Jumping the Nail (1991) by Eve Bunting is a young adult bildungsroman about Dru, a high-achieving teen from La Paloma, California, who is thrust into the world of wealthy, thrill-seeking friends. When her boyfriend's friend, Scooter, convinces his mentally ill girlfriend, Elisa, to jump from a dangerous cliff called the Nail, tragedy strikes. Elisa, traumatized by the jump, spirals into further depression, leading to her tragic death. As the dangerous trend of cliff-jumping spreads, Dru must navigate the tension between her love for Mike and her dreams of attending Northwestern University. The novel explores peer pressure, depression, and the consequences of reckless choices.
0