The Nature of Jade by Deb Caletti
The Nature of Jade
Deb Caletti
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: February 27, 2007
Pages: 304
Source: Purchased
Rating: 3 stars
I am not my illness. “Girl with Anxiety,” “Trauma of the Week” — no. I hate stuff like that. Everyone, everyone has their issue. But the one thing my illness did make me realize is how necessary it is to ignore the dangers of living in order to live. And how much trouble you can get into if you can’t.
Jade DeLuna is too young to die. She knows this, and yet she can’t quite believe it, especially when the terrifying thoughts, loss of breath, and dizzy feelings come. Since being diagnosed with Panic Disorder, she’s trying her best to stay calm, and visiting the elephants at the nearby zoo seems to help. That’s why Jade keeps the live zoo webcam on in her room, and that’s where she first sees the boy in the red jacket. A boy who stops to watch the elephants. A boy carrying a baby.
His name is Sebastian, and he is raising his son alone. Jade is drawn into Sebastian’s cozy life with his son and his activist grandmother on their Seattle houseboat, and before she knows it, she’s in love. With this boy who has lived through harder times than anyone she knows. This boy with a past.
Jade knows the situation is beyond complicated, but she hasn’t felt this safe in a long time. She owes it all to Sebastian, her boy with the great heart. Her boy who is hiding a terrible secret. A secret that will force Jade to decide between what is right, and what feels right.
Master storyteller Deb Caletti has once again created characters so real, you will be breathless with anticipation as their riveting story unfolds.
The Nature of Jade was my first Deb Caletti book. It was a very sweet book, but I found it very slow moving. There were aspects I really liked about it, yet others I wasn’t crazy about.
The beginning of the story I had a major issue getting into. It wasn’t until probably about a third of the way into the book that I really started enjoying it. I found the events of the book to be slightly awkward, in the sense that the nature of the relationship that occurs starts in a mildly creepy way. Furthermore, the relationship, to me, felt like it lacked substance. There was moments of genuinity, but I didn’t feel that was consistant throughout the entire book.
I really liked the majority of the plotplot. I absolutely loved every scene with the elephants. I thought that was the most amazing thing ever, and I loved everything to deal with them. Everything with the elephants was so heartwarming.
The characters were really admirable. I loved Bo, he was too cute and I loved every scene with him! It just made me smile. Jade was a character, that at times was a bit too much for me. On the other hand I really could connect with her as I have anxiety issues myself. Sebastian was a good guy, almost too good. He seemed to really have no faults.
Being my first Deb Caletti book, I liked it, but it wasn’t as amazing as I was expecting it to be. I will definitely be checking out the other books by Deb Caletti, to see what other stories she can whip up.
I recently read this book, it was good!
I recently read The 6 Rules of Maybe and that was the 1st book I ever read by Deb Caletti and I really enjoyed it. I don't know if you know this, but her books all surround the same made up towns and characters, check it out in her website. I think that is one the reasons that I am so intrigued to read all of her books.
Great review though!
I really liked this! Though I agree that the romance was sometimes lacking. Otherwise Deb Caletti is usually awesome.
I think my favourite part of Caletti's book is the slow writing style…it kinda feels like a lazy day in the south.
I love Deb Caletti's books. Or the two that I've read anyway. YA realism at it's best. Try reading The Queen of Everything and The Secret Life of Prince Charming.