Jumping Off Swings

I can't remember the last time a book made me sob this hard.Jumping Off Swings is so beautifully written, so fiercely honest and so compelling. I read it in one intense session, because I Could Not Stop reading it. There are four different POV characters, some of whom hate or avoid each other now for really good, sympathetic reasons, and yet all four were equally compelling and real, and by the end, I cared desperately about all four of them. This is a book that never compromises the emotional truth of the very difficult situation, but it's not a grim read at all - it's just right.I loved it, and I want to push it on everyone I know. It really is that good.

One of my favourite books by one of my favourite authors. I already owned the hardback, but bought this for Kindle so I could dip in to it when travelling.

bought this for my daughter who loved See you at Harry's by this author; but she isn't so keen on this book by Jo Knowles

It was a good book although it just kind of ended quickly and I wanted to know abit more

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.Reviewed by: Allison Fraclose

Ï thought that this book was ok....its quite short and rather depressing. The characters were well thought out and it didn't just explore what the a mum-to-be would be going through but also her friend, the father and the guy who has a crush on her. Overall not a bad book but it was just kinda lacking something for me....

I have read this book twice before but I fell in love the author is amazing baking in high school and having a friend get pregnant I loved this book and it explains how the characters felt amazingly the author has an unique way of writing she writes every chapter in a different characters view point and i was confused in the first 3 chapters because I was unaware of this which was confusing but I loved the book and I recommend it to any one.

I love the characters. They are really engaging and authentic. I raced through this book. Its an easy read and a really great story.

Goodreads Description- One pregnancy. Four friends. It all adds up to a profound time of change in this poignant, sensitively written YA novel.Ellie remembers how the boys kissed her. Touched her. How theybegged for more. And when she gave it to them, she felt loved. For awhile 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.This is one of the most emotional books that I have read in a long time. It is the story of 4 teens, Ellie, Corrine, Josh, and Caleb as they struggle through a teen year with all of the emotional ups and downs. Each chapter is told from one of the four main characters point of view so the reader gets a dynamic view of the story line. Ellie is looking for love and she thinks she can find it in sleeping with boys, but she not only ends up emotionally scarred but pregnant. Corrinne, her best friend, is struggling to help her but is also dealing with her own feelings of whether or not to be intimate with Caleb. Caleb and Josh have been best friends since childhood and they are leaning on each other to get through not only Ellie's pregnancy but their depressing family lives.Each of the character's family lives are terribly depressing and dysfunctional in unique ways. Every character is struggling with loss. The loss of innocence, friendship, family, fathers, mothers, and self esteem. This book moved me in so many ways. The author is able to clearly get her message across of the loss of innocence in teens and the tragic consequences and emotional turmoil. It made me come in and hug my children and hope that I can be a better parent and protect them from the realities of growing up. Even though the story was so depressing, it is a portrait of the reality of teen pregnancy and because it was able to pull at my heart strings so much it definitely deserves a 4 star review. Wonderful read Ms. Knowles.

Ellie sleeps around because boys give her the momentary thrill of being adored and feeling beautiful. Josh loses his virginity to her, and callously leaves her and brags to his friends about becoming a man. The major problem is that through that one tryst, Ellie becomes pregnant since the condom slipped off. She has to make a tough decision: keep the baby or get rid of it.The story shifts with four points of view: Ellie, Josh, and their best friends Corinne and Caleb. It was interesting to see the four deal with the pregnancy amid the jeers of classmates and reactions from parents. I thought Ellie would be in the forefront, but the other three characters do share the spotlight with her.I had to get used to the switching viewpoints, because I normally read novels that only have one or two points of view. There were no light, humorous scenes to break up the serious realism of the novel. Nevertheless, I enjoyed it and look forward to reading Pearl by Knowles.

Let's face it teens have tough lives. They're growing up and dealing with hormone changes and then add to that girl problems and guy problems and you have a huge mess to sort through. This book is one of those that cleverly deals with teen problems. Jo Knowles is quite brilliant at her writing and she doesn't sugar coat anything. Her writing is real and raw and will have you wondering what's going to happen throughout the story. I loved this novel. Some teens make rash decisions that force them to grow up quickly and changes their whole lives taking their innocence away. You'll recognize that in Ellie and you'll understand why she did it. You'll feel for her and for her friends and for her friend's friends. You won't regret this purchase. Buy it, read it, you'll be glad you did.

As a middle school teacher, I have gone through several copies of this book. My students love Jo Knowles and this book is no exception.Although it does discus sex and teen pregnancy, the larger themes of this book are making the right choices, asking for help and being honest.Part uplifting and part agonizing, my students feel for this narrator and they fly through the pages and on to the companion book.

A common problem in teens is the unexpected pregnancy thanks to a failure of communicating clearly to the frequent occurrence and necessity of effective protection. The book is not a treatise about the moral issues of early sexual experimentation or strict parental control. It is rather a story in the life of a likable teen and the resulting decisions and life-changing events that follow.The book is worthwhile in its clear exposition of the changeable and volatile inner life of a teenage girl and her closest girl friend. Well worth immersing yourself in the story. Its ending is one of the following: abortion, adopt out, or keep and raise. Read the book to find out!

I have my higher level 9th graders read this as a novel study and they really like it. It is a great way to teach POV since there are 4 different people telling the same story! It also is a good way to have them discuss self-esteem and self respect. The young ladies that are read this always really like it

I was required to read this book for a young adult literature course. Knowles does an OUTSTANDING job of capturing the feelings of teens and doesn't at all gloss over the feelings from anyone involved that go along with teen pregnancy. I struggled a bit at the very beginning with the style and figuring out who each person was quickly, but once I knew those involved, I was hooked. Like another reviewer said, it's a really quick read, and I, too, read it at once. It will be placed on the shelves of our local high school library, and I think it will allow kids to place themselves directly into these shoes, so that hopefully they will think twice before making some life-changing decisions.

This is an amazing book! It's totally a teen drama. But I loved it in high school so I had to rebuy lol

As a ninth grade English teacher, I am constantly prowling for books that are well written, with a compelling plot to keep the reader hooked. JUMPING OFF SWINGS has proven to be one of those types of books that I recommend to students all the time. The author alternates chapters between four interlocking characters who are thrown together by one's untimely pregnancy. There is no morality, no judgement, just an absorbing story with rich characters

I fell as if the author could have gone at lot deeper and perhaps wanted too but something was holding them back. There are some deep hurts and emotions that these kids are given but never really all deal with. Sometimes life takes longer to have a happy ending and I feel as if this one for some was forced.

I probably would have liked this book a lot more when I was 13, but I read it all in one sitting so it couldn't have been too bad.

This is one of my favorite books. It's short and sweet, and with the perspective of four different friends tells a heartbreaking story. I wish it ended differently, but it's still such a good book.

I liked it an all but I'm kind of into happy endings and closure I mean there was but I still wasn't completely happy with this and I knowin real life there's not always happy endings but still I feel like she should of had her last good bye or something?!?