Caletti, Deb. The nature of Jade.CALETTI, Deb. The nature of Jade. Simon & Schuster Simon & Schuster U.S. publishing company. It was founded in 1924 by Richard L. Simon (1899–1960) and M. Lincoln Schuster (1897–1970), whose initial project, the original crossword-puzzle book, was a best-seller. . 284p. c2007. 1-4169-1005-0. $16.99. S * Caletti, author of carefully written YA novels such as Honey, Baby, Sweetheart, a finalist for the National Book Award, gives us an unusual story about a brilliant teenager named Jade, a senior in high school. Part of the nature of Jade is that she suffers from debilitating de·bil·i·tat·ing adj. Causing a loss of strength or energy. Debilitating Weakening, or reducing the strength of. Mentioned in: Stress Reduction panic attacks panic attacks, n.pl distressing episodes where an individual experiences palpitations, anxiety, apprehension, sweating, trembling, etc. Can last several minutes and recur unpredictably. , helped by medication, but baffling baf·fle tr.v. baf·fled, baf·fling, baf·fles 1. To frustrate or check (a person) as by confusing or perplexing; stymie. 2. To impede the force or movement of. n. 1. and confusing. One of her coping mechanisms coping mechanism Psychiatry Any conscious or unconscious mechanism of adjusting to environmental stress without altering personal goals or purposes is to focus on the web cam See Webcam. coverage of the elephant house Elephant House is the home on Cape Cod that Edward Gorey, author, illustrator, puppeteer and playwright, lived and worked in when he left New York City. Located at 8 Strawberry Lane, Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts, USA, the home currently serves as a museum of sorts, at the local zoo, keeping watch over the marvelous creatures. Eventually she volunteers at the zoo and bonds with the elephant keeper, Damian Rama. As Jade monitors the web cam from her own room and also spends time with the elephants at the zoo, she notices that a young man with a small child frequently comes to observe the elephants. Eventually Jade meets Sebastian and his little son and their friendship turns into a love affair. But, Sebastian is hiding a secret that will change their plans for the future, and the secret raises ethical considerations that are difficult to resolve. To meet these challenges, Jade needs to overcome her own fears and allow herself to take some risks. In telling about Jade and Sebastian, Caletti pushes her readers to consider these same moral choices, and perhaps to realize that sometimes there are no correct answers in life. In and around the story about humans is the story of the elephants, especially Jum, a young elephant who was left behind in Asia by Damian Rama, the elephant keeper, who says to Jade, "When you raise an animal, you love it like your own child. I know her thoughts, her needs. She wonders where I am, and I can't bear it." So Damian, like Sebastian, leaves Jade to care for a small creature he loves. But Damian reassures her, "You are not vulnerable any more ... you are living up to your name." And Damian Rama is right: Jade is stronger, and when spring comes in a new year, she can finally conquer her own fear of change. Claire Rosser, KLIATT S--Recommended for senior high school students. *--The asterisk highlights exceptional books. |
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