Although "Jasper Jones" easily reaches its position among the Top 10 of my all-time-favourite books, I have delayed writing this review for such a long time that there's no way for me to find a new alibi once again. Craig Silvey has earned each praise he could possibly receive, for he has managed to take his reader on a journey as complex and thrilling as only a few authors are usually able to. At least in my case. 
 The novel focuses on different, yet convincingly established subjects like discrimination and racism, social marginalization and unlikely friendships, all of them woven into the context of a ruthlessly conducted murder. Supported by the excellent description of a small town setting in the Australian Outback of the mid-60s, all those aspects are depicted with an unexpected realism, helping the reader to delve deeper into the story. From a general point of view, the plotlines are cheerless and bleak, yet Craig Silvey manages to make the reader feel comfortable with the setting he created, the realistic characters he introduced and the story he so perfectly outlined. 
 Of course, even the best book has some flaws, some things to be missed. For example, there was a LOT of cricket in this book. And if I say a lot, I mean a good deal more than that. The author even included a five-pages-long cricket glossary at the end of the book due to several terms anyone not or only slightly interested in cricket would not have understood otherwise. It was distracting to have to look up all those terms every time they were mentioned, and they were mentioned quite often. But don't think this is a book about cricket. The sport aspects are very interestingly included into the story, bringing several characters together on one huge occasion and creating momentous conflicts with essential consequences. 
 The book had many things to enjoy. There was Jeffrey Lu, a Vietnamese immigrant and the protagonist's best friend, there were some thrilling trips into the Australian outback, a creepy description of the protagonists finding a dead body, the realistic portrayal of severe and struggling parents, and a matching ending. I have to admit, it's probably a book which is not going to be liked by everyone. You might love it, or you might hate it, but it's so worth the read, though. 
 The coolest thing about it all: I actually caught myself complaining about the hot temperatures, reading of how Chuck and all the other characters had to sweat. In January. Yes. I complained about hot temperatures in January, because of a story set during a summer in Australia. Now say something about the atmosphere not being well-established. 
 Finally, I'll include two quotes which might (or might not) make you realize how well the author was able to find words for what he wanted to describe, and will end this review with a huge recommendation for everyone who's interested in a lovely book dealing with important subjects and interesting, breathing characters. 
 "I don't understand a thing about this world: about people, and why they do the things they do. The more I find out, the more I uncover, the more I know, the less I understand." 
 "There's no such thing as God, Charlie, at least not how they say. Just like there's no such thing as Zeus or Apollo or bloody unicorns. You're on your own. And that can make you feel either lonely or powerful. When you're born, you wither luck out or you don't. It's a lottery. Tough shit or good on yer. But from there, it's all up to you... soon as you can walk and talk, you start makin your own luck. And I don't need some spirit in the sky to help me do that. I can do it on me own. But see, that's what I reckon God really is, Charlie. It's that part inside me that's stronger and harder than anything else. And I reckon prayer is just trusting in it, having faith in it, just asking meself to be tough. And that's all you can do. I don't need a bunch of bullshit stories about towers and boats and floods or rules about sin. It's all just a complicated way to get to that place in you, and it's not honest either. I don't need to trick meself into thinking anyone else is listenin', or even cares. Because it doesn't matter. I matter. And I know I'll be alright. Because I got a good heart, and fuck this town for making me try and believe otherwise. It's what you come with and what you leave with. And that's all I got." 
 Oh, I have to reread this sooner than soon.