Jenny Pox: The Paranormals, Book 1

Rating: 4.9 out of 5The teen years. A time of awkwardness and confusion, of inner turmoil and the search for one's self. Throw into this the pressures of school, the chaos of personal and family relations, and the conflicting messages when discovering of one's own sexuality, and the stress multiplies. This is hard enough on a normal child, but imagine being someone who has a problem - a real problem such as a deformity, mental handicap, or social deficiency. Then the stress involved with simply growing up becomes that much more difficult.In a lot of ways, this is the root of the conflict J.L. Bryan explores in his amazing horror yarn, Jenny Pox. He takes the pressures and cruelties of youth, adds in a dash of the supernatural, and what comes out on the other side is beautiful in its viciousness and odd innocence.Jenny is a lonely child, growing up without a mother, with her alcoholic, depressed father the only loving adult in her life. Jenny is a troubled child, born with a striking physical deficiency - she can't touch any living thing, lest they die a horrible death as a bane of sickness infuses their bodies...the Jenny pox. So she grows up in solitude, left to imagine what life would be like if she could only be like normal kids, playing, holding hands, kissing, knowing at least the first budding flutter of love.Her life is spent avoiding people at all costs, and she at all times wears clothes that cover up the majority of her body - including gloves for her hands - that make her an object of ridicule. And when, as a younger child, she has a run-in with the ironically named Ashleigh Goodling, the daughter of the local preacher and a girl who will grow up to be her main foil, the resulting confrontation leads to her being an object of ridicule and fear.For her part, Ashleigh is the mirror image of Jenny. Strong where Jenny is weak, outgoing where Jenny is introverted, Ashleigh embodies everything Jenny sometimes wishes she could be. Once they reach high school, Ashleigh becomes (of course) the head cheerleader, leader of the student body, and mouthpiece for abstinence and virtue. And this is where the not-so-subtle brilliance of the story lies, for though Ashleigh seems to embody all of the cherished Christian values, her purity is purely surface-level; a disguise to hide her quest for power and domination.It seems Ashleigh has a "special talent" just as Jenny does - the ability to make people love her. As does Ashleigh's boyfriend Seth, who can heal most any wound, superficial or mortal. It is in Seth that Jenny eventually finds a like-minded soul, and when she is able to get him out of Ashleigh's scope of influence, she is allowed to grow as a character, to experience the exhilaration of physical contact and the joy of finally belonging.The novel is set up much like Stephen King's Carrie, with the cruel school children - and the rest of the townsfolk - pushing Jenny's buttons until the final confrontation, when Jenny pretty much loses her mind. The carnage that follows is disturbing yet understandable, not the least of which reason being that Bryan successfully entrenches us in Jenny's brain, allows us to feel her longing, pain, happiness, and confusion. So when she flips the switch and the story takes a turn down the path of ultimate darkness, though we scream out, no, don't do that, we completely get why the poor girl goes down the path she does.Jenny is the perfect metaphor for the everyday lost soul. Even those of us who were in places of popularity in our youths can relate to her much more than the malevolent Ashleigh. Yet this is not the only metaphorical device the author uses. His portrayal of Christian morality as a means of control and subterfuge is inspired; in a way, he's saying that experimenting while growing up is natural, and that placing false restrictions on ourselves is done not by the ones experiencing the growth, but those wishing to capitalize on the confusion of youth, a way of building an army of likeminded individuals sympathetic with a certain cause, complete with all the prejudices, hatred, and influence that have been passed down through generations. Given the state of our culture today, this is downright frightening.I think this aspect of the plot may be misconstrued by readers. In presenting us with the iniquity of fanatic belief, Bryan isn't saying Christianity in itself is bad, but that the way the doctrine is warped and beaten into the heads of our children is dangerous. As a reader I appreciated the message, as a human I wished more people would take a deeper look and understand that diversity and individuality are what drives culture to accomplish great things.Jenny Pox takes all the tropes of young adult fiction, tosses them in a pot, shakes them up, and then reorganizes them into something meaningful, a novel written for adults using children to explore the deeper reasoning behind our own intolerance. The kids are kids, acting in a way we all did in our youths, not presented as ideals but real people. You will find no damsels in distress here, no characters that derive their meaning from the opinions of the ones they're infatuated with. Abusive relationships aren't puffed up as being more than what they are, each character is in charge of their own self-discovery, and misogyny isn't glorified. Even Jenny, in her weakest state, is a strong individual, one we all can sympathize and grow along with. Even the mystical aspects at the end of the book that set up the rest of the series, and the somewhat clunky execution of the final confrontation (the only reason this book didn't get a perfect score) don't take away from this.Pick up this book. Read it. Enjoy it. Think on it. It's a great example of horror with heart, of a story that goes against the norm and uses the fantastic to heighten real events, real emotions, real experiences. Yes, I will say that I adore J.L. Bryan's writing. This is the second book of his that I've read, and it seems with each experience, my enjoyment and appreciation for his style and message only grows along with the dazzling characters he's created. He's a writer to watch out for, to dive into, to explore.This certainly won't be the last book of his I'll read, and it shouldn't be for you, either.

Jenny is an unusual girl. No one can touch her skin or they will become infected with a deadly pox and die if they are overly exposed. Her mother died during her birth and her father does the best he can, but never being able to touch someone without fear is a lonely existence. Jenny somehow manages to muster through school by ducking her head and remaining aloof, until an incident on the playground in first grade. Jenny tangles with the school's resident mean girl. A scratch and a sudden illness earn Jenny the nickname Jenny Pox. Time marches on and the event is nearly forgotten. Jenny is starting her senior year, wondering how she can survive one more year of torture. Yet, she is in for a surprise. Suddenly she is not alone, she has a friend and ally, but it is at a terrible price. Jenny has once again crossed the mean girl, Ashleigh. Now it turns out that Jenny isn't the only one with a secret power. Trouble is brewing and years of torture and resentment are about to come to a head!What I Liked:*I was taken by surprise with this one. This book seemed to be following the typical tortured shy girl who endures years of unrelenting cruelty at the hands of the mean girl, but things suddenly take a whole new direction. Especially with the added additions of the pox and the other two individuals with their own powers. What ensues is a twisted storyline full of manipulative plotting,treachery, and a tender romance, which all builds into a stunning, terrifying ending that will blow your mind. Not only are the final scenes filled with an exacting revenge, but there is a great twist that explains everything that was totally unexpected. I admit, I was fully expecting the revenge pay out, but the final revelations were amazing! Read the book to experience it for yourself!*I enjoyed the three POVs in this one. The majority of the story is told through Jenny's eyes, but we also get to experience Seth's view point and then endure the manipulative, cruel Ashleigh. Seeing everything through each character's eyes added depth to the story and I liked seeing how everything was coming together on the three different fronts.*Wow! Does this book ever have a mean girl. I usually detest mean girls, but Ashleigh is so much more than the typical mean girl. She is cold, calculating and totally manipulative. With each chapter I was more and more horrified and terrified of this girl. I absolutely abhorred and detested her, and I so wanted her to get what she deserved, but yet on the other hand, I was eager to see how far she could take things and how thick she spun her web. Needless to say, she doesn't disappoint. This girl is out for world domination, and I loathed her and loved her at the same time. She is so evil and vile and she elicited such a strong feeling of revulsion in me that I couldn't help but to be impressed. I love when a character can bring out such strong emotions!*I thoroughly enjoyed that this book builds and builds until you are on the edge of your seat with anxiety just waiting for the hammer to drop! All I will tell you is that the end is one chaotic ride. Strap in and have fun!*The absolute best part about his book is that right now you can get it for free on Amazon, so I highly suggest you get your copy now!And The Not So Much:*I was a bit befuddled at first by the lack of explanation for Jenny's condition and how her father managed to rear her all by himself and work and support her, this is not mentioned and in reality it would probably be impossible, but for the sake of fiction and a good story it is easily overlooked. I also wished that there was just touch more information on Jenny's mother and what kind of person she was.*As in a lot of YA books, the parents tend to vanish and not play an adequate role in their kids' lives. This is the case in this story as well, except that Jenny's father and Seth's parents are around in the beginning and mysteriously out of the picture at the end. Seth's circumstances were especially weird. One minute his father is there lecturing him on who he can date and laying down the law, and then he is gone to Florida for the remainder of the book, which is over the course of several months. I just found it a little hard to believe he wouldn't keep closer tabs on his son.*This book has mature themes and there are some sex scenes, drug usage and drinking, so a word of caution if you prefer to keep that content away from your reader. This one is best suited for older readers. To be fair though, the book description advises this is best suited for eighteen and older.*Finally, after the big showdown and surprising revelations at the end, I wanted a bit more closure, but I am guessing that the aftermath to the town and the citizens will be explained in the sequel Tommy Nightmares.Jenny Pox is a thrilling and terrifying read that manages to notch up the suspense until the gritty end. If you like books that follow a down trodden character who rises up and gets her revenge, this is a read for you. I was truly blown away by the characters and the story! You can download this for free, so don't hesitate, go get your copy! I can't wait to jump into book two!Favorite Quotations:"Eventually the kids grew up and stopped believing what they'd seen, and over the years the tale of "Jenny Pox" had gone the way of cooties, boogeyman, and the neighbor who hides razors in apples on Halloween.""We was trying to teach our children!" she screamed. "We hope y'all proud of yourselves! Your fault if they turn out butt-humpers.""The trees could make you sad and hopeful at the same time. You knew winter was coming, but you knew it came every year, and it passed and there would be spring again. All the dying should make you appreciate life more.""She'd always imagined life would get better as she grew older. She would get wiser, discover things, make friends, find the way to her own happiness and out of the misery.""Ashleigh doesn't have any special power. Just money, tits and an endless supply of bitch.""Though her dad wasn't quite fifty, he looked shockingly like them, going gray and his face worn down with care, just reaching for that next drink to get you through that next hour of being alive and alone.""The thing about money was that it really gave you a chance to express your insanity.""

Jenny is unable to touch anyone without killing or injuring them has to cover her hands with gloves for protection. Sadly even her dad cannot hug her when she is upset, not that he is much of a help as he is always drunk.Ever since an incident involving her `power' and the most popular girl in school, Ashleigh, she has been bullied and is a loner, her only friend is her dog, he is a stray so luckily doesn't go too near people.Jenny really likes a boy at school, Seth, but he is dating Ashleigh. Ashleigh potrays herself as a Christian but I found her character racist and manipulative. Jenny and Seth become friends and both begin to realise Ashleigh's true character. Ashleigh also has a 'power' but she uses this for revenge as she won't let go of Seth that easily. Ashleigh spreads her 'love' and starts to turn the whole town against Seth and Jenny. Part of her evil master plan results in most of the girls at high school becoming pregnant and she enjoys the publicity this gains her as the supposed abstinence group leader.The book started with a suitably teen storyline but then the theme changed to a more adult storyline (drink, drugs, sex). Also Jenny's character throughout book does not want to be violent but then becomes the total opposite at the books finale(realise there was much to provoke this). I also agree with other reviewers, there were lots of unnecessary scenes to the plot in the middle of the book. Must admit there were pages I skipped though, was glad I hadn't paid for this book. I was disappointed with the books conclusion.

Jenny Morton has a secret. Her touch is deadly, so much so her mother died giving birth to her. She isolates herself, ensuring she is covered at all times.She is the school weirdo who always wears gloves. However she is not alone in having a special power. Seth's power is to heal and Ashleigh to spread love, but Ashleigh uses hers to command and influence and gives Jenny her nickname... Jenny Pox.So far so paranormal.At first I thought this book may be aimed at a young adult audience, especially due to the title which I still don't think is very inspiring, but then some of the scenes are tad risqué.I was drawn into to this novel easily and found it a fast and fascinating read. I wasn't entirely convinced by the ending. The last few chapters have shocking twists and turns and at some points I could not see how issues would be resolved. But resolved they were, even though there is a swift change in pace.I thoroughly enjoyed this book and read it over a weekend.It is the first book in a trilogy and I am just about to buy the rest.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this freebie, it had been waiting on my kindle for a few months before I got round to reading... but then I thought I'd give it a go and WOW I'm glad I did! Wouldn't have minded paying for this as it blew me away!One of the best stories I've read in a while (and I do read a lot - across multiple genres) and have just purchased the next in the Paranormals series, Tommy Nightmare, which I can't wait to begin!The characters are well developed and easy to associate with, the plot moves along nicely at a good pace and the story had ben laughing out loud in some parts and actually crying my eyes out in others - one point of the tearful times was so moving I had to pop my kindle down for a bit to recompose myself! (Not saying what bit as don't want to spoil it) And then when I picked up again I was left feeling silly with myself and chuckling at my dramatics..#POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT# - you'll know what and where I mean if I just say Rocky!!Beautifully written tale and will highly recommend - hope the 2nd one's as good as this!! :-)

A compelling and well written account of teen angst, bullying and loneliness mixed with a dash of the paranormal. Jenny is the ultimate introvert - anyone she touches contracts a plague. She cant touch her father - and her mother died from the plague when she was born. Her condition has ruined her life and driven her father to alcoholism. School life can be challenging especially when the lead cheerleader has her heart set on making your life a misery.Her (careful) befriending of a stray dog cracks her emotional barricade and leads to the discovery that other peoples secrets can be worse than your own.A very well written book , with equal parts humor, happiness, sorrow and fear. The main characters of Jenny, Seth and Ashleigh are well drawn and easy to understand. The story development is slow at first concetrating on building believable characters and a deeply detailed setting. Without realising you are sucked in. A very heartfelt story full of brilliant moments of writing.

I was unsure about this book when I first started as I thought the language was more suitable for a YA market. However, the plot had me hooked within the first few pages so I mustered onwards and I'm so glad I did.I usually prefer to read about fantasy worlds that don't exist but this one was set in our world. However, it still seemed new to me as it was set in a very American environment of a small back town. Living in the UK this was an eye opener for me. As I read through the story I could totally picture my surroundings so the author did a good job with the descriptive settings.Loved the main 3 characters and the twist at the end was not expected at all. A bit of sex and bit of gore probably means it's not a YA story but these features were done just right and not just for the sake of it. I will be continuing to read about Jenny Pox if there is another tale to tell, she sort of grew on me, you know as a good character does.