Jasper Jones Review
Written by Bethany Moutzouris
Jasper Jones, by Craig Silvey, is an engrossing page-turner that can be summed up into a single word: genius. It is a riveting tale about an intelligent and precocious boy named Charlie Bucktin, living under the parochialism of an isolated town. It focuses on his struggles with coming-of-age issues, which are compared to bigger problems concerning racism, prejudice and moral dilemmas. It is a fine piece of contemporary Australian literature that is a fusion of different genres, including murder mystery, comedy and romance.
This novel takes place on a hot summer’s night in 1965, Corrigan, when there is an urgent rap on thirteen-year-old Charlie Bucktin’s window. The mysterious knock belonging to none other than the infamous, rebellious, outcast – Jasper Jones. Intrigued, afraid and yet honoured by his appearance, Charlie eagerly submits to Jasper’s plea for help and steals away into the night. Jasper leads him to his secret glade in the bush and as they push through the wattle trees, Charlie sees something horrible that upon discovery, he knows he will never be the same again.
Now having to carry a heavy burden, Charlie needs to find a way to mask a secret with normality, but finds himself struggling to cope with the white lies that creep in like a curse. He must learn to juggle falling nervously in love with Eliza Wishart, dealing with his tumultuous, hot-tempered mother and support his zealous best friend, the Vietnamese Jeffery Lu, who faces a large serving of racial discrimination. Throughout the book, Charlie undergoes a process of maturing as he tries to discern the truth from myth, and discovers a spirit of courage in himself he did not know existed.
Craig Silvey has given birth to a masterpiece which examines human misdemeanours through the eyes of a teenage boy. He has shown the distinct voices of each character, in particular Charlie, Jasper and Jeffery, by his use of outrageously clever and hilarious dialogue. The humour Silvey used is strategically placed to lighten the mood in-between the ‘heavier’ and darker sections of the novel, and it is effective as it supports the quintessential Australian setting. Jasper Jones is true to itself and the setting as it accurately expresses what it is like to live in a small town ruled by prejudice.
The story itself is gripping as there is always some form of action happening, even if it is subtle. This action may merely be a charming conversation between Charlie and Eliza about books, or a series of dramatic events that unravel before your very eyes. Silvey has incorporated many twists and turns in the novel which captivate the audience’s attention and interest as well as make it a hard book to put down once you get reading. What is even more impressive is how brilliantly Silvey has tied every element of the book together with no loose ends, so that every component has a purpose and reason.
Whilst reading Jasper Jones, I was shocked, enlightened, afraid, entertained and fascinated. It is a beautifully constructed book that hooked me immediately and I spent many late nights with my face buried in it. Charlie’s growth as a character moved me, as well as I was humbled by Jasper’s consistency and strength. I did not read Jasper Jones, I experienced it and I made a bond with each of the characters. I think this novel is best suited for people aged 13+ and I highly recommend it. Craig Silvey has done an excellent job at not only capturing my attention, but also my heart.
This novel takes place on a hot summer’s night in 1965, Corrigan, when there is an urgent rap on thirteen-year-old Charlie Bucktin’s window. The mysterious knock belonging to none other than the infamous, rebellious, outcast – Jasper Jones. Intrigued, afraid and yet honoured by his appearance, Charlie eagerly submits to Jasper’s plea for help and steals away into the night. Jasper leads him to his secret glade in the bush and as they push through the wattle trees, Charlie sees something horrible that upon discovery, he knows he will never be the same again.
Now having to carry a heavy burden, Charlie needs to find a way to mask a secret with normality, but finds himself struggling to cope with the white lies that creep in like a curse. He must learn to juggle falling nervously in love with Eliza Wishart, dealing with his tumultuous, hot-tempered mother and support his zealous best friend, the Vietnamese Jeffery Lu, who faces a large serving of racial discrimination. Throughout the book, Charlie undergoes a process of maturing as he tries to discern the truth from myth, and discovers a spirit of courage in himself he did not know existed.
Craig Silvey has given birth to a masterpiece which examines human misdemeanours through the eyes of a teenage boy. He has shown the distinct voices of each character, in particular Charlie, Jasper and Jeffery, by his use of outrageously clever and hilarious dialogue. The humour Silvey used is strategically placed to lighten the mood in-between the ‘heavier’ and darker sections of the novel, and it is effective as it supports the quintessential Australian setting. Jasper Jones is true to itself and the setting as it accurately expresses what it is like to live in a small town ruled by prejudice.
The story itself is gripping as there is always some form of action happening, even if it is subtle. This action may merely be a charming conversation between Charlie and Eliza about books, or a series of dramatic events that unravel before your very eyes. Silvey has incorporated many twists and turns in the novel which captivate the audience’s attention and interest as well as make it a hard book to put down once you get reading. What is even more impressive is how brilliantly Silvey has tied every element of the book together with no loose ends, so that every component has a purpose and reason.
Whilst reading Jasper Jones, I was shocked, enlightened, afraid, entertained and fascinated. It is a beautifully constructed book that hooked me immediately and I spent many late nights with my face buried in it. Charlie’s growth as a character moved me, as well as I was humbled by Jasper’s consistency and strength. I did not read Jasper Jones, I experienced it and I made a bond with each of the characters. I think this novel is best suited for people aged 13+ and I highly recommend it. Craig Silvey has done an excellent job at not only capturing my attention, but also my heart.