The Adoration of Jenna Fox

I first read The Adoration of Jenna Fox while participating in a book club for teachers at Hartsville High School.  This time I'm reading it with a teacher mindset.  While I liked the short diary entry segments before, I now also see how these break up the larger chapters and could be appealing to a range of readers.  None of the chapters is so long that it would deter reluctant readers.  The book has a lexile level of 570L, so it is accessible to a range of readers, but I do not feel like I am reading a children's book.

The book addresses a number of bio-ethical issues.  It would be a good tie-in to a more complex book like The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks and would also be a great discussion starter.   The plot is set in the future and paints a bleak picture of the possibilities of an increase in antibiotic resistant bacteria, medical intervention without limitations, and GMO plants.  However, there are some positive uses for technological advances, so this is not a dystopian novel.   It does bring up the dilemma of embracing the science that can bring us medical miracles while not losing our humanity.

I hope that students enjoyed this book as much as I do.  This is the first year that our school has offered YA novels for summer reading, and I look forward to discussing this book and others with my students.