The author trivializes his 'aura' seeing as some kind of special ability he has after his near-death experience Critter goes off his meds and is 'fine' (except for the whole aura thing). He's also recently tried to kill himself. Critter is institutionalized at the beginning of the book and on some heavy drugs for delusions.

Will PK be able to trust him? Is Critter crazy? Vivid descriptions of rock climbing will appeal to readers who enjoy books about the outdoors and adventure stories.Īlthough I think this book will have a lot of teen appeal because of the equal part romance/adventure story, I was concerned about the author's treatment of mental illness in the book. Together the two set out on a cross country road trip that requires PK to trust Critter.who, she learns relatively early in the book, is an escaped mental patient who, after a suicide attempt is able to see auras. The handsome, mysterious Critter is miraculously willing to go with her on the adventure when no one else will.even though they've met just hours ago.

When PK meets Critter at the climbing gym she works out in on the eve she is planning on running away from home to go on a climbing adventure, everything seems to fall into place. JUMP is rife with action, romance, and humor - the trifecta! I'm not sure how this novel slipped under my radar for so long, but I'm infinitely glad I stumbled upon it! I loved that! There are a few heart pounding passages where I honestly had no clue what was going to happen next! Generally, I have no problem figuring how how a story will end, but Carbone kept me on my toes. I especially enjoyed Critter and P.K.'s budding romance, as the reader gets to experience it through both characters. Usually, when a novel is told by two or more characters, I favor one voice over the other(s), but this wasn't the case with JUMP. After all, running away to perform a dangerous activity with a boy (named Critter!) that you've only known for a half hour (at the most) is most definitely insane. I may have questioned P.K.'s sanity a bit more if I didn't have the opportunity to see Critter's POV. and the mysterious boy she runs away with, Critter. JUMP is told from alternating point-of-view by P.K. I'm actually thankful that she did include the jargon, even though she could have told the story without, because it made the characters much more real. I have absolutely no experience with rock climbing or rock climbing lingo, but Carbone writes with ample detail and I had no difficulty deciphering and filling in the blanks. I'll admit that I was a bit worried about the climbing jargon when I first started reading. After reading, I have absolutely no idea why no one is discussing this novel. I had never heard of it and had nothing more to recommend it than the description on the back and the interesting cover.

Jump by Elisa Carbone