Brittney Morris, an absolute powerhouse in YA Literature, is back at it again with The Jump. This contemporary novel explores themes of gentrification, abuse of power and capitalistic greed through the eyes of a group of teenagers who join a dangerous scavenger hunt to gain influence and power. 

This group, which calls itself “Team Jericho”, is composed of Jax, Yas, Spider, and Han. Their neighborhood is in danger—an oil refinery is about to be built right next to/in place of the community garden that feeds a lot of the families in the area. Without the free produce from this garden, the neighborhood families would have a significantly harder time accessing food. The locals have all been protesting for weeks, but it seems like nothing they are doing is creating any change, so Team Jericho is sick and tired of it. 

When the group logs into the puzzle forum they frequent, they find a message from “The Order”, a notorious organization in the city. Shocked that The Order has created a puzzle, the team bands together to gain the undisclosed “power” they promise to the winning team. Set against several other groups of teenagers, Team Jericho must solve puzzles quickly to win the challenge. But what if the challenge isn’t what it seems?

Morris did an incredible job creating teenagers who feel real and whole, even in the context of a less-than-300-page Book. We all know I am a sucker for well-written and authentic queer and trans representation, and she achieved just that, which is the cherry on top of an already great book. The Jump is a fascinating take on the world we live in today, featuring corrupt police officers, greedy politicians and the ever increasing impact of gentrification on communities across the country. 

If you are a fan of puzzles and action, this is the book for you! I think just about anyone could enjoy this though, and I hope more and more people will pick this book up because it truly was phenomenal. 

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I received a free copy of this book in honor of its recent paperback release, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions reflected here are my own. Thank you to Rylee at Spark Point Press for sending me this title.