Review: The Adoration of Jenna Fox

Title and Author of book: The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson
Fiction or non-fiction: Fiction
Genre: YA/Adult- Science Fiction
Where did I get the book: My public Library
Challenges that this fulfilled: None

Who recommended this book to me? Lenore from Presenting Lenore. Read her review HERE!

Summarize the plot but don't give away the ending!
In the not-too-distant future, when biotechnological advances have made synthetic bodies and brains possible but illegal, a seventeen-year-old girl, recovering from a serious accident and suffering from memory lapses, learns a startling secret about her existence.



My Thoughts:
Wow, this book really made me stop and think. What would I do if my child was on the brink of death? Would I use all of the technology at my fingertips and no matter what happened, piece him/her back together like Frankenstein? This book brings to light not only the moral questions of death and who should control it, but also the ethical side of when too much science intervention is too much.

"How much is me?"
Her lip trembles. Her eyes pool.
Lily intervenes. "Ten percent. Ten percent of your brain. That's all they could save. They should have let you die."
I try to understand what she is saying. I watch her mouth move. I hear words. Ten percent. Ten percent.
And then Mother is suddenly fierce. A lion. Within inches of my face. "But it is the most important ten percent. Do you hear me? The most important."

p.117

This is a great book that is well-written and can easily be enjoyed by YA and adults. I finished the book last week and am still talking about it with my son. We each have our own thoughts on whether or not we would want to be kept alive "artificially" like in Jenna's case. Our answer was an emphatic NO. The one question that was never answered was what happened to the human soul? Is this something that can be uploaded into a computer and then into the person's brain?

I glare at them both. "How dare you!" I say. "How dare you play with my brain!" How dare you pretend with me that I'm normal! How dare you program me!"
The word sends a shock wave through the room. For moment neither one speaks, stunned by the outing of their dirty secret. p.152

Is 10% of your brain enough to live a fully engaged life? There are other political issues that occur in this book that are being discussed right now in regards to OUR health care choices. In the book, body parts are given a number. If you've used up too many resources and your number is high, guess what---NO HEALTH CARE!!! (even though it's free...hmmm...makes me think very hard)

"A bill is before Congress, " Rae explains, "and Senator Harris has been trying to persuade his fellow senators to vote against it. By talking for so long, he has hoped that it will give some chance for the opposition to make a stronger case, sway others to their point of view."
"What is the bill?" I ask.
Ethan lays his head down on his desk and closes his eyes as Rae explains.
"The bill is the Medical Access Act, which will put all medical decisions and choices back into the hands of physician and patient. It will cut FSEB entirely out of the process."

p.208

Trust me...this is a must-read YA book for anyone. Don't miss out!

Other Reviews:
Heather-Book Addiction
Reviewer X
Kay-Infinite Shelf
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Serena- Savvy Verse & Wit
Melissa's Bookshelf
Tara-Books and Cooks

**If you've reviewed this book leave me the link in the comment box and I will include it in my post!!