Boekverslag Jan Page

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Titel:	Juggling lessons
Auteur:	Jan Page
Jaar van uitgave:	2002
Aantal pagina's:	179

Auteur:	Jan Page
Geslacht:	man
Nationaliteit:	Engels
Populaire titels:	2002Juggling lessons (4)

1. Juggling lessons
2. Juggling lessons
3. Juggling lessons
4. Juggling lessons

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Title: Juggling Lessons
Author: Jan Page
Published by: Corgi Books
Year of first publication: 2002
Number of pages: 204

Summary

Chapter One-

Eleanor Sharratt describes herself as long. Everything about her is long, except her gorgeous blue eyes. She has braces and doesn’t say much. She is upstairs removing blue polish from her toenails because her Dad and Julie, her twenty-four year old stepmother who used to be her babysitter, didn’t think that it’s appropriate for a thirteen year old girl to wear make-up. Julie is pregnant. She hears them talking about her Mom, Fizz, and they say mean things about her and that Fizz was Dad’s biggest mistake. Eleanor thinks then that she must be her Dad’s longest mistake. Tonight is the school dance for the end of the year. Eleanor has a big crush on Craig Basford and hopes that he will ask her to dance, but Dad, who is there as a chaperone, embarrasses Eleanor so much by disco dancing that only nerdy boys ask her to dance. She spends the rest of the time with her friend Hannah in the bathroom. Tomorrow Eleanor’s Mom is going to pick her up to spend the summer with her. Her Mom is a circus performer.

Chapter Two-

Since her parents refuse to drive to each other’s homes, one in the Midlands and one at the sea, her Dad drives her to a service station and waits until Fizz shows up before scurrying away. Her parents have been separated for eight years and they refuse to even see each other. Since Fizz is a vegetarian Dad encourages her to eat meat now to get protein. Fizz is late but she is always late and this makes Dad feel better about himself. When Eleanor was little and after they divorced Fizz went to Paris to be a mime. Eleanor is much more happy when she is with Fizz. She doesn’t care how other people feel about her and does what she wants and talks more freely. She even has a different name, Nel Sharpe. Fizz is a gypsy hippy new age type.

Chapter Three-

Fizz’s car and house are very untidy, but Nel loves it compared to her Dad’s and Julie’s overly tidy house. The cottage where Fizz lives is a run down little house on the ocean. Fizz says she can be her assistant this summer and that a Spanish group of acrobats, Los Diablos, is coming to work with her. Nel imagines that one of the sons in the family will be very handsome, but then remembers that she is her for herself and not for boys when she gets her hair all plaited up that night.

Chapter Four-

Los Diablos arrive in a van. Nel meets Rosa first, and then Didac and Jordi, then finally Oriol. She thinks Oriol is very sexy and want to be around him more. They have brought wine with them. Nel has some wine and knows her Dad would have fit over it. Soon everyone but Nel and Oriol are a bit drunk and sleepy on wine. Oriol is down at the beach and Nel goes to speak with him, but he doesn’t know much English. They go to get something to eat in town because there isn’t anything to eat at the house, but Nel forgot her money and Oriol doesn’t have any British money. Oriol then performs some juggling and tumbling and Nel does a little bit of juggling. Nel also lies about her age to Oriol and says she’s fifteen. They make enough money to eat then go home, only to see that Rosa brought some food and is chopping vegetables.

Chapter Five-

They all get up very early at six, which is even more difficult because everyone was up until two the night before. They have to be in Somerset by nine AM because they are due for the festival there. Nel arranges it so she can ride with the boys there, but it comes to no good because they speak Catalan the whole trip. Once there they go to set up. Fizz is a bit snippy at having to have been woken up so early so Nel wanders over to the Natural Healing Tent. She sees Oskar and Wolfgang, two Germans who dress up like penguins and play the saxophone. They chat but Los Diablos are about to perform so Nel runs back.

Chapter Six-

Nel arrives just to time to see the act. It involves a crane and a specially outfitted caravan and is very impressive. But before it’s over and Nel can see all of Oriol’s part her mother drags her away to help her with her act, which involves balancing and juggling fruit. She isn’t as impressive as Los Diablos but she interacts with the audience well and makes them laugh. Fizz apologises for dragging her away and later than night they all get henna tattoos and Nel gets to be around Oriol more.

Chapter Seven-

Nel is at the quay and writes to Dad first but is reluctant to tell him what a good time she’s been having so just gives him the flat facts. She then writes Hannah and tells her all about Oriol. She is pretty sure he likes her. He and his brother and father return from a boat trip. Oriol looks in the shop windows and doesn’t seem to be in a good mood. Nel frets about the state of their relationship. That night they have paella for dinner, but it isn’t real paella because Fizz refused to get fish for it. Everyone’s in a bit of sour mood so Nel suggests they play cricket on the beach. Everyone is having a fun time until Rosa hurts her rib, which was previously injured and she has to go to the hospital. Nel is worried that they will all have to go back to Spain now because they can’t do the act without Rosa.

Chapter Eight-

Nel wakes up early and hears people talking downstairs. She hears her name and thinks they are blaming her, but they aren’t and are just grateful it didn’t happen during the act. They need three people for it and ask Nel to do it. Oriol says she should do it and hugs her when she accepts. She doesn’t have to do much, just stay still. There is no time to practice and during the act she is terrified. However it is a success and as a celebration she gets her nose pierced. On the way back Oriol hold her hand and later they kiss and she is very excited. There is a message from her Dad on the phone and says it’s urgent and she needs to call immediately.

Chapter Nine-

Nel is coming back on the train. The baby was born prematurely and might not live. Nel supposes she should be feeling very sad but doesn’t, just kinda moody. Oriol gave her some pretty silk juggling balls as a going away present. Dad hassles her for her hair and nose ring and her clothes and says she is going to have to shower before she can see the baby. He says she should have more sense than to put them through this. She changes and is Eleanor again. Dad says how much he’s missed but she hasn’t missed him and feels bad about. The baby, Alexander, will need to be in the hospital for thirteen more weeks. Eleanor wishes she could be back at her mothers with Los Diablos instead of with her fussy father. When she sees the baby she likes him very much though.

Chapter Ten-

They spend the next five days at the hospital with the baby. Eleanor touches the glass and it accidentally sets off the alarm. Julie gives her a mean look and tells her to be more careful and stop thumping around. Julie is being very hard to deal with and gets mad and leaves the room. Eleanor tells Dad that Julie doesn’t even like having her around, that she spoils her idea of a happy family and that she doesn’t want a teenager “daughter”. Dad says it’s all in her head and it’s important that the family stick together but Eleanor doesn’t believe Julie to be part of her family anyway and begs to spend the next day with Hannah.

Chapter Eleven-

Eleanor is happy to be with Hannah. Even though the baby is making good progress Julie doesn’t allow anyone to be happy. Eleanor tells Hannah she is going to write to Oriol and that she doesn’t want to go back to the hospital tomorrow. Julie will probably get a flat at the hospital and Dad will move in, but Eleanor is worried about how she will then get to school. Hannah suggests that she move in with Fizz until the baby is out of the hospital. Fizz agrees over the phone instantly but Dad takes some more time. He finally agrees. She gets ready to go to Fizz’s for the fall term.

Chapter Twelve-

Dad drives Eleanor to the same service station. She is sick of his refusal to see Fizz and tells him she’s here when she isn’t. He runs away and thirty minutes later Fizz shows up with Oriol. They go back to the cottage. Fizz has been filling in Nel’s bit in the act but is happy she’s back so she can focus on her own act. Oriol and Nel go swimming in the sea. That night he teaches her some Catalan and they make out.

Chapter Thirteen-

The first few pages of the chapter are letters that Nel’s written to Hannah. She tells her that they’ve been very busy with performances, that it’s been raining, Oriol wants to stay with her and that her and Fizz have been invited to Spain next summer. Los Diablos leaves on Sunday and come Saturday both Oriol and Nel are very depressed. They are all packing and Dad calls her mobile to tell her that Alexander is getting even better. That night they have a cookout on the beach and do a traditional Spanish dance called the Sardana. Oriol tell Nel that he loves her.

Chapter Fourteen-

Oriol and his family leave. Both Nel and Fizz are in a bad mood, Nel because Oriol is gone and now she doesn’t think it’s so great living with Fizz, and Fizz because now that the season is over she has to find another source of income. Nel doesn’t even have a firm communication plan with Oriol. On the first day of school Fizz doesn’t get up until to it’s too late and since she is driving Nel to school Nel is late for her first day. A girl named Lowenna befriends her. Fizz doesn’t keep much food in the house and isn’t the best kind of mom. Nel goes to town with Lowenna one day. Lowenna plays in the arcade all day but then they run into Wolfgang in his penguin costume. He says he is staying at a youth hostel but Nel says he should come stay with them.

Chapter Fifteen-

Wolfgang and Fizz fall in love. Nel can’t believe it because they are so different. Wolfgang keeps the house very clean and full of food, but Nel only wants one Dad, her real Dad. Plus Nel is grossed out by their constant kissing and such. She has an argument with Fizz and is tempted to go back to Dad, but the baby still isn’t back in the house and she doesn’t want to make life more difficult by having Julie angry at her for coming back. Wolfgang comes up with a new act where he would play Christmas songs on the saxophone and Fizz would juggle presents. Nel doesn’t like being friends with Lowenna, she’s rude and loud and doesn’t get on well with most people. She goes to juggle with the balls Oriol gave her and thinks about it.

Chapter Sixteen

It is Nel’s fourteenth birthday. Much to her disappointment Fizz isn’t up yet to make anything special so she goes to school. Lowenna wants to take her to the McDonalds and then to a horror movie for her birthday. They get in trouble for talking and get detention, but then slip out and cut classes. They shoplift some clothes but they are noticed and they run. Nel twists her ankle and can’t run or walk very much. They are stuck in town after the last bus and have to take a taxi back. Fizz and Wolfgang are upset and worried and had made her a cake and such but she argues with them and runs upstairs. On her bed are some cards-one from Hannah, some money from Dad, and a letter from Oriol. She doesn’t feel welcome either at her mothers or at her fathers and wants to run away to Spain.

Chapter Seventeen-

No one had noticed that the girls skipped class yesterday. They are in the computer lab looking up information about Barcelona. Lowenna says that planes are too expensive and that she should take a bus there. Once she is in London she can get a bus to Barcelona. She tells Fizz that she is going to stay with her Dad, but her Dad won’t call Fizz to see where she is so neither parent will realize she isn’t with either of them. She makes it to London alright but under fifteens aren’t allowed to travel internationally by themselves. She tells a lady that her father didn’t realize that when he dropped her off and he can’t come because her baby brother is premature. Jen, the lady’s name, believes her and agrees to accompany her. They buy their tickets and get a little sleep before leaving.

Chapter Eighteen-

They are on the way. Jen chats and talks to her, but soon she gets sick of all her stories. Jen travels around the world and has many tales. Nel hasn’t thought too much about what she is going to do when she gets there. She refuses breakfast when they get to Frances because she has no money. Jen then tells her that she can get money out of the ATM then she is relieved because she has a cash card and gets some money to eat with. She sleeps most of the way through France. But when she arrives in Barcelona she finds that she has lost the letter from Oriol.

Chapter Nineteen-

Since she lost the letter Nel doesn’t have Oriol’s address. She is upset and crying but Jen says she’ll help her. Nel is very grateful to Jen now. They take the metro to a hostel. Nel is scared and wishes she was Eleanor, safe at home in Derby. It’s very noisy in Barcelona at night and she can’t sleep.

Chapter Twenty

They spend the next morning searching for Los Diablos but have no luck. Nel is no longer afraid. Jen tells her to call Fizz and just act like she’s at her father’s and needs his address. She tries to call but she isn’t there. They go and look about the city. Nel tries again but still no answer. She sees Oriol performing and they are both very happy to see each other. They go back to the apartment, along with Jen.

Chapter Twenty-One

Once Nel gets to the apartment Rosa is shocked that she came by herself and calls Fizz. Nel speaks to Fizz on the phone and Fizz says she’s crazy to go off by herself. Dad did call Fizz and they feared that she had been either abducted or murdered. Nel then calls Dad to tell him she’s safe but he isn’t upset, just happy she’s safe. They are both coming to Barcelona to get her. Jen leaves and wishes her luck. When they are they apologize for what has been happening and they wish they had been communicating better. Nel explains everything that had happened. Later that night they all go out for diner and Oriol and Nel slip off to be alone.

Characters

Eleanor Sharratt/Nel Sharpe-same person. She is a fourteen year old girl who’s parent’s are divorced. She splits her time between their homes.
Fizz-Nel’s Mom. She is a circus performer.
Collin- Eleanor’s father.
Julie-Eleanor’s stepmother, who just has a premature baby.
Oriol-Sixteen year old Spanish boy who is Nel’s boyfriend. He performs acrobatic with his family as Los Diablos.
Hannah-Nel’s best friend
Lowenna-Nel’s temporary friend in Cornwall
Wolfgang-Fizz’s boyfriend.

Theme

This whole book, even the title, is a reference to how difficult it is when your parents are divorced. You are expected to live two different lives, one life to please one parent and one life to please the other. It is also especially hard when your parents don’t recognize or even marginalize your feelings about the situation, like how Dad insisted that Julie and Eleanor were a family or how Fizz didn’t understand why Nel would be so upset about having missed her birthday. Since they don’t communicate with each other either it only makes the situation a lot worse. Nel didn’t feel that she was wanted at either home, which is a common feeling because parents who divorce often get new lives that seem to have very little to do with the children from their previous marriage.