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Jumping the Nail: A YA Psychological Novel of Risk, Manipulation, and Lost Perspective
At seventeen, Dru gets involved with the latest high school stunt-leaping between deadly cliffs into the ocean far below. Things get out of hand as manipulative relationships and resulting jealousies cause more students to risk their lives. “It’s Bunting’s acknowledgment of the allure of danger and the power that comes from facing it, as well as her on-target depiction of how easy it is to lose perspective when you fall in love, that makes her novel more than just a good, fast read.”--Booklist
172 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1991
12 people are currently reading
217 people want to read
About the author
Eve Bunting
314 books411 followersAlso known as Evelyn Bolton and A.E. Bunting.
Anne Evelyn Bunting, better known as Eve Bunting, is an author with more than 250 books. Her books are diverse in age groups, from picture books to chapter books, and topic, ranging from Thanksgiving to riots in Los Angeles. Eve Bunting has won several awards for her works.
Bunting went to school in Ireland and grew up with storytelling. In Ireland, “There used to be Shanachies… the shanachie was a storyteller who went from house to house telling his tales of ghosts and fairies, of old Irish heroes and battles still to be won. Maybe I’m a bit of a Shanchie myself, telling stories to anyone who will listen.” This storytelling began as an inspiration for Bunting and continues with her work.
In 1958, Bunting moved to the United States with her husband and three children. A few years later, Bunting enrolled in a community college writing course. She felt the desire to write about her heritage. Bunting has taught writing classes at UCLA. She now lives in Pasadena, California.
Anne Evelyn Bunting, better known as Eve Bunting, is an author with more than 250 books. Her books are diverse in age groups, from picture books to chapter books, and topic, ranging from Thanksgiving to riots in Los Angeles. Eve Bunting has won several awards for her works.
Bunting went to school in Ireland and grew up with storytelling. In Ireland, “There used to be Shanachies… the shanachie was a storyteller who went from house to house telling his tales of ghosts and fairies, of old Irish heroes and battles still to be won. Maybe I’m a bit of a Shanchie myself, telling stories to anyone who will listen.” This storytelling began as an inspiration for Bunting and continues with her work.
In 1958, Bunting moved to the United States with her husband and three children. A few years later, Bunting enrolled in a community college writing course. She felt the desire to write about her heritage. Bunting has taught writing classes at UCLA. She now lives in Pasadena, California.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
June 17, 2022
Being forced to read this for seventh grade literature class changed the trajectory of my life in a very insidious way.
December 31, 2021
If your friends all jumped off a cliff, would you?
Literally, this is exactly what this book is about. The Nail is a really high cliff along the coast of California. The story revolves around Dru who is enjoying her last summer before going away to college. What's meant to be a series of these last idyllic days though turns terrifying when one of her best friends is pressured into jumping off this cliff. What unfolds is a competition like no other, which can only end in tragedy.
I really didn't like this book.
First, it has a tone to it, the author writing with the smug superiority that they're writing a book designed to be an After School Special, because teens are just stupid sometimes. Add to this how the characters are at times flat (very little emotion when it comes to some of the more awful events) or just plain spoiled and unlikeable. Her mother is ridiculous, but then all adults are. The only person with any sense at all is Dru's sister and we only see her in a brief phone call.
While we all know young adults can do dumb things sometimes, because after all, we all did at that age, that everyone would be caught up in this kind of game for exactly the same reasons (all having to do with impressing the opposite sex) makes unpleasant generalizations about who we are when we're young, and what motivates us. The portrayal of the parents show the author's opinion that nothing ever changes, that we're always trapped by these unhealthy relationships regardless, making for a grim and dark story with no way out.
Really, I don't often hate a book, but this one is one I would avoid if you're considering it. There are so many other books which raise the stakes and build tension better, with characters far more relatable.
Literally, this is exactly what this book is about. The Nail is a really high cliff along the coast of California. The story revolves around Dru who is enjoying her last summer before going away to college. What's meant to be a series of these last idyllic days though turns terrifying when one of her best friends is pressured into jumping off this cliff. What unfolds is a competition like no other, which can only end in tragedy.
I really didn't like this book.
First, it has a tone to it, the author writing with the smug superiority that they're writing a book designed to be an After School Special, because teens are just stupid sometimes. Add to this how the characters are at times flat (very little emotion when it comes to some of the more awful events) or just plain spoiled and unlikeable. Her mother is ridiculous, but then all adults are. The only person with any sense at all is Dru's sister and we only see her in a brief phone call.
While we all know young adults can do dumb things sometimes, because after all, we all did at that age, that everyone would be caught up in this kind of game for exactly the same reasons (all having to do with impressing the opposite sex) makes unpleasant generalizations about who we are when we're young, and what motivates us. The portrayal of the parents show the author's opinion that nothing ever changes, that we're always trapped by these unhealthy relationships regardless, making for a grim and dark story with no way out.
Really, I don't often hate a book, but this one is one I would avoid if you're considering it. There are so many other books which raise the stakes and build tension better, with characters far more relatable.
January 3, 2020
Jumping the Nail is about teenage morons, some of whom jump off a cliff from a dangerous height. They're not morons because they jump; they're morons because it's inherent in their being. Everyone in this book gets the chance to be moronic, even those who don't jump. This book wasn't nearly as much fun as I thought it would be. I should have read the description more carefully, but in rare form for me I read the book more carefully than the description this time. Alas.
It's also about Dru's loud, annoying mom who wants to revise her own life to be with that boy she used to date now that he lives a rich, fabulous lifestyle. She tells her daughter not to go off to college in the Midwest and just be with her boyfriend, Mike (also Dru's mother's ex's son), who'll only take classes at San Diego State University part-time instead of applying himself because what they have reminds her of what she had with his father. Mike, however, actually seems like quite a catch. He's polite, thoughtful, and loaded - and possibly good-looking, though I don't know that I trust the author's taste in boys after I read Oh, Rick last year. In the end, Dru disregards her mom's bullshit and goes off to Northwestern anyway. Will teenage love endure? Probably not.
But even though the main characters' relationship may have been a swing and a miss (a missed bunt, perhaps?), this book wasn't. It's my favorite of Bunting's novels that I have read so far. She drank a little less of the non sequitur punch this time around, but its effects still linger from all that she drank while writing the books she wrote during the 80s. Here's a taste:
Some might call that "All over the Place," but I call it "Bunting with a Magic Pen while Nobody's on Base." A true connoisseur of her work can sense the quality. And that is something I'm not.
It's also about Dru's loud, annoying mom who wants to revise her own life to be with that boy she used to date now that he lives a rich, fabulous lifestyle. She tells her daughter not to go off to college in the Midwest and just be with her boyfriend, Mike (also Dru's mother's ex's son), who'll only take classes at San Diego State University part-time instead of applying himself because what they have reminds her of what she had with his father. Mike, however, actually seems like quite a catch. He's polite, thoughtful, and loaded - and possibly good-looking, though I don't know that I trust the author's taste in boys after I read Oh, Rick last year. In the end, Dru disregards her mom's bullshit and goes off to Northwestern anyway. Will teenage love endure? Probably not.
But even though the main characters' relationship may have been a swing and a miss (a missed bunt, perhaps?), this book wasn't. It's my favorite of Bunting's novels that I have read so far. She drank a little less of the non sequitur punch this time around, but its effects still linger from all that she drank while writing the books she wrote during the 80s. Here's a taste:
At least the Jumping the Nail craze is over. For this year. I guess I can't say it's over forever. As Claire says, there'll come another summer. Having her home this past month helped.
Sometimes she or Dad played lovely tranquil piano concertos. And I could cry.
My flight to O'Hare was booked for Thursday...
Some might call that "All over the Place," but I call it "Bunting with a Magic Pen while Nobody's on Base." A true connoisseur of her work can sense the quality. And that is something I'm not.
March 12, 2018
The “Book Jumping the Nail” by Eve Bunting is about a teen girl named Dru and her friends jumping off a large cliff nicknamed the Nail into water. Dru’s friends Elisa and Scooter want to jump together but it is very risky because any mistake can be fatal.
I rated this book 3 stars because I like how the Inciting Incident was early but not too early to cut off the stories exposition, I did run into a problem through. After Elisa and Scooter jumped the rising action leading to the climax wasn’t really there. The book built up a lot of tension at the beginning but died out throughout the story, I also noticed a lack of literary techniques. I did like how they really gave individual personalities to each character and made them seem real like they are actual people not just a character in a book. So, overall I mostly enjoyed this book but I do think it could be improved.
I rated this book 3 stars because I like how the Inciting Incident was early but not too early to cut off the stories exposition, I did run into a problem through. After Elisa and Scooter jumped the rising action leading to the climax wasn’t really there. The book built up a lot of tension at the beginning but died out throughout the story, I also noticed a lack of literary techniques. I did like how they really gave individual personalities to each character and made them seem real like they are actual people not just a character in a book. So, overall I mostly enjoyed this book but I do think it could be improved.
June 8, 2020
OK YA book about teens jumping off a dangerous cliff. In the end the depressed girl commits suicide, which detracts from the theme of the stupidity of following the crowd.
March 12, 2018
In this book Jumping the Nail by Eve Bunting, teenagers start jumping off a 90 feet deep cliff. One teenager-Elisa jumps off with her boyfriend-Scooter. Unaware of the events that will occur next. The narrator-Dru. Tries to help Elisa with her problems, both in her relationship and problems that were caused from the nail, however she refuses help.
I gave this book 2 stars for multiple reasons. The books plot was overall, okay. However the way that events were told, the waiting for exciting things to arise, and MANY other things, made me extremely dislike this book. Some examples in this book that I thought the author could do so much better were, when Elisa told Dru what had happened in the nail. Yes- she did seem in shock, however it seemed like a lazy way to tell what she had experienced, the author could have used a different setting, and used literary techniques to make the environment much scarier. It felt as though there was no rising action. More if you stayed in the resolution double the time and then suddenly popped into the climax, one that you didn't know existed. The plot of this book is, in my opinion, amazing. Which is one of the only things that I believe make this book a 2 star instead of 1. The overall idea of Jumping the Nail is very creative.
The other reason why this book got a 2 instead of a 1, is the fact that the characters act like real people. Elisa is obviously in a abusive relationship, and she acts like someone who would be in a abusive relationship. She denies it several times, even though Scooter controls her every move. Scooter denies that he is bad for her. He even tells Dru that he "fixed her." However, overall this book was in my opinion-done very poorly.
I gave this book 2 stars for multiple reasons. The books plot was overall, okay. However the way that events were told, the waiting for exciting things to arise, and MANY other things, made me extremely dislike this book. Some examples in this book that I thought the author could do so much better were, when Elisa told Dru what had happened in the nail. Yes- she did seem in shock, however it seemed like a lazy way to tell what she had experienced, the author could have used a different setting, and used literary techniques to make the environment much scarier. It felt as though there was no rising action. More if you stayed in the resolution double the time and then suddenly popped into the climax, one that you didn't know existed. The plot of this book is, in my opinion, amazing. Which is one of the only things that I believe make this book a 2 star instead of 1. The overall idea of Jumping the Nail is very creative.
The other reason why this book got a 2 instead of a 1, is the fact that the characters act like real people. Elisa is obviously in a abusive relationship, and she acts like someone who would be in a abusive relationship. She denies it several times, even though Scooter controls her every move. Scooter denies that he is bad for her. He even tells Dru that he "fixed her." However, overall this book was in my opinion-done very poorly.
March 16, 2018
Jumping the Nail
By: Eve Bunting
The jumping place is called the Nail. It is ninety feet from the top of the cliff to the water below. In this book, in the city of La Paloma, California high school graduates are determined to jump the Nail, there has only been a few jumpers, some unsuccessful. People were told plenty of rumors about people jumping the Nail, some believed them and some didn’t. “Sometimes a person has to go along. There are things to prove” but what happens after, the only thing that is proven was the rumors to be true.
I definitely enjoyed reading this book because of the way it was written, it got more intense the more I read and made me want to keep reading. The impression I got from the cover is totally different from actually reading the story, I was surprised and curious and worried for the characters! I recommend this book for people who are looking for an entertaining and advertising story.
I’d give this book about 4 stars, one thing I didn’t like about this book was that it wasn’t lengthy, the way it ended was kind of disappointing because I still have so many questions as to why it happened or what happened after the incident. I think it would’ve made the book more interesting if the author made Elisa the narrator, just to show a better perspective of what happened and why it happened. Overall, I did like this book, I totally recommend reading it.
By: Eve Bunting
The jumping place is called the Nail. It is ninety feet from the top of the cliff to the water below. In this book, in the city of La Paloma, California high school graduates are determined to jump the Nail, there has only been a few jumpers, some unsuccessful. People were told plenty of rumors about people jumping the Nail, some believed them and some didn’t. “Sometimes a person has to go along. There are things to prove” but what happens after, the only thing that is proven was the rumors to be true.
I definitely enjoyed reading this book because of the way it was written, it got more intense the more I read and made me want to keep reading. The impression I got from the cover is totally different from actually reading the story, I was surprised and curious and worried for the characters! I recommend this book for people who are looking for an entertaining and advertising story.
I’d give this book about 4 stars, one thing I didn’t like about this book was that it wasn’t lengthy, the way it ended was kind of disappointing because I still have so many questions as to why it happened or what happened after the incident. I think it would’ve made the book more interesting if the author made Elisa the narrator, just to show a better perspective of what happened and why it happened. Overall, I did like this book, I totally recommend reading it.
March 12, 2018
Jumping the Nail by Eve Bunting
4/5 Stars
This book is about a bunch of teenagers who find jumping off a cliff into the water below. Yes, I know, it’s crazy! The cliff in question is named the “Nail” which is 90 feet above the water. The main character in the story is Dru. Her friends Elisa and Scooter decide to jump off the Nail. Want to find out if they survive? Read the book. Their stunt sparks new chain of events that Dru and her boyfriend Mike try to stop before someone else gets hurt.
The reason that I’m rating it four out of five stars is because it was interesting at the start but I lost interest after a while. I’m not a big reader so it’s hard for me to read something not very interesting to me. For someone who likes to read however, I’m sure this would be a nine one. It’s short so it won’t take long to read and the text is large so there’s not a million words on each page.
This book has A LOT of quotes from the characters. That is also something that makes it harder to read as you need to keep track of who’s talking or you don’t know what’s up. The book is only 172 pages so it’s not a huge burden. Eve Bunting uses a lot of imagery in the story which helps you visualize the setting and other things. Overall if you enjoy reading, you should read this. If you don’t, maybe give it a try and see if you enjoy it.
4/5 Stars
This book is about a bunch of teenagers who find jumping off a cliff into the water below. Yes, I know, it’s crazy! The cliff in question is named the “Nail” which is 90 feet above the water. The main character in the story is Dru. Her friends Elisa and Scooter decide to jump off the Nail. Want to find out if they survive? Read the book. Their stunt sparks new chain of events that Dru and her boyfriend Mike try to stop before someone else gets hurt.
The reason that I’m rating it four out of five stars is because it was interesting at the start but I lost interest after a while. I’m not a big reader so it’s hard for me to read something not very interesting to me. For someone who likes to read however, I’m sure this would be a nine one. It’s short so it won’t take long to read and the text is large so there’s not a million words on each page.
This book has A LOT of quotes from the characters. That is also something that makes it harder to read as you need to keep track of who’s talking or you don’t know what’s up. The book is only 172 pages so it’s not a huge burden. Eve Bunting uses a lot of imagery in the story which helps you visualize the setting and other things. Overall if you enjoy reading, you should read this. If you don’t, maybe give it a try and see if you enjoy it.
March 16, 2018
The book "Jumping the Nail" by Eve Bunting is about Dru and her friend Elisa were challenged to jump of a cliff called the 'Nail'. But it's a risky activity that leads to some conflicts.
I have gave this book 2 stars because it wasn't all that interesting. There wasn't a lot of tension throughout the story. In the the beginning there was high tension but faded out while the story was going on. The plot was interesting though. By the end of the book tension increases. Enjoy:)!!!
I have gave this book 2 stars because it wasn't all that interesting. There wasn't a lot of tension throughout the story. In the the beginning there was high tension but faded out while the story was going on. The plot was interesting though. By the end of the book tension increases. Enjoy:)!!!
November 27, 2016
This is a very strange and frustrating book in that it ends just as it was starting to rev up! The romance aspect is very 1980s-Sweet Dream Romance-esque, but the more haunting psychological elements of the story are intriguing and should have been explored more. Beware of writers who constantly have their characters use other characters' first names in dialogue. 2.5 stars.
August 1, 2025
Peer pressure - are you strong enough and courageous enough to do what is right, rather than give in to it? This is a sad story of the stupid things we do when we're immature, insecure and desperate to fit in - at the expense of reason and good sense.
May 21, 2021
3.5 stars
December 13, 2022
I can definitely see everyone at my high-school doing this. Teenagers are so stupid. Anyway me and my friends are planning to go jump one day.
October 29, 2024
I had never heard of this one, but it was enjoyable. Little bit of action, but lots of teenage angst.
April 19, 2009
What I learned from reading 'jumping the nail' is that when you care for someone you'll show it somehow like trying to help them make the right decissions.In this book t shows that there are two best friends and they are both very close. One of the girls had a boyfriend who was very coll and wild. So there was this cliff which lead to water called the nail. So the girl with the boyfriend jumped the nail with her boyfriend and swore she saw a girl down there telling her to stay. She told her best friend about her,but no-one believed her. So one day she there was like a beach and the girl thought she heard the girl from the sea talk to her when it was relly this this other girl who was a ....READ THIS BOOK TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED NEXT!!!
September 18, 2020
Daughter borrowed it from the library but I read it for a quick read. Dru seems to have her head on straight. Hope it stayed that way.
We’ll see how my daughter likes it.
We’ll see how my daughter likes it.
November 17, 2011
I think that this book was a great book. At sertain parts it had me thinking whether or not im going to keep reading it or not. But, mostly everyother part made me stand on the edge of my seat with what was going to happen next. It was very discriptive with the information that you were being told. The ending of the book really threw me off and it was like an "out of the blue" ending and that's what i think is one of the best parts of this book.
September 13, 2013
This book as a teen scared the hell out of me and oddly still does. There is just something dark under the surface that bothered then and now. I highly recommend this for high school and up. The middle school rating on it I would not listen to because some of the subject matter is just a little to old for an eleven / twelve year old to handle.
September 23, 2023
The pacing of this book is great. I really found myself rooting for the characters, and the way it felt like a raw, real coming of age novel really stuck with me. Things don’t always work out, things can go bad and this book wasn’t afraid to touch upon that. A quick read, but one that you’ll be recommending to others immediately after.
January 3, 2011
Well written and intense but the ending was hard to take. Very much a 'mature' subject matter when you get to the end but a great book to teach about what constitutes love and what you do to show that love.
September 14, 2013
I read this as a possible ninth grade book for class study since there are a bunch of them lying around. I liked the storyline - peer pressure, depression, daredevil stunts - but I think students could handle it on their own.
August 18, 2007
I think Eve Bunting should stick to picture books. It felt like she was trying too hard with this one.
December 20, 2007
Great YA read.
June 23, 2009
Some of the characters/texts remind me of twilight. The plot wasn't really the greatest and i think that the moral is to not overreact over something... it can lead to bad happenings.
June 29, 2009
I didnt like how it didnt end happy. Thats life though i guess. I couldnt stop reading, i read it all in one day. it was good.
June 13, 2010
An excellent but not very well known book.
February 23, 2011
Better than average teen fare: suspenseful, a little romantic, not entirely predictable. Some of my students will enjoy this.
Read
August 6, 2011A good, quick read. My eighth grade girls will love it: a cute, rich guy, home-wrecking girls, peer pressure. The book jacket says Eve Bunting has written over 200 books. Jeesh.
May 9, 2012
Excellent book for dealing with peer pressure.
June 7, 2013
it was a good story but one of the most boring starts and ending most likely i've ever read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews