The Book Chook
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Children’s Book Review, Being Jack
Posted: 18 Nov 2014 10:00 AM PST
Reviewed by Susan Stephenson, www.thebookchook.com
Being Jack was written by Susanne Gervay, illustrated by Cathy Wilcox, and published by Harper Collins Australia, 2014.
From the publisher:
Jack is in Year 6 now and still loves his photography, surfing, and crazy family. Things are going well for him, particularly at school where he isn’t bullied any more. But he notices that his best friend Christopher is being taunted and is starting to miss school and hiding out and avoiding everyone. And when a football match turns ugly and Jack and Christopher witness some unfair dirty play, they know that, again, the bullying has to stop. Ages: 9+.
I very much enjoyed the earlier Jack books: I am Jack, Super Jack and Always Jack. I also adored Monkey Baa Theatre’s performance of I am Jack. Being Jack, the final book in the series, sees our hero Jack at almost 13, an immensely likeable and believable character. I think that’s one of the reasons kids relate so well to the Jack books – they can see themselves in Jack. His life is like theirs. He interacts with good friends, kids at school, teachers, and relatives. Jack loves his family but is often flabbergasted by their behaviour and their idiosyncrasies.
Gervay knows how to make kids laugh, and humour there is, as well as drama and lots of moments for kids to think about and discuss. We see inside Jack’s head and feel what he feels. The present tense makes everything immediate, often almost like a stream of consciousness as Jack is bewildered by chaotic thoughts and real problems. How can he best help his mate, Christopher? Should he try to find and contact his real dad? How will that impact those he loves?
The illustrations by Cathy Wilcox are minimal because this is a novel. But the little black and white sketches add a real charm to the story, and may help younger readers not to be daunted by the amount of text. I hope so, because this, like all the Jack books, is such a great read!
In Being Jack, Gervay challenges us to think about bullying in all its forms. No longer tortured by bullies as he was in I am Jack, nevertheless, Jack has hard decisions to make about being a witness to bullying. For children, for all of us, these are important issues to think about, making Being Jack not just a book kids will very much enjoy, but one that nudges them towards taking responsibility for their own actions.
The post “Gervay challenges us to think about bullying in all its forms” – Review appeared first on Susanne Gervay's Blog.
Days of being an author – is called crazy-good and up-for-air. Madly frantic!!!!
Racing from KINGS School, to TARA Girls School to Murray Farm Public School to share my I AM JACK books and ‘Elephants Have Wings.’ The librarians are so hospitable – I got well fed and lots of coffee and I got to share my books with gorgeous kids.
Then it’s Gleebook shop Book Launch of Alice Pung’s first young adult novel – Laurinda – launched by my friend and colleague Melina Marchetta. Both Alice and Melina are Room to Read Writer Ambassadors like I am. We’re all on a mission to get books to kids in the developing world.
Then it’s off to a fabulous Indian restaurant with the Room to Read team led by Jennie Orchard and stayed too late because I was having a great time.
Highlight was the citizenship ceremony at Woollahra Council. I addressed a packed house overlooking the beautiful harbour. Purple-blue jacaranda trees heavy with flowers greeted em and I got to hang out with the Mayor Of Woollahra Toni Zeltzer. Loved the gold chains and warm welcome by Toni and all the Council staff but more than that – I had the privilege of addressing 36 new Australians – from Hungary, Germany, Malaysia, Turkey, Pakistan …
I am an Australia Day Ambassador – it’s something I love doing. I’ll be flying to speak in Tamworth this year on Australia Day.
It was moving addressing the 36 new Australians and their families and friends from countries as diverse as Thailand, Singapore, Netherlands, Germany, Hungary, UK … Pakistan. The Pakistan young man and his 3 young friends were beside them
selves that they became Australians today.
I loved speaking to them about our immigrant country that embraced them all and I did a show and tell and held up my Order of Australia.
They loved it. I loved it and it was very special. Made me think about my parents and their journey here.
The post Melina Marchetta, Schools and Citizenship address appeared first on Susanne Gervay's Blog.
Love being a Writer Ambassador for Room to Read with the coolest writers around – caught up with the brilliant Room to Read team of Mihiri, Jennie Orchard & Wendy Rapee at The Hughenden Hotel &:-
Jacqueline Harvey famous for her ALICE MIRANDA books
Oliver Phommavanh famous for his THAI-RIFFIC Books
Deborah Abela famous for her MAX REMY SPY super books and GRIMSDEN
Me – famous for my I AM JACK series which advocates for kids & Room to Read
Hey, we’re a famous lot!! Ha, ha, ha!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We’re raising awareness at the launch of BEING JACK (4th & final I AM JACK) in a BENEFIT for ROOM TO READ:-
with a live performance of I AM JACK by Monkey Baa Theatre
When: 5 p.m. Sat 23rd August 2014
Launched by: Christian Marchegiani Swans boxing coach and anti school bullying advocate.
Champagne, nibblies and we’ll have a great time
BOOKINGS: – Monkey Baa Theatre Company
Lend Lease Darling Quarter Theatre
Terrace 3, 1-25 Harbour Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Ph : 02 8624 9341 ( Ext 3 )
E: [email protected]
www.monkeybaa.com.au
Tickets: $30 for adults; $20 kids and family tickets
The NRL SUPER SPORTS STARS SHOULD BE DROPPING BY – They say NO to bullying too.
Come along and have a BALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
www.roomtoread.org/australia
The post Launching Launching last I AM JACK ~ at Benefit for Room to Read – 5 p.m. 23 Aug at Darling Harbour! appeared first on Susanne Gervay's Blog.
What a trip – the love, engagement, enthusiasm of thousands of US kids for I AM JACK has been extraordinary.
Tim McGarry who plays 11 characters from JACK to wobbly Nanna to 11 year old Anna …. and more makes you believe he’s all of them.
Sam Johnston, stage manager puts the stage together and all those tech parts – fantastic.
It’s a love fest across the USA and a huge anti bullying campaign with heaps of media.
I have been privileged to do the post show Q & A and media with Tim in Las Vegas at the fabulous Smith Center for performing Arts.
The post Monkey Baa Theatre’s I AM JACK Wows USA appeared first on Susanne Gervay's Blog.
It’s a privilege to be an Ambassador for the National Year of Reading.
I love being sent to speak at libraries around the country; speaking to kids.
Today it was Campbelltown Library with Ingleburn High School students.
They were wonderful and thoughtful. I appreciated their comments and engagement. Thankyou.
I shared anti bullying through ‘I Am Jack;, music through ‘That’s Why I Wrote This Song’ – they were all into music.
I shared my family’s journey as refugees finding home in a new country through ‘Ships in the Field.’
How cool is it to connect with kids across Sydney through video conferencing.
Lots of enthusiasm and plenty of waving, the kids and teachers were right into I Am Jack’ and NO to School Bullying.
Electroboard was a great facilitator – thankyou Concetta!
HarperCollins organised it – thankyou Jacqui
Teachers – thankyou for reading I AM JACK
Kids – you were the BEST & I loved your comments and questions -
We’re going to make the world a better place –
NO to School Bullying.
Thankyou to Chester Hill Public School, Bulli Public School, Gymea Bay Public School, Bronte Public School!
Love being an ambassador for the National year of Reading 2012 advocating reading for kids.
