Jasper Jones is a legend for being a thief, arsonist and all around bad influence in his small Australian mining town. So when Jasper appears at Charlie's window late one night, Charlie feels he has to go with him.
Under the cover of darkness the two of them sneak away to a clearing in the woods, a place that is Jasper's. And there hanging from a tree is the shire president's daughter: Laura Wishart. Charlie is sick, and unsure of what he is supposed to do. Charlie would call the police and have them check things out, but Jasper knows that he would be blamed for the crime he didn't commit and asks Charlie to help him hide the body.
Burdened with the secret of Laura's where abouts, Charlie strives to keep a normal life. With his best friend Jeff trying to make the town cricket team and his crush Eliza Wishart holding back secrets from her sister's disappearance summer seems to move slowly while he waits to see when (or if) Jasper will come back looking for his help.
Life is not what it seems in small town Australia. People are scared of the fighting in Vietnam, and also the fear from Laura going "missing". Charlie's family seem to be right in the middle of it all, with a father who would rather retreat into his office and a mother who just seems angry.
Part To Kill a Mockingbird, part Everybody Sees the Ants, Jasper Jones is an intense read that is part mystery and part growing up story. Charlie serves as a reliable narrator, who tells us both his story, as well as the story of the town. Jasper is a creation of myth, as well as a real interesting character. He creeps in and out of town, and can not wait to get away from small town life.
Readers will not be disappointed in Jasper Jones (the character or the plot). Small town life, family and friendship are all looked into, and things are never what they seem.
I'll see you @ the library!
Katie (Now reading Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler)
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