On the Jellicoe Road

Taylor Markham is not a popular choice. She is erratic, has no people skills and never turns up to meetings. Not to mention the incident when she ran off in search of her mother and only got halfway there. But she’s lived at Jellicoe School most of her life and as leader of the boarders that’s her greatest asset. Especially now the cadets, led by the infamous Jonah Griggs, have arrived. The territory wars between the boarders, townies and cadets are about to recommence.

But Taylor has other things on her mind: a prayer tree, the hermit who whispered in her ear, and a vaguely familiar drawing in the local police station. Taylor wants to understand the mystery of her own past. But Hannah, the woman who found her, has suddenly disappeared, leaving nothing but an unfinished manuscript about five kids whose lives entwined twenty years ago on the Jellicoe Road . . .

Winner of the Michael L Printz Award 2009

REVIEWS

“…Time flashes forward…histories bleed together and two generations of friends bear uncanny resemblances to one another. Readers may feel dizzied and disoriented,but …they will find themselves ensnared in the story’s fascinating, intricate structure. A beautifully rendered mystery. “

Kirkus Starred, USA

“…an exquisite coming of age novel full of flesh and blood characters you’ll have trouble dislodging from your thoughts long after the end..Marchetta proves herself a master storyteller.”

Who Weekly, Book of the Week

“This is Marchetta’s most sophisticated novel; it opens cryptically and is imbued with subtle mystery that crisply unfolds in uncluttered, evocative prose.”

Australian Literary Review

“The book uncompromisingly starts with the fragments unconnected, leaving readers teased by a mystery they can’t even begin to piece together even as they’re enticed by the taut intensity of the atmosphere and Australian author Marchetta’s impeccable, longstriding style”

BCCB Starred review

Jonah Griggs, the MOST compelling tortured love interest in YA. He’s not supernatural, he’s just supernaturally divine.

Adele Walsh, Persnickety Snark Blog

***

The Gorgon in the Gully

Beyond the basketball courts and classrooms of St Raph’s is a gully where everything disappears forever. Danny Griggs has heard stories about a creature that lives down there. So why does he volunteer to face the Gorgon when he’s been petrified of everything all his life?

A gentle story about overcoming fear and looking at things from all angles for younger readers.

REVIEWS

“Challenging enough for reluctant readers and it has lots of laughts. It’s a meaty story about facing up to your fears.and taking those first steps towards independence.”

Frances Atkinson, The Melbourne Age

I loved this book…it opened my eyes to looking at things from a different angle, making it less scary.

Indiana from the Book Gryffin Blog

This delightful schoolyard tale is brimming with humour, realism and warmth, which kids will instantly connect with.

Aleesah Darlison, The Sun Herald