Charlie Bucktin, a bookish 13-year-old, is startled one summer night by an urgent knock on his bedroom window. His visitor is Jasper Jones, an outcast in their small mining town, and he has come to ask for Charlie's help. Terribly afraid but desperate to impress, Charlie follows him into the night.

Reviews

Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews, March 15, 2011
"The author's keen ear for dialogue is evident in the humorous verbal sparring between Charlie and Jeffrey, typical of smart 13-year-old boys...A richly rewarding exploration of truth and lies by a masterful storyteller."

Starred Review, The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, April 2011:
"Silvey's sure-footed, evocative prose, intelligent humor, and careful plot structuring may well ensure this Aussie import lasting status."

Starred Review, The Horn Book Magazine, May/June 2011:
"The mood and atmosphere of the 1960s small-town Australian setting is perfectly realized--suspenseful, menacing, and claustrophobic--with issues of race and class boiling just below the surface."

Starred Review, School Library Journal, June 2011:
"Silvey is a master of wit and words, spinning a coming-of-age tale told through the mind of a young Holden Caulfield."
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"From the Hardcover edition."

Gr 9 Up-Town outcast Jasper Jones shows 14-year-old Charlie Bucktin his terrible discovery-the body of Jasper's friend Laura hanging from a tree-and the boys know they must hide her or Jasper will be blamed. A nail-biting tale told with wit and featuring two memorable teens who face difficult and life-altering decisions. (June) (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.