Taylor was abandoned on the Jellicoe Road when she was 11 years old. She was taken in my Hannah, a caretaker at the Jellicoe School, a place for wards of the state to go to school until they are 18. Behind the seeming quiet of Jelliceo School is a feud that goes back before Taylors time there, a secret war going on between the students of Jellicoe School, the townies and the cadets. Taylor has just been named the leader of the students and it is hear job to regain precious territory from the cadets and townies. Taylor is surprised to find out that her enemy, the leader of the cadets, is the same boy she ran away with when she was 14. When Hannah disappears, Taylor decides to try to unravel the mystery around Hannah, her mother and the hermit. Enemies become unexpected friends when the leaders of the townies and cadets help Taylor in her search. I was more than a little skeptical when I picked this book up. When it won the Printz award (like an Oscar for teen books) I had never heard of it.
I was super confused when I started reading this book, it really needs a map and a character guide. Because they refer to several people by their last names, I couldn't even keep track of who was a guy and who was a girl. But after about 200 pages I really got into it. I can see why it won the award. It was a beautiful book with some unexpected twists. Great for anyone who doesn't feel like they belong...