only one looking at for her, even when her family's not.

When the other characters are introduced into Ellie's story, they all have a role to play throughout her pregnancy. Once the cat comes out of the bag, no one's more shocked and affected than the father. It was healthy, I guess you could say, to read a guy's point of view when it comes to finding out that his "one-night-stand" where he lost his virginity ended up impregnating the girl with the sad, expectant eyes. Admittedly, I just wanted to punch the group of guys that all have a "set" opinion about Ellie because they've been with her. But then, I wanted to yell at Ellie for being so naive. And then...well, I blamed the parents. I don't know if it's because I'm a teenager myself but if the parents aren't there for you throughout your life and don't guide you in any way, odds are there is going to be one mistake in your life that's going to indirectly be their fault. Ever since I was little, in my head I've always built up this argument in my head that "kids take things literally when they're young, and parents have no clue." They either don't care, or can't see how their way of life is affecting their child every single day as the child is growing up. As Ellie's parents weren't there for her, but a friend's mother was.

Before I go into full-on rant mode, I want to say that Knowles did a fantastic job in gripping your attention with Jumping Off Swings. It showed that people are not perfect, and that they all have different ways of coping. This short, multi-p.o.v book was amazing empathetic, and broken up into every few months to get the true aspect of the progressing due date. There were just minor things I would have argued with that are most likely due to my biased opinions, but nothing major can turn you away from this book.

Grade: B(less)

1 like · like · see review

May 15, 2010 Sarah rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: teen-heavy-content, teen-coming-of-age-girl, teen-sexual-issues, teen-romance, teen-family-issues, teen-family

Told from the point of view of 4 teens effected by an accidental pregnancy caused by a one night encounter between "love starved loose Ellie" and "lonely family life Josh". Despite the flat, one note characters, or maybe partially because of them, YALSA correctly selected this title as a Top Ten Pick for Reluctant Readers. It's fast moving, with short chapters, lots of drama (sex, drugs,boy peer pressure, but all in a safe/ afterschool special way), and avoids complications to the simple emo-ang...more

1 like · like · see review

May 09, 2010 Kelly Hager rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is another of those books I want to make everyone read. It's so good and so important and something you should discuss with your kids (if you have them) as a hypothetical before it becomes a reality. (And hopefully it won't.)

Anyway. It's got four narrators, Ellie, Josh, Corinne (Ellie's best friend) and Caleb (Josh's best friend).

Ellie hooks up with guys because it makes her feel loved. Each time she hopes it'll be about more than just sex and each time she's disappointed.

But after she hook...more

like · see review

Apr 13, 2010 Catherine rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult-fiction

This is a fast read (seriously -- I read it in about 90 minutes when all was said and done) and a nice idea that was fairly well-executed.

Knowles treats us to the standard high school sex politics (boy sleeps around and he's pimp of the year, girl sleeps around and she's tramp of the century) as well as the age-old poor little rich girl who seeks the love her parents never give her in the arms of boys who believe that there is really such a thing as sex with no strings attached in a suburban hig...more This is a fast read (seriously -- I read it in about 90 minutes when all was said and done) and a nice idea that was fairly well-executed.

Knowles treats us to the standard high school sex politics (boy sleeps around and he's pimp of the year, girl sleeps around and she's tramp of the century) as well as the age-old poor little rich girl who seeks the love her parents never give her in the arms of boys who believe that there is really such a thing as sex with no strings attached in a suburban high school. So those parts were a little too armchair psychology and cliche for my liking. There was absolutely nothing new on that front.

That said, though, I have to remind myself that this is for Young Adults, and I think of my students who haven't sat through Psych 101 yet ... and I can think of few books that demonstrate these ideas so well. So, while the story is not really revolutionary for me, I can see how this book could be quite earth-shakingly illuminating for some of my kids. In that vein, I really appreciate the fact that these are not simply teenagers who "forgot" to use a condom (like every other teenage pregnancy story EVER TO EXIST) ... but more a reminder of the fact that condoms are only 97% effective WHEN USED CORRECTLY (and that a lot of people DON'T use them properly at all). Nice job Knowles.

There is also a lot of very good, frank discussion on (but not limited to) the following topics: responsibility to oneself and one's family, friendship, integrity, denial, reproductive rights, family dynamics, innocence lost and alcohol use.

From a more literary perspective, I liked the use of multiple narrators (even if their voices were not quite distinct enough; I sometimes had to flip back to remind myself of which character was narrating the chapter) and there was a killer metaphor that involved an old toy car. Caleb was absolutely the most well-developed character and easily my favorite. I wish that Knowles hadn't used the whole playground as a metaphor for innocence shtick, but oh well. What's done is done.

Again -- not groundbreaking for an adult (but definitely worth reading), but a very solid and well-written novel for teens (mostly 8th-10th grade, I'd say). (less)

1 like · like · see review

Mar 17, 2010 Amy Moore rated it 4 of 5 stars

2010 Quick Picks for Reluctant Adult Readers
I'm really enjoying this book. Nothing new with it's content, same old story - girl likes the feelings of the boys she's with - the feelings of love that she doesn't get from home, has sex, gets pregnant. Ellie confides in her best friend and then Caleb's mom, her own mom distances her and can't seem to love her, as Ellie says she feels like a stranger, not a daughter around her mother. The tables are turned in when Ellie is in the hospital and her mom...more

like · see review

Feb 12, 2010 Jeni Bell rated it 5 of 5 stars

One “truth” is that it’s impossible to know how many people an unplanned pregnancy can affect, and all the complicated emotions that news of the pregnancy will be met with, until you’ve been there.

If you’re a teenager or a young adult, you can imagine just how difficult it might be to break the news to your parents, and the shame you might feel at the thought of telling your grandparents, or the aunt or uncle you’ve always admired, or perhaps your teacher, professor, or boss. But the reactions y...more

2 likes · like · see review

Nov 30, 2009 Sarah rated it 5 of 5 stars

From my review site: http://yalibrariantales.blogspot.com

Jumping Off Swings by Jo Knowles is a realistic portrayal of teen pregnancy and teen relationships that is gripping. Synopsis:

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: E...more From my review site: http://yalibrariantales.blogspot.com

Jumping Off Swings by Jo Knowles is a realistic portrayal of teen pregnancy and teen relationships that is gripping. Synopsis:

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.

Told in alternating point of views (Ellie, the pregnant teen, Josh, the boy who is the father-to-be, Corinne, the best friend, and Caleb, the boy who has a big crush on Ellie but is also Josh's best friend), Jumping Off Swings captures just how easily teens nowadays lose their innocence too quickly to the realities of the world, to peer pressure, to high school, and to the need to be loved.

I couldn't help comparing this book with the movie Juno in my mind. Where Juno was a rather quirky take on this topic, Jo Knowles takes a more somber and though I keep repeating it, realistic approach to Ellie's sex life and subsequent pregnancy. While the novel isn't constantly dark, it is a very hard reality for many people to face so the tone of the story matches the topic nature. And well, I liked the fact that it did. This is not a topic to be taken lightly by any means and I'm glad the author did not approach it this way.

I really liked the alternative viewpoints in this story. And I also like how the situation was not black and white. Josh wasn't a terrible boy by any means. Like many boys his age, he wanted sex. He even wore protection, but like life, not everything can be easy.

I also liked the contrast between Ellie's unhealthy relationships with boys to Corinne and Caleb's more slowly building friendship and interest in each other. Granted, they were forced together under a very painful situation, but they also learned something from Ellie and Josh, both positive and negative.

This is a very grey area book if that makes sense to any readers out there. This situation isn't black and white and the author doesn't attempt to make it so. The author uses language very well in this story too. You don't get the images of sunshine and kittens while reading, rather, the text is sparse and carries a lot of weight, much like the characters are carrying on their shoulders.

Friendship is a strong theme in this story, and like teen pregnancy, teen friendship is not spared. You will see the bad decisions friends make, the lengths they are willing to go for each other, and how sometimes, you just have to carry your friend with your own strength.

I haven't read Jo Knowles first book yet but I've requested it via ILL so I hope to read it soon.

(This book was provided from the publisher for the Cybils Awards.) (less)

2 likes · like · see review

Oct 08, 2009 46milestogo rated it 1 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This book is beautifully written, but has a troubling message and lacks character development for all but one of the characters.

Only one character Caleb, is fully fleshed out, and I came away with a real sense of who he was and how he changed over the course of the book. Corinne and Josh were more frustrating. Corinne because she was there for Ellie and fell for Caleb, but I never got a sense of her interior life past her interest in Caleb. I found it interesting that out of all the characters,...more This book is beautifully written, but has a troubling message and lacks character development for all but one of the characters.

Only one character Caleb, is fully fleshed out, and I came away with a real sense of who he was and how he changed over the course of the book. Corinne and Josh were more frustrating. Corinne because she was there for Ellie and fell for Caleb, but I never got a sense of her interior life past her interest in Caleb. I found it interesting that out of all the characters, Corinne's family, which seemed to be "normal," was never once glimpsed, just talked about briefly.

As for Josh, his home life is very fleshed out, but other than that he's little more than the "virgin who had sex and got a girl pregnant and ends up feeling really sad." Aside from his scenes with Caleb and his father and mother, he's a very isolated character. And I'm not sure he had more than once scene with Ellie after she finds out that she's pregnant, which I would have understood except that kept seeing each other and it felt like Knowles went out of her way to make sure the characters didn't talk.

Finally, there's Ellie. Her character is desperate for love, so she has sex with boys and then gets upset when they don't talk to her afterward. She has sex with Josh at the start of the book and get pregnant and spends the remainder of the book listening to other people talk to her about her options while not doing anything except crying. She finally decides to have the baby and give it up for adoption after she can't go through with an abortion, and the book closes with her tearfully wishing she had her baby but knowing she can't.

Her home life, which is minimally described but seems to be your standard upper middle-class no one talks to each other and everyone acts perfect is full of your standard stereotypes down to druggie brother and distant dad. And, of course, perfection expecting and woefully unprepared for a pregnant daughter mom.

Ellie is very troubling. The message Knowles seems to be sending with her is that sex without love is bad, which is a fine message, but then there's also the sex equals horrible consequences message, which is disturbing. Must we go back to the days where any female character who has sex is punished by getting pregnant/being ostracized/having someone she loves dies? Two of the three happen to Ellie, who also must deal with giving her baby up for adoption.

Meanwhile, Corinne, who is a virgin, ends up in a loving relationship with Caleb, also a virgin, with the two of them sharing a "perfect" first kiss at the book's end. And Ellie and Josh who aren't virgins are miserable.(less)

2 likes · like · see review

Sep 02, 2009 Brandy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2009, for-reviews, teen, realistic, friendship

Ellie is looking for love, or at least for someone who will make her feel special. And many of the boys do--at least, until they're done and go back to the party, and Ellie is left alone again. And then she goes out to Josh's van, sweet, fumbling Josh, and when they're done, he ... thanks her and leaves. Just like all the others.

Except Ellie isn't so empty this time. Emotionally, she's even more gut-wrenched than usual, but this time, she's pregnant. She can't talk to her family, Josh hasn't eve...more

like · see review

Aug 31, 2009 Todd rated it 2 of 5 stars

I really wanted to like this book. The multiple narrators, the difficult subject, and the numerous successful turns of phrase had me hopeful. I finished it and didn't feel it was a waste of my time. But I had so many issues with it, that I was quite happy when it was over. Among the four narrators are what most would call the primary "couple" (for lack of a better term... I realize they were not a couple at all!) and the secondary couple. When I am infinitely more interested in the characters ma...more

6 likes · like · see review

Aug 29, 2009 Sensitivemuse rated it 3 of 5 stars

Jumping Off Swings by Jo Knowles covers a teenage pregnancy through the eyes of four characters: Ellie the would be mother, Corinne her best friend, Caleb the nice guy who's had a crush on Ellie, and Josh, the would be father. Throughout the story you go through Ellie's pregnancy and how each of these characters feel as they try to help her through her ordeal.

I found it a very sombre story. Ellie just wants to feel and be loved. Although she's going about it the wrong way, as you read more into...more Jumping Off Swings by Jo Knowles covers a teenage pregnancy through the eyes of four characters: Ellie the would be mother, Corinne her best friend, Caleb the nice guy who's had a crush on Ellie, and Josh, the would be father. Throughout the story you go through Ellie's pregnancy and how each of these characters feel as they try to help her through her ordeal.

I found it a very sombre story. Ellie just wants to feel and be loved. Although she's going about it the wrong way, as you read more into her character, you see her family isn't your typical loving one. As you figure out how her family really is, you understand and start to sympathize with her as the story progresses. I have to admit I didn't really have much patience for Ellie. I just felt like shaking my head and slapping her across the face and telling her to wake up, grow up and do the responsible thing whatever it is. On the other hand, she's extremely scared. This sort of thing is very life changing, so her behaviour is understandable.

The plot flows well throughout this story, each chapter is told in each of the character's perspective so you have a glimpse of how they live and they problems and issues they face even though it's all centralized with Ellie. I can't help but think this is like one of those made for TV after school specials for teens. It sure seems that way when I was reading this book. However, it does the job of engrossing me and kept me turning the pages to read on. Most of the time you just feel so sad for Ellie and what she's going through (once your initial anger phase goes away). I changed my mind about her more than halfway through the book and realized that she indeed is a very brave person to go through her decisions regarding her baby.

The only thing that irks me is Josh. I don't know how the rest of the guys feel when they're having an unexpected surprise spring on them by a girlfriend. I suppose the pessimistic side of me expects them to just take a hike and leave. Although I know most guys probably aren't that way, you just hear about the bad ones more. So I'm not sure if Josh as a character is realistic but that's just me. You would think most guys would run away at the sound of "baby" and "yours" put together.

Other than that, I thought all characters had a sense of realism to them. They weren't the cookie cutter ones you read in some of those teen books where everything is perfect. They each have their issues and problems too. It makes the characters almost "three dimensional" so to speak. The ending leaves with a sombre note too, but with a sense of optimism for some of the characters.

Overall a good sombre, serious read, but a satisfying one.(less)

1 like · like · see review

Aug 17, 2009 Tasha rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: teen

When Ellie gets pregnant, it changes her life and that of three of her friends and classmates. Coming from an outwardly perfect but very distant family, Ellie tries to find comfort and love by having sexual relationships with boys. Josh, finding Ellie willing, loses his virginity to her and then ignores her. When Ellie discovers she is pregnant, she turns to her best friend Corinne for advice. Caleb, a classmate and friend of Josh’s, is furious about the way Ellie has been treated. The four live...more

like · see review

Jul 22, 2009 Marjorie Light rated it 5 of 5 stars

Once I had the pleasure of hearing Jo Knowles present at the NESCBWI agent/author panel and she was simply lovely – intelligent, gentle, and giving. Then I had the pleasure of reading an ARC of her latest novel JUMPING OFF SWINGS and that forever imprinted her in my mind. Her talent is evident here – the prose straightforward, but powerful, while the dialogue is natural and emotionally charged. I stayed up until I finished it, because I couldn’t wait for morning to discover the ending.

This YA no...more Once I had the pleasure of hearing Jo Knowles present at the NESCBWI agent/author panel and she was simply lovely – intelligent, gentle, and giving. Then I had the pleasure of reading an ARC of her latest novel JUMPING OFF SWINGS and that forever imprinted her in my mind. Her talent is evident here – the prose straightforward, but powerful, while the dialogue is natural and emotionally charged. I stayed up until I finished it, because I couldn’t wait for morning to discover the ending.

This YA novel examines the tragedy of teen pregnancy from four points of view – Ellie, the girl who becomes pregnant; Josh, the teen father, and Corinne and Caleb, their two best friends. That choice of having four first-person narratives is perfect, as we see how the pregnancy impacts each one. The chapters alternate between them, each labeled. Knowles’ writing is so clear and her voices so distinct, however, that I found myself actually ignoring the titles as I rushed to see what would happen next…and I always knew whose voice I was hearing.

The imagery in JUMPING OFF SWINGS is well done, too. I especially loved the scenes in the playground, tender, laced with regret. Knowles makes each setting distinct and provides the reader with enough variety to keep it interesting, but not so much that it confuses. The structure of the novel is even, with a nice flow from beginning to end. The plot arc pulls us through each scene, tugging us toward the ending, as we yearn for answers to Ellie’s situation.

As an educator and writer, I always love a book for teens that has a vital message and strong themes. Often times, unfortunately, authors feel they need to beat the reader over the head with both to get them to understand. Jo Knowles knows better. She understands her readers. She doesn’t say, “Hey, kids, let’s all remember: don’t have a baby when you’re still a kid yourself!” Instead, she shows us the pain it causes, the chasms it creates, and the scars it leaves. She gently takes us by the hand and leads us along the darkened path, illuminating the characters’ souls, exposing their needs and wants to all. We are left to make our own decisions, but her writing is so poignant and lyrical – and true – that there is really only one path we can follow after the last word is read.

Sadly, I had a friend who experienced a similar situation to Ellie’s when she was young. Her gut-wrenching sobs came back to me as I read this novel. Knowles captures that angst perfectly. Her characters wrestle with the same torments, made all the worse when Ellie’s pregnancy becomes known. At one point, I actually clutched the book to me and cried, as if I was consoling my friend all those years ago.

The dialogue throughout is thoughtful and natural, and even though there are surprises with the plot, it is all so realistic. Teens will love this novel for the straightforward way it deals with a sensitive topic and the path Knowles takes in capturing the anguish. Although the subject matter is weighty, the reader is shown patches of light through use of humor and the strong theme of friendship.

This YA novel has both adult situations and language, but is not too graphic. Both male and female teens will appreciate the style and alternating points of view and JUMPING OFF SWINGS would make for great discussions with literature circles and book clubs. Adult readers, especially women, will find this novel of interest, as well. If you are searching for a novel that will touch your heart and leave you contemplating it long after you are finished, read JUMPING OFF SWINGS by Jo Knowles.

Available August 11, 2009 by Candlewick Press from both indie bookstores near you and major booksellers! To see the author’s website, go to: http://bit.ly/3TAwXl
(less)

2 likes · like · see review

Jun 23, 2012 Abbie rated it 3 of 5 stars

I had a lot of things I disliked about this book, but there were a few nice points too. Let's do negative first, shall we?

It should have been longer. Period. There was too much space, too much of the pregnancy and birth and discovery-of-pregnancy not elaborated on. The writing could have been better. *Much* better. The characters could have been deeper in places. I feel like we don't really know Ellie at all, and that's kind of a problem. Also, I couldn't help it: she reminded me of Jenna, with...more

like · see review

Oct 19, 2010 Leah (Simply Nerdy Book Reviews) rated it 2 of 5 stars

This book was . . . disappointing. I'll admit, I sort of picked it up at the library on a whim, simply because I needed something to read, but I still thought it would be good. Or moving. Or . . . something. But, honestly, it wasn't.

Most of the characters fell flat, and felt depressingly undernourished and uncared for. There were way too many plot jumps: I mean, let's face it, if you're reading a book about a teenage pregnancy, you actually want to find out what the teenager goes through during...more This book was . . . disappointing. I'll admit, I sort of picked it up at the library on a whim, simply because I needed something to read, but I still thought it would be good. Or moving. Or . . . something. But, honestly, it wasn't.

Most of the characters fell flat, and felt depressingly undernourished and uncared for. There were way too many plot jumps: I mean, let's face it, if you're reading a book about a teenage pregnancy, you actually want to find out what the teenager goes through during the pregnancy. What you don't want to see is a month-long plot jump every two chapters, virtually no details on her troubles and what she has to go through during the nine long months, and no excitement whatsoever.

The least you could expect would be a book about a teenage pregnancy to actually deal with a teenage pregnancy. I'll be honest--I did whiz through this book in one night, but that definitely doesn't mean that it was good. It just means that it was a pathetically easy and unmoving read for a book that supposedly deals with such a heavy and difficult issue.

The writing, for the most part, fell pretty flat, too. Alternating chapter point-of-views are great . . . for a suspenseful, well-paced book. Or for Michael Grant. But, really, that's just about all. If I want to read this book, I want to find out about how Ellie is dealing with it, and maybe John. But really? Everyone else, it's just slightly annoying. The POV changes too fast for you to even build a sort of connection with what each character is dealing with or talking about. Plus, with such little character development, the quick switches are confusing in the beginning; it's hard to remember who's eyes you're seeing from.

I feel absolutely no connection to the characters, other than slight pity for Ellie and John because of their situation, and brief admiration for Liz, Caleb's mom. And, really, that's all. Maybe I'm being harsh, but I seriously wouldn't recommend this book to anyone. It wasn't bad, exactly . . . It just wasn't good. And if you're not a super fast reader, it's definitely not worth your time. If you're really bored, and you're really boring, and you like boring YA books . . . sure, go with this one. If you fall under that criteria, I'm sure you'll love it. On the plus side . . . the cover's kind of cute.
(less)

2 likes · like · see review

Jan 22, 2011 Chrissy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2011

JUMPING OFF SWINGS is a story from the perspectives of four teenagers, all dealing with their own problems in family and in love... but, the main story centers around Ellie and Josh. Ellie has had her fair share of sexual partners, but each time she was only looking for a way to feel love. Josh has never had sex, but he's been looking for someone to be his first... so he can finally get his locker room buddies off his back...

Josh and Ellie hook up... but only once... and Ellie soon learns that s...more

like · see review

Sep 03, 2009 Michelle rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2009, ya, contemp

Told alternately from the perspective of four life-long friends: Caleb, Corrine, Josh and Ellie, Jumping Off Swings is a book that deals with the consequences of teen pregnancy - and the fact that it affects the life of everyone, not just the young mother. Parents, friends, teachers, classmates, the father, mother, the child - everyone. Ellie and Corinne has been friends since elementary school but Corinne has been worried about her beautiful friend ever since she started sleeping with guys and...more Told alternately from the perspective of four life-long friends: Caleb, Corrine, Josh and Ellie, Jumping Off Swings is a book that deals with the consequences of teen pregnancy - and the fact that it affects the life of everyone, not just the young mother. Parents, friends, teachers, classmates, the father, mother, the child - everyone. Ellie and Corinne has been friends since elementary school but Corinne has been worried about her beautiful friend ever since she started sleeping with guys and feeling heartbroken when it didn't lead to anything long-term. Sporting a massive crush on Ellie ever since second grade, Caleb is disgusted to find out his friend Josh not only slept with Ellie at a party but then left her and bragged about it to his friends afterwards. Now all four are caught up in the aftermath of depression, anger and scorn as Ellie discovers she is pregnant at 16.

This is a delicate topic all around and I felt like Knowles handled it with all the acre it deserved. That said, I still wouldn't recommend it to just anyone: it was such a mature, emotional roller coaster which brought out so many feelings. It wasn't just a fluff story of a girl facing the scorn of family and friends while trying to decide what to do. There was very real character development. All four of the teens voices came across so clearly I understood the choices they made because I knew them. My only problem was I felt like every one of the teens portrayed had a terrible home life, minus one. Which of course can lead to someone making not so wise choices, but still, it seemed more than a little depressing at times.

I was a little unsettled about the relationship between Ellie and her mom however. Ellie basically goes through the whole book with some serious self-esteem/self-worth issues. Coming from a family that isn't exactly the most loving or touchy-feely, she has tried to find that fulfillment in the boys she dates. Okay, I get it: teenager doesn't feel loved (especially by parents) and so turns to boys at a young age. What I have a problem with is the face that even though her mother is basically MIA from her entire life at one point she and Ellie have sort of a kodak moment which seems to ask the reader to believe that even though their relationship has been non-existent up to this point, it will be better in the future. Personally, I really don't see that happening. It wasn't even that grand of a peace offering on her mother's part in the first place and I just felt that Ellie's pain was perhaps a little too serious for her mom's 'too little, too late' gesture. That said, Jo Knowles could have just been illustrating the point that these two completely opposite people will probably struggle to connect for their entire lives.(less)

1 like · like · see review

Jan 17, 2013 Taylor rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: a-z-challenge-2013

3.5 stars This is a book that I have had for a while but never got around to reading it. I am glad I finally did because it was a pretty good read. I liked that this book switched perspective between all four characters because it added a lot more depth when you know what everyone is thinking and feeling. Although, at some points it felt like Caleb and Corinne's perspectives were somewhat unnecessary. I thought the way everyone handled the situation was very realistic. These characters were easy...more

like · see review

Sep 04, 2009 Luke rated it 4 of 5 stars

Pretty good read. Not quite as good as "Lessons from a Dead Girl", but amazing nonetheless. I don't know how Jo Knowles does it, but she can tug at your heartstrings like no other author can. This story had me on the verge of tears several times and this, unlike "Lessons from a Dead Girl" had a somewhat happy ending. Although I felt like the last chapter was a bit unnecessary, it made you feel like the story was complete. I look forward to reading her next book!

2 likes · like · see review

Dec 07, 2012 Kate rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, age-ya, realistic

Ellie always thinks it will be different, but every time she hooks up with a guy, he's just using her for sex. Caleb has always liked Ellie, and can't believe his friend Josh hooked up with her. Now Ellie is pregnant, and that will affect them all...

I thought this book did a nice job of showing how a pregnancy can affect everyone around a person, not just the person having the baby. It was good to see guys reacting to a pregnancy and not just disowning any responsibility, and it was also good to...more

1 like · like · see review

Jun 07, 2013 Nikki rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: hoped-for-more, i-wanted-to-scream, why-did-i-finish-this, teen-pregnancy, what-happened-author-i-liked-your-o

I honestly expected so much more from this book. The writing fell flat and I felt like the characters didn't grow or change at all. The novel felt heavily unfinished as a result of that. I couldn't feel a connection or anything at all towards any of the characters. I disliked them all and they all bled into the same person, almost. The chapters were too short and there was never any time to get in depth in the character' backgrounds. It was an insanely quick read and I felt nothing at all at the...more

like · see review

topics	posts	views	last activity
Theme	1	5	Mar 24, 2013 02:33pm
question	3	27	Dec 06, 2011 08:02am

title link	preview: Jumping Off Swings
avg rating	preview: Jumping Off Swings Goodreads rating: 3.74 (2452 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6378239-jumping-off-swings?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320401740l/6378239.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6378239-jumping-off-swings?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Jumping Off Swings by Jo Knowles[/url]

Jumping Off Swings

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topic
Discuss This Book

combine
Other Editions (3)

Videos About This Book

Genres

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Jo Knowles

Books by Jo Knowles

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About Jumping Off Swings

Quotes from Jumping Off Swings