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. review and tour: the sound of sleigh bells by cind.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.review: jumping off swings by jo knowles.review: searching for whitopia by rich benjamin.review: the x and y of buy by elizabeth pace.giveaway winners: tall, dark, & fangsome and fierc.review and tour: japan took the j.a.p.review and tour: shadow government by grant r.review and tour: wisdom hunter by randall arthur.Ellie’s joy over Liz’s homemade bread illustrated that point well. The very different home lives of the characters serve as a nice reminder that children need more than material possessions. Though Liz is presented as someone the girls find easy to talk to, it was a little hard to believe a teen boy divulging that much to his mom. One of Caleb’s first full scenes has him revealing quite a bit about his feelings to his mother. Some characters were more realistic than others. She proves to be the most help to the teens as Ellie struggles with what to do. Caleb doesn’t have a relationship with his father, but his mother is always there for him.

So Corinne talks to Caleb who’s had a crush on Ellie for many years and is also friends with Josh.

Ellie’s best friend is stable, but far too young to adequately help Ellie. His father is an alcoholic who mourns his lost rock star dreams and his mother avoids time at home. Jumping Off Swings doesn’t just give Ellie’s side, there are three other teens involved who all have very different family lives. It’s immediately assumed Ellie will have an abortion before anyone even notices her growing belly, but is that what Ellie really wants? She tells her best friend, but doesn’t want Josh to know. Ellie soon learns she is pregnant from her last encounter with a virgin named Josh.

For a few moments, Ellie is able to believe she’s beautiful and loved, but then the boy is done with her. With Ellie’s teen pregnancy, Jo Knowles tells a heartbreaking story about a girl who feels unloved by her parents and craves being touched as a result.

Jumping off swings by jo knowles