I’m not a big fan of favorites, as I don’t tend to have favorites in a lot of categories but whenever people have asked me what my favorite book is for the last few years I have said Jellicoe Road (affiliate link) by Melina Marchetta. I admit that the first time I read this book I was confused for most of it. It jumps back and forth between two time periods and two groups of kids and it was hard to follow. But, I am glad I stuck with it because it all comes together in the end in a beautiful way.

Taylor, the main character, was abandoned by her mother on Jellicoe Road when she was eleven and taken in by Hannah. Now Hannah has disappeared without any explanation and Taylor is on a mission to find her. In order to find Hannah, Taylor must revisit her past and open herself up to people in her present that she isn’t sure she wants to open up to. It is a great coming-of-age story that felt very realistic to me.

This book has been out for a while but if you haven’t read it yet I highly recommend you do.

Trigger Warnings: death, teen sexual encounter, drug abuse, sexual abuse