|
Book Reviews, I am Jack, and Super Jack
Posted: 09 Jan 2010 04:18 PM PST
By: Susanne Gervay,
on 12/24/2009
Blog: Susanne Gervay's Blog
( Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
Room to Read, The Hughenden, Charities, Monkey Baa Theatre for Young People, News, SCBWI, Young Adult Books, Bullying, Writing, School Visits, Kids Books, I AM JACK, Add a tag
Thankyou to my parents who are always part of me, my family, friends, writers, illustrators and colleagues in Australia and around the world for a year of challenges and love. Some of my friends are facing great personal, emotional and health hurdles. I am in awe of their courage and I send my deepest love to them. Healing love.
To feel loved is to find spirituality;
to love others is to experience greatness;
to hurt is to prove humanness. (Buddhist teaching)
I feel loved, love others and I have hurt because I am human.
Thankyou for taking social justice through my children’s book ‘I AM JACK’ throughout Australia and the world. 
Thankyou for inviting me to speak at the World Burn Congress in New York on my YA novel ‘Butterflies’ reaching to those who face enormous challenges.
Thankyou to the world SCBWI community of children’s authors and illustrators who sent their love to the children of the Victorian bush fires through the Hope Cards.
Thankyou to all those organisations which are part of my life – The Sydney Children’s Writers & Illustrators Network at the Hughenden, NSW Writers Centre, SCBWI, the Storytellers Guild, Monkey Baa Theatre for Young People, Room to Read and many others.
Thankyou to The Hughenden with its commitment to heritage, the arts and a welcoming haven to so many.
Thankyou for the gift of life, family, friends, creativity and a belief in the ‘experience of wisdom as a way towards inner peace.’
By: Susanne Gervay,
on 12/7/2009
Blog: Susanne Gervay's Blog
( Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
Kids Books, I AM JACK, Room to Read, The Hughenden, Charities, Monkey Baa Theatre for Young People, News, Duluth Minnesota, John Warren kdal610, Sarah Davis illustrator, Bullying, Writing, Add a tag
School bullying is a major issue in the USA, like Australia. Had a fantastic radio interview with John Warren loved I AM JACK and promoted it on his radio show. So HELLO to Minnesota!
Even something terrible like my son being bullied at school, can be turned around to create a positive.
I’m gateful to my son for agreeing that I could write ‘I Am Jack’. I couldn’t have done it without his approval, otherwise it would have been me bullying him.
But ’Jack’ didn’t want other kids to go through bullying.
‘I Am Jack’ has proven that my son was right. It’s a book and a play adapted by Monkey Baa Theatre - that kids, parents, teachers feel is real and a way to talk and understand how bullying happens and how to work through it.
Love the Monkey Baa Theatre team  Love JACK
Love reaching kids and adults.
By: Susanne Gervay,
on 12/4/2009
Blog: Susanne Gervay's Blog
( Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
Room to Read, The Hughenden, Sarah Davis, Charities, Monkey Baa Theatre for Young People, News, Bullying, Writing, Kids Books, I AM JACK, Add a tag
 This trailer fpr I AM JACK is so gorgeous. Click on the link and enjoy:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkvlNRwub9A
 - Room to Read endorses I AM JACK
Sarah Davies is an award winning illustrator and friend who created this trailer on I AM JACK as a special gift of friendship. It was generous as she has so many books to illustrate and is in huge demand by the major publishers.
www.sarahdavisillustration.com
By: Susanne Gervay,
on 11/11/2009
Blog: Susanne Gervay's Blog
( Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
News, Bullying, Writing, Kids Books, I AM JACK, Seymour Centre, Writers Festivals, Monkey Baa Theatre for Young People, A Day in The Death of Joe Egg, Darlinghurst Theatre, Fox by Margaret Wild, Kursk Sasha Janowicz, Luke Cowling, Musica Viba, Ron Brooks, Sydney Festival 2010, Tim Jones Artistic Director Seymour, Add a tag
 Tim Jones, the Artistic Director of the Seymour presented Seymour’s innovative and encompassing programmes that cover performing arts from dance, music, youth theatre, satire … partnering with the Sydney Festival, Mardi Gras, Musica Viva and so much more.
It was a fabulous launch in Seymour’s new design spaces. Can’t wait for the kids’ proms there with dancing and music with Musica Viva.
I was excited to see that Luke Cowling is taking ‘A Day in the Death of Joe Egg’ to the Seymour. Luke was the production manager for ‘I Am Jack’ in its 2008 season and he’s fantastic. He just finished the season producing ‘Kursk’ by Sasha Janowicz which was engrossing theatre at the Darlinghurst Theatre.
Most exciting is Monkey Baa Theatre for Young People’s collaboration with Siren Theatre to produce Margaret Wild and Ron Brooks’ ‘FOX’ - an internationally acclaimed picture book about friendship, desire and loyalty.
 Eva di Cesare Monkey Baa Director, Susanne Gervay & Tim McGarry Monkey Baa Director
 Eva di Cesare,Tim McGarry Monkey Baa and Director Kate Gaul Siren Theatre, composer Daryl Wallis
By: Susanne Gervay,
on 10/15/2009
Blog: Susanne Gervay's Blog
( Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
I AM JACK, Room to Read, The Hughenden, Charities, Cathy Wilcox, Monkey Baa Theatre for Young People, Tricycle press USA, News, Bullying, Writing, Kids Books, Add a tag
 Susanne Gervay’s I am Jack takes the reader into the mind of a likeable 11-year-old kid named Jack who becomes a bullying victim. Based on true events that happened to her own son, Gervay relates via this story the difference between good-natured joshing and mean-spirited teasing, and how easily the teasing morphs into bullying.
Often, children try to talk to us adults about it, but we don’t make time for them. Or, we wonder about unusual behavior or comments, but never follow up. A bullied child may feign sickness, skip classes, or hide out in safe areas of the school, always living in fear. Their schoolwork may suffer, not to mention the victim’s self-esteem. The bully, too, becomes increasingly bold and powerful, completely unconcerned about his aggressive behavior.
The protagonist of I am Jack experiences all the above, yet is hesitant to approach busy parents or teachers. A friend ultimately takes that first step to helping Jack. But, it’s Jack who decides not to run. There are lessons in this book for all to take to heart, whether we are teachers, parents, friends, family, or members of the community.
What I liked especially about I am Jack is that the author not only discusses bullying, but the steps adults – and kids – can take to stop it cold. The book will be a formidable tool for empowering both kids and parents, and is written in a warm, engaging style to boot. I am Jack has been used by Australia’s educators, and produced as a play as well.
By Deb Kincaid for Bookloons USA
By: Susanne Gervay,
on 6/4/2009
Blog: Susanne Gervay's Blog
( Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
News, Bullying, Writing, School Visits, Kids Books, I AM JACK, Room to Read, Charities, Monkey Baa Theatre for Young People, Riverside Theatre Parramatta, Rydalmere East Public School, Add a tag
 - Room to Read endorses I AM JACK
Imagine not being able to read and write? In ‘I Am Jack’ , by the end, JACK feels sorry for the bully because he can’t read and write.
The kids of Rydalmere East gave insightful comments - ‘I wouldn’t be able to be a teacher’ or ’Catch a bus’ and ‘the world would be scary’.
Room to Read and I AM JACK want kids everywhere to read and write so they can have a positive future. www.roomtoread.org
I AM JACK will be performed at Riverside Theatre Parramatta adapted by Monkey Baa Theatre for Young People in September 2009. I’ll see the kids there.
     
|
Sadami Konchi with her illustrations for Rigby Publishers; Jenny Hale who is working on her sequel to Jatta – more werewolves expected!!!!!
Jan Latta who is going on trek in Kenya with a documentary film team as a wild life photographer
Monkey Baa Theatre for Young People will be touring I AM JACK in 2011.
