The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson

After waking from a year-long coma, Jenna has no idea who she is. She’s been told her name and has watched the many home videos of her life but she still can’t recall the details of her past life, who she was, and how she ended up in this situation. All she knows is that she was in a horrible accident. Little by little, memories start to come back to her, yet they are meaningless because Jenna doesn’t understand their significance. And worst of all, Jenna can’t remember the accident and what happened during the coma, but her questions are going unanswered. Who really is Jenna Fox? Jenna would love to know.

The Adoration of Jenna Fox is a shocking look at a futuristic world in which science has advanced so far, nearly anything is possible. This novel explores not only the personal effects of this advancement but also the moral issues it comes with. There isn’t really much more for me to say about Jenna’s situation beyond this without giving the story away than that Jenna is a miraculous product of science. This novel brings up some of the most difficult issues that accompany any form of advancement, mainly, what must be given up for progress? It touches on the meaning of being human and of living and how far science will go before it starts to become playing God. Jenna’s character is so beautifully placed in this future environment, learning to live for the second time because her waking up from her coma is similar to being reborn while piecing together the scraps of a past life with her present one. Though the scientific progress presented in this novel is a little scary and will prompt readers to delve into their own morals and beliefs, the ending is ultimately hopeful, which I appreciate ever though the ending statistical standards bring the story into a seemingly pointless circle.

Exploring love, life, and humanity, The Adoration of Jenna Fox is an enjoyable and philosophically stimulating read that will be enjoyed by those who also liked Unwind by Neal Shusterman, Being by Kevin Brooks, the Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld, and The Host by Stephenie Meyer.

Rating: 4.5

Review copy from personal collection