Jellicoe Road, Melina Marchetta; HarperTeen

“In this absorbing new novel by the award-winning author of “Saving Francesca,” nothing is as it seems and every clue leads to more questions as Taylor Markham tries to put together the pieces of her past.”
Robin’s Note: If you enjoy rich language, intense drama, and building suspense, this novel is outstanding.  This one takes a bit of time to get into, so you may have to push yourself to get through the first fifty pages (the novel is purposefully disorienting at the start), but once you get into the story and the characters, it’s unforgettable.  The setting is Australia, although it takes a while to figure out quite where you are, and the interlocking tales of these teens current lives and past connections are slowly unraveled.  I’ve rarely read a more haunting book about past incidents pushing forward unexpected consequences on the current generation, and the power of friends to both hurt and save you.