Diksia.com - If you are looking for a novel that will keep you hooked from the first page to the last, then you might want to check out Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey. This Australian bestseller is a captivating story of two boys who stumble upon a dark secret in their small town and how it changes their lives forever.
Introduction
Jasper Jones is a novel that combines elements of mystery, historical fiction, and coming of age. It is set in the summer of 1965 in the fictional mining town of Corrigan, Western Australia. The protagonist is Charlie Bucktin, a 13-year-old boy who loves reading and writing. One night, he is visited by Jasper Jones, a 14-year-old outcast who is half-Aboriginal and half-white.
Jasper leads Charlie to a secret glade in the bush, where he shows him the dead body of Laura Wishart, a local girl who was Jasper’s only friend. Jasper believes that he will be blamed for the murder, so he asks Charlie to help him hide the body and find the real killer.
Charlie agrees, but soon realizes that he has entered a world of trouble and danger. As the town searches for the missing girl, Charlie faces his own challenges: his strained relationship with his mother, his budding romance with Laura’s sister, his loyal friendship with a Vietnamese boy named Jeffrey, and his quest to discover the truth about Jasper Jones and Laura Wishart.
Novel Details
- Title: Jasper Jones
- Author: Craig Silvey
- Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Coming of Age
- Chapters: 17
- Language: English
- Publisher: Allen & Unwin
- Rating: 4.09 out of 5 stars on Goodreads1
Synopsis
Jasper Jones is a novel that explores themes such as racism, prejudice, family, loyalty, courage, and identity. It is narrated by Charlie Bucktin, who tells the story in retrospect as an adult. The novel begins with Jasper Jones knocking on Charlie’s window and asking for his help. Charlie follows Jasper to his secret spot in the bush, where he sees Laura Wishart’s body hanging from a tree. Jasper tells Charlie that he found her like that and that he didn’t kill her.
He says that someone else must have done it and that they have to hide the body before the police find it. Charlie is shocked and scared, but he decides to trust Jasper and help him. They throw the body into a nearby dam and weigh it down with a rock. Jasper tells Charlie that they have to keep this a secret and that they have to find out who killed Laura. Charlie agrees, but he also feels guilty and conflicted. He wonders why Jasper chose him and what he knows about Laura.
The next day, Charlie goes to school and learns that Laura is missing. He sees Laura’s sister, Eliza, who is distraught and angry. He feels sorry for her and tries to comfort her. He also meets Jeffrey Lu, a Vietnamese boy who has just moved to Corrigan with his family. Jeffrey is a cricket fan and a comic relief. He becomes Charlie’s best friend and helps him cope with the stress and fear of his situation.
Charlie also has to deal with his mother, Ruth, who is unhappy and dissatisfied with her life. She is constantly nagging and arguing with Charlie and his father, Wes, who is a mild-mannered accountant and a loving father. Charlie loves his father, but he also resents him for being passive and submissive to his mother.
As the novel progresses, Charlie and Jasper try to investigate the murder and find clues. They suspect that the killer is Mad Jack Lionel, a reclusive and mysterious old man who lives on the edge of town. He is rumored to be a murderer and a cannibal, and he has a connection to Jasper’s past. Charlie and Jasper break into his house and find evidence that links him to Laura. They also discover that he is Jasper’s grandfather and that he has a tragic story of his own.
Meanwhile, Charlie and Eliza grow closer and fall in love. They share their secrets and their feelings, and they try to help each other heal. However, their relationship is complicated by the fact that Charlie knows what happened to Laura and that Eliza wants to find her.
The novel reaches its climax when the town erupts in violence and chaos. A group of racist thugs attack Jeffrey and his family, setting their house on fire. Charlie and Jasper rush to save them, but they are too late. Jeffrey’s mother dies in the fire, and Jeffrey is badly injured. Charlie and Jasper are also beaten up by the mob, who accuse Jasper of killing Laura. Charlie is rescued by his father, who finally stands up to his mother and defends his son.
Jasper is taken away by the police, who interrogate him and torture him. Charlie feels helpless and hopeless, but he also feels a surge of courage and determination. He decides to tell the truth and clear Jasper’s name. He goes to the police station and confesses everything. He reveals that Laura was pregnant and that she killed herself because she couldn’t bear the shame and the pressure. He also reveals that the father of the baby was Pete Wishart, Laura and Eliza’s father, who had been sexually abusing Laura for years.
He also reveals that Jasper had nothing to do with the murder and that he was trying to protect Laura and Charlie. The police are stunned and horrified by Charlie’s confession. They release Jasper and arrest Pete Wishart. They also apologize to Jasper and his family for the injustice and the abuse they have suffered.
The novel ends with Charlie and Jasper saying goodbye to each other. Jasper decides to leave Corrigan and start a new life somewhere else. He thanks Charlie for his friendship and his loyalty, and he gives him a gift: a copy of To Kill a Mockingbird, Charlie’s favorite book. Charlie is sad to see Jasper go, but he also understands and respects his decision. He wishes him well and hopes that he will find happiness and peace.
Charlie also reconciles with his father, who supports him and loves him. He also breaks up with Eliza, who is moving away with her mother. He realizes that their relationship was too intense and too painful, and that they need time and space to heal. He hopes that they will remain friends and that they will meet again someday. Charlie also visits Jeffrey in the hospital, who is recovering from his injuries. He tells him that he is proud of him and that he is his hero.
He also tells him that he will miss him and that he will always be his friend. Charlie then returns to his home, where he finds a letter from his mother. She tells him that she is leaving him and his father, and that she is sorry for everything. She says that she loves him, but that she can’t stay in Corrigan anymore. She says that she hopes that he will forgive her and that he will be happy.
Charlie is shocked and hurt by his mother’s letter, but he also feels a sense of relief and freedom. He realizes that he doesn’t need her anymore, and that he can make his own choices and live his own life. He decides to follow his dream of becoming a writer, and he starts working on his first novel: Jasper Jones.
Where To Read Jasper Jones Novel
Jasper Jones is a novel that you can read online or offline. You can buy a paperback or an ebook version from various online platforms, such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Booktopia, or Kobo. You can also borrow a copy from your local library or from a friend. You can also watch the film adaptation of Jasper Jones, which was released in 2017 and directed by Rachel Perkins. The film stars Levi Miller as Charlie, Aaron McGrath as Jasper, Angourie Rice as Eliza, and Toni Collette as Ruth.
Conclusion
Jasper Jones is a novel that will captivate you with its gripping plot, its realistic characters, and its powerful themes. It is a novel that will make you laugh, cry, think, and feel. It is a novel that will stay with you long after you finish reading it. It is a novel that you will want to share with others and discuss with them. It is a novel that you will not regret reading.
Thank you for reading this article about Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey. I hope you enjoyed it and that you learned something new. If you did, please share it with your friends and family, and leave a comment below. I would love to hear your thoughts and opinions about this novel. And if you haven’t read it yet, I highly recommend that you do. You won’t be disappointed. Happy reading!
