The Adoration of Jenna Fox

by Mary E. Pearson

  Lily appears at the bottom of the stairs. She looks at Mother, her eyes hopeful, filled with the something that occupied Claire’s just a moment ago. Mother lifts her gaze to meet Lily’s, a long exchange in a language only they know. And finally Claire sighs and asks, ‘Shall I put on a pot of coffee?’

  A billion years of spinning. We are not immune to momentum.

  Lily nods. ‘I’ll help you.’

  We untangle ourselves and are just at the bottom of the stairs when there is a firm knock at the door.

  ‘Who could that be this early?’ Claire asks.

  ‘It might be Simmons,’ Father answers.

  Or maybe someone else, I think. Maybe someone Allys told. Maybe someone who is here for me.

  ‘I’ll have to break the news that we don’t need storage anymore,’ Father says as he reaches for the door handle.

  Should I warn them?

  The door is already swinging open. Father’s surprise is obvious, and he hesitates, not knowing the visitors.

  Mother steps forward. ‘Can we help you?’

  ‘Are you the parents of Jenna Fox?’

  Mother and Father exchange glances. I see Mother’s body weight shift, like she will change into a wall if she needs to.

  I step from the shadows. ‘Yes, they are,’ I say.

  ‘We’re Allys’s parents, your daughter’s schoolmate.’

  ‘Yes?’ Father says.

  ‘We know about Jenna,’ her father explains. ‘Our daughter—’ His voice cracks.

  ‘Our daughter is dying,’ Allys’s mother continues. Her face is rigid. Frightening. I watch her swallow, her hands tight fists at her sides. ‘Please, can you help us?’ Her rigid mask breaks and tears follow. Her sobs echo through the hall.

  ‘Come in,’ Mother says as she reaches out, putting her arm around Allys’s mother. She holds the sobbing woman in a way that surprises me. Like she has known her for years. Like she understands everything about her.

  ‘Let’s go into my study,’ Father says. ‘We can talk in there.’

  ‘We’ll be a while,’ Mother says to Lily over her shoulder. ‘Will you bring the coffee in when it’s ready?’

  They slowly usher Allys’s parents into Father’s study and shut the door behind them.

  Lily and I remain in the hallway, staring at the closed door.

  ‘Here we go,’ she finally says.

  I shake my head. ‘Allys wouldn’t approve.’

  Lily lets out a long breath. ‘What did you say about change? Small steps? If the world changes, I suppose minds do, too. Sometimes it just takes time and perspective.’

  Have my perspectives changed? Yes. But Allys? The world?

  ‘I’m not so sure,’ I say. ‘But I suppose you’re right about some perspectives. Just a few weeks ago, I thought you were a dickhead.’

  She smiles, tired lines fanning out from her eyes in a way that seems like we are sitting at her kitchen counter and not three years and three thousand miles from who we were. She puts her arm around me. ‘Come help me with the coffee. And if you don’t tell your parents, I’ll let you have some.’

  Baptism

  We walk through the church as though it is a day like any other. Lily dips her hand in the holy water, bends her knee and moves her hand like a musical note across her chest—she, on her way to discuss seeds and plants, and I, on my way to meet Ethan.

  But it is not a day like any other. Something is different. Something that is small and common like a whisper, but monumental and rare at the same time. I stop in the crosshairs of the church and look upward to the cupola. I close my eyes and feel the cool, smell the mustiness of history, wood and walls, listen to the echoes of our shuffles and my memories. I breathe in the difference of being on this earth now and maybe not tomorrow, the precipitous edge of something new for me but as ancient as the beginning of time.

  Lily’s feet shuffle closer and I open my eyes to see her standing just inches from me. Her fingers are wet, freshly dipped in the holy water, and she raises them to my forehead. I close my eyes again and she whispers a prayer, her hand touching my forehead and then passing across my chest and shoulders.

  ‘How can you know?’ I ask.

  ‘Some things aren’t meant to be known. Only believed.’

  A drop on my forehead. Hardly enough to feel. But still enough for Lily. And maybe enough for me. Washing away the old, believing in the new.

  The world has changed. So have I.

  Two Hundred and Sixty Years Later

  I sit in the center of Mr Bender’s garden. He has been gone for so many decades I have lost count. I live here now. I moved here forty years ago when Mother and Father’s house burned down. They’ve been gone even longer than Mr Bender.

  Father was wrong about the two or two hundred years I would live, but I’m not bitter. Faith and science, I have learned, are two sides of the same coin, separated by an expanse so small, but wide enough that one side can’t see the other. They don’t even know they’re connected. Father and Lily were two sides of the same coin, I’ve decided, and maybe I am the space in between.

  ‘Jenna?’ I hear the call of the only person on the planet whom I can now truly call a peer. ‘There you are,’ she says. It is Allys. She does not hobble. Her words are not harsh. She is a happier Allys than the one I met so long ago. The new Allys. Twenty-two percent. Not that percentages really matter anymore. There are others like us now. The world is more accepting. We worked and traveled for many years to create awareness about people like us. But I am still the standard. The Jenna Standard, they sometimes call it. Ten percent is the minimum amount. But people change. And the world will change. Of that much I am certain.

  Allys and I live together now. We are old women in the skin of teenagers. Another factor Father and his scientists didn’t count on, that biochips would learn, grow, and mutate because somewhere in that ten percent was a hidden message: survive. The biochips made sure we would. How much longer? No one knows. But Bio Gel has been modified for future recipients so that no one lives beyond an ‘acceptable and appropriate’ time. In our old age, Allys and I giggle about being inappropriate. We laugh easier now about a lot of things.

  ‘Kayla’s home,’ Allys calls from the edge of the garden.

  ‘Send her out here.’

  I had seventy good years with Ethan. It wasn’t until long after he was gone that I was brave enough to arrange for Kayla. She has his coloring, wit, love of literature, and sometimes his temper. But she has my eyes. My breaths begin and end with her. But I know that one day, when Kayla is of a certain age, I will travel to Boston in winter and I will stay there, taking long walks and feeling the softness of cold snowflakes on my face once again, because no parent should outlive their child.

  She bounds around the corner. ‘Mommy!’

  ‘Shhh,’ I say, holding my fingers to my lips. She quiets, full of knowing and anticipation, her eyes wide and ready, and as I look into them—every time I look into them—I am reminded of Mother, Lily, and the something that it took Kayla for me to truly understand. ‘Come here, Angel,’ I whisper, and she tiptoes close and nestles beside me on the bench.

  I reach into my pocket and a squadron of birds already flutter at our shoulders. I share my fistful of seed with Kayla and we hold out our offering. The birds are immediately on our arms and hands. A dozen or more. And each so light. A few ounces at most. They take up only a handful of space, and yet their touch fills me in immeasurable ways. A few miraculous ounces that leave me in awe. And today, like each time they have landed on my hand for the past two hundred years, I wonder at the weight of a sparrow.

  THE KNIFE OF NEVER LETTING GO

  WINNER OF the 2008 GUARDIAN CHILDREN’S FICTION PRIZE

  WINNER OF the 2008 BOOKTRUST TEEN FICTION PRIZE

  Todd Hewitt is the last boy in Prentisstown. But Prentisstown isn’t like other towns. Everyone can hear everyone else’s thoughts in a constant, overwhelming, never-ending Noise. There is no privacy. There are
no secrets. Or are there? Just one month away from the birthday that will make him a man, Todd unexpectedly stumbles upon a spot of complete silence.

  Which is impossible. Prentisstown has been lying to him.

  And now he’s going to have to run…

  Astonishingly powerful and breathtakingly exciting,

  The Knife of Never Letting Go is an unflinching novel about the dangerous choices of growing up.

  “FURIOUSLY PACED, TERRIFYING, EXHILARATING

  AND HEARTBREAKING.” SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

  BY PATRICK NESS

  EXPOSURE

  Winner of the 2009 Children’s Guardian Fiction Prize

  Revered as a national hero … married to the desirable Desmerelda … cherished by the media … soccer star Otello has it all. But a sensational club transfer sparks a media frenzy, and when he is wrongly implicated in a scandal, the footballer’s life turns into a tragic spiral of destruction. South America’s top sports journalist, Paul Faustino, witnesses the power of the media in making and breaking people’s lives.

  “In a vibrant modernisation of Othello, and with a strong South American setting, Exposure brilliantly explores the inequalities within society and the dangers of success.” The Guardian

  “…Stunningly good, blending Othello with Brazilian football, celebrity culture and the lives of slum children in a mix of brilliance and compassion.” The Times

  BY MAL PEET

  THURSDAY’S CHILD

  Winner of the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize 2002

  During the long, hungry years of the Great Depression, Harper Flute’s family struggles to cope with life on the hot, dusty land. Her younger brother Tin seeks refuge in the contrast of an ancient subterranean world. A world that nurtures but – as disturbing events in the community reveal – can also kill. A world that is silent, yet absorbs secrets. A world that has the power to change lives for ever.

  “An irresistible and heart-rending tale… It is a novel you can’t leave alone while you are reading it, and one that won’t leave you afterwards.” The Sunday Times

  “Few novelists for young people deliver with such intensity or so uncompromisingly… A deep, and deeply moving, novel.” The Guardian

  BY SONYA HARTNETT

  ETERNAL

  At last, Miranda is the life of the party: all she had to do was die. In the afterlife, she goes from high-school stage wannabe to vixen vampire-princess overnight. Meanwhile, Zachary, her reckless guardian angel, goes undercover in a bid to save his girl’s soul before all hell arrives – quite literally – on their doorstep.

  Sink your teeth into a dangerous love story played out in a dark eternal world where vampires vie with angels.

  “Suspenseful, entertaining, and enthusiastically gruesome, Smith’s latest will be lapped up by vampire fans.” The Horn Book

  BY CYNTHIA LEITICH SMITH

  THE SKY IS EVERYWHERE

  A vibrant, deeply romantic and unmissable debut.

  Seventeen-year-old Lennie Walker spends her time tucked safely and happily in the shadow of her fiery older sister, Bailey. But when Bailey dies abruptly, Lennie is catapulted to centre stage of her own life and – despite her non-existent history with boys – suddenly finds herself struggling to balance two.

  Toby was Bailey’s boyfriend; his grief mirrors Lennie’s own. Joe is the new boy in town, with a nearly magical grin. One boy takes Lennie out of her sorrow, the other comforts her in it. But the two can’t collide without Lennie’s world exploding…

  BY JANDY NELSON

  Praise for The Adoration of Jenna Fox:

  ‘Outstanding examination of identity, science and ethics… Pearson reveals the truth layer by layer, maintaining taut suspense and psychological realism as she probes philosophical notions of personhood.’ Kirkus Reviews, starred review

  ‘Pearson raises the ante in unexpected ways until the very last page …’ Publishers Weekly, starred review

  ‘This is a beautiful blend of science fiction, medical thriller, and teen-relationship novel that melds into a seamless whole that will please fans of all three genres.’ School Library Journal, starred review

  ‘This novel is truly unlike any other I have ever read and is a breath of fresh air in the often predictable world of teen literature.’ ELLEgirl

  ‘This provocative exploration of bio-ethics is heightened by the portrait of a family under enormous stress and the subtle thematic threads of faith and science woven through the story, making this a thriller with uncharacteristic literary merit.’ The Horn Book Magazine

  ‘This is an amazingly powerful, thought-provoking, just brilliant novel.’ Teen Book Review

  ‘If you only read one young adult novel this year, make it this one.’ Urban Fantasy Land

  ‘Wow. Just wow. I read this in one sitting, unable to put it down.’ The Reading Zone

  ‘Poignant, remarkable, unique, touching, true fiction at its best and perfectly conceived and delivered.’ Goddess of YA Literature

  ‘A story that reads as a teen medical drama but is so much more. Pearson’s writing is masterful as she slowly reveals the truth.’ Kid Lit

  Honors and Acclaim for The Adoration of Jenna Fox:

  2009 Andre Norton Award Finalist

  2009 ALA Best Books for Young Adults

  2008 Golden Kite Honor Award

  2008 School Library Journal Best Books

  Kirkus Best Young Adult Books 2008

  Acknowledgments

  Many thanks to Lisa Firke, Amy Butler Greenfield, Lisa Harkrader, Cynthia Lord, Amy McAuley, Marlene Perez, Laura Weiss, and Melissa Wyatt for countless suggestions and support. For multiple reads, critiques, and patience, I am deeply grateful to Catherine Atkins, Shirley Harazin, Amanda Jenkins, Jill Rubalcaba, and Nancy Werlin.

  This book would not be finished without the encouragement and nagging of Karen and Ben Beiswenger. Even in the toughest of times you were looking forward and made me do the same. You two completely amaze me. Thank you to Jessica Pearson for on-the-spot advice and opinions, even as she was running out the door. Jess, just one more thing …

  I am grateful to my spectacular agent, Rosemary Stimola, for her enthusiasm and boundless energy. She’s as good as they come.

  I could not have a more patient, encouraging, and smart editor than Kate Farrell. She knows exactly how to pull the best out of a writer and I am indebted to her.

  Jessica and Karen, you inspired this book from start to finish. As Grandma always said, ‘You’ve given me far more than I could ever give to you.’

  And as always, my everything to my husband, soul mate, and partner in crime, Dennis Pearson. He makes it all happen. USA, baby, USA.

  About the Author

  MARY E PEARSON is the author of several books for teens, including A Room on Lorelei Street, Scribbler of Dreams and her latest novel The Miles Between. Her books have received many honors, including the Golden Kite Award, the JHunt Award for Young Adult Fiction, and the South Carolina Young Adult Book Award. The Adoration of Jenna Fox has sold translation rights all over the world and also feature-film rights to 20th Century Fox. It received a Golden Kite Honor Award, was a 2009 Andre Norton Award Finalist, and has been nominated as both a Kirkus Best Young Adult Book of 2008 and a 2009 ALA Best Book for Young Adults.

  Mary writes full-time from her home in California, USA. She is married to the man of her dreams, has two lovely daughters and one terrific son-in-law, plus two very rambunctious golden retrievers. When she is not writing, Mary enjoys reading, working in her garden, cooking for friends and family, and traveling with her husband.

  You can learn more about Mary and her books at http://www.marypearson.com, or find out her latest news on her blog at http://marypearson.livejournal.com.

  For my wonderful husband, Dennis,

  and my precious children, Jessica, Karen, and Ben

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or, if real, are used
fictitiously. All statements, activities, stunts, descriptions, information and material of any other kind contained herein are included for entertainment purposes only and should not be relied on for accuracy or replicated as they may result in injury.

  First published in Great Britain 2010 by Walker Books Ltd

  87 Vauxhall Walk, London SE11 5HJ

  Text copyright © 2008 Mary E. Pearson

  Cover photograph © Alain Daussin / Photographer’s Choice / Getty Images

  The right of Mary E. Pearson to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright,

  Designs and Patents Act 1988

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, transmitted or stored in an information retrieval system in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, taping and recording, without prior written permission from the publisher.

  British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data:

  a catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

  ISBN 978-1-4063-3172-1 (ePub)

  ISBN 978-1-4063-3171-4 (e-PDF)

  www.walker.co.uk