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.

Susanne Gervay is an award-winning author, speaker, recipient of the Order of Australia and all-round dynamo. She rushed into my life last year at the Central Queensland Literary Festival. I had the pleasure of sharing an apartment, and lots of stories with Susanne during our week-long visit to schools in Rockhampton and Emerald. Her energy was […]

It’s a book love-fest – by Australian authors & illustrators – going everywhere talking books

- special thankyou to schools, kids and teachers for embracing the I AM JACK series

- sooooo exciting that the final I AM JACK -  Being JACK  is to be released 1st September!!! yeah!!!

BOOK WEEK is such a fantastic times – thankyou to the brilliant librarians who dress up as book characters, invite authors and illustrators to their schools, have plays and celebrations.

Loved the interview with Michael Cathcart on ABC Radio National on the I AM JACK series.

Fantastic being part of it!

The post BOOK WEEK FANTASTIC-NESS! appeared first on Susanne Gervay's Blog.

Sooooo much happening – August is when kids’ authors & illustrators are on the move – across Australia – speaking at schools, events and spreading the LOVE of books.

Monkey Baa Theatre is putting on a week of I AM JACK at Darling Quarter Theatre – nearly full houses, but this year I can’t do the post play Q & A as I’ll be speaking at schools. I love doing those Q & A’s with Tim McGarry.

There’s the Benefit for ROOM TO READ – reaching more than 9 millions kids in Asia and Africa. They won’t be all at the Benefit Sat 23 August – ha – but all funds go to building schools and literacy programmes and books.

Launch of my 4th and final BEING JACK – the 15 year journey creating the I AM JACK series.

Treat yourself and see the many amazing authors and illustrators in your schools and bookshops, libraries and events!

CELEBRATE BOOKS & READING!

MonkeyBaa Theatre – www.monkeybaa.com.au

Room to Read – www.roomtoread.org

BOOKINGS for 5 p.m. Sat 23 August. All funds go to Room to Read: monkeybaa.com.au/show/jack-room-read-fundraiser/

The post BOOK WEEK~ Monkey Baa Theatre’s I Am Jack~ Launch of BEING JACK at ROOM to READ BENEFIT 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.

Tasmania is heaven – landing in Hobart from the crazy mainland to this island paradise. Hills, harbour, blue skiies, vineyards, historic buildings, Salamanca …. and authors and illustrators, author tours to brilliant schools ,,, and I LOVE TASMANIA!!!!

Highlights:-

Sharing the ‘I AM JACK’ series and anti bullying with the wonderful kids of Corpus Christi Catholic School Bellerive Hobart. Thankyou for your warmth and hospitality Erica Halley – school librarian there.

Loved the smart observations of the boys at the historic Hutchins School. Thankyou Kate Reid for organising my talk.

Catching up with great Tasmanian authors and the CBCA Angela Briant and ….more … at Salamanca Arts Centre.

Julie Hunt author extraordinaire and Nick Falk best selling author of SAURUS STREET hamming it up at the SCBWI Event in historic Salamanca Arts Centre on Hobart harbour.

The post I LOVE TASMANIA!!! appeared first on Susanne Gervay's Blog.

My last author talks are in Los Angeles and it has been fabulous – great kids, with insightful questions; great teachers and special thankyou to the beautiful welcome by the Principal of Tulita Elementary School Redondo California.

Hi to IKE who has great humour.

Malik who’s a great I AM JACK fan – loved sharing JACK with you at Playa Vista Elementary School, Playa Vista California.

Meanwhile Monkey Baa Theatre is continuing its hugely successful tour of the play I AM JACK across the USA.

Great performances by Tim McGarry!!

I’ll be home in 2 days – what abuzz!  Thankyou to the consultants from my publisher Kane Miller Books for hosting me.

The post Farewell to the USA – a special hi to Malik & IKE!!! appeared first on Susanne Gervay's Blog.

I AM JACK touring USA

I’m going home soon after a whirlwind trip with I AM JACK with thousands of kids and teachers seeing I AM JACK, media and adventures.

Loved that SCBWI authors and illustrators saw the play too. Special hi to Des Moines and of course Suzanne Morgan Williams who flew into las Vegas to see it – and we had fun too. Check out the  BANANAS.

I love Aussie kids, but love American kids too.

They’re so funny at times and gorgeous and real.

Questions and comments by the audiences moved me about being bullied and how Tim McGarry who plays JACK and 11 characters reached them.

Ended up with catching up with my USA publishers of the I Am Jack series – Kane Miller Books

- Love Kira Lynn Publisher and Lynn Kelley the Marketing Manager-  and some of the consultants I met there – Pat Vecio who took me on a wild and woolly ride into Orange County – so made it with heaps of detours and I got to speak to kids from one month old to 15 with parents and grandparents

- and thankyou to Mia for a lunch of taco fish???  New cuisine for me.

Monkey Baa Theatre and Tim McGarry continue their USA tour through snow and sleet – they’ll be home mid March and I’ll be home soon.

What an amazing trip.

The post Rocking across the USA with anti bullying! 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.

Is this the way to start the New Year?

My VIP list:-

-  get organised for the LAS VEGAS trip where I AM JACK is being performed!

(LOVE Monkey Baa Theatre  www.monkeybaa.com.au)

- finalise the author tour on the West Coast USA.

- seriously organised the SCBWI International Conference 13-16th July at The Hughenden!

- work out the SCBWI website www.australiaeastnz.scbwi.org

-  edit my BEING JACK – where Jack goes from victim to victor to someone who stands beside his mate & family – I LOVE Jack because he’s like all the boys we know – the funny, real, good bits.

And it’s late ….. I’m pooped … and going to join this puppy.

The post From Las Vegas to Pooped! appeared first on Susanne Gervay's Blog.

Can you believe that ‘I Am Jack’ came into the world 12 years ago?

He’s grown into ‘Super Jack’ and ‘Always jack’ and has had many reprints.

Written after my son was bullied at school, it seeks to make life safer for kids, families and communities:-

-Embraced by kids, families and schools across Australia.

-Endorsed by beautiful organisations that partner kids on that rocky journey of life:-

-Room to Read – www.roomtoread.org

-The Alannah & Madeline Foundation – www.amf.org.au

-Life Education Australia – www.lifeeducation.org.au

-The Cancer Council – www.cancercouncil.com.au

JACK’s just been released in the USA by Kane Miller Books

Has been translated into Korean, Slovenian and Bahasa (Indonesia).

The brilliant adaptation of I Am Jack by Monkey Baa Theatre will be having another season at the Lend Lease Darling Quarter Theatre Darling Harbour Sydney 11-16th March 2013

It should be touring the USA in 2014 – www.monkeybaa.com.au

It is now in  development as a feature film – the 3 JACKS – with plans to film later next year.

Watch out for I AM JACK the movie.

Jack and his family and friends wish you all a joyous Christmas and New Year.

I’m thinking I may be a country person after all.  My father was a farmer.

I just love the bush, the villages, the ‘ships in the field’ and cows.

Also love the beautiful birds and our kangaroos.

The kids of Cundletown Public School live in beautiful countryside.

It was great talking as an ambassador for the National Year of Reading to the kids.

Also shared NO to School Bullying with I AM JACK.

We’ve all just got to keep schools safe – so that kids can be all they can be.

They LOVE Jack.

I drove down the freeway then turned off into beautiful countryside between green hills driving into picturesque Picton.

This was a very different launch with the children of the local schools appointed as junior ambassadors for the National Year of Reading.

This great concept by librarian Gail Dunn at Picton Library has engaged the community.

Member for Wollondilly Jai Rowell MP made time to celebrate reading in the community and launch the National Year of Reading in Wollondilly Shire.

Loved speaking to the kids about my JACK books, Ships in the Field and …..

The Reading Hour where across Australia it’s reading time – 6 pm 25th August.

Be in it and love2read.

National Year of Reading 2012, Susanne Gervay Ambassador for National Year of Reading 2012, www.love2read.org.au

I love Sally Murphy’s work. Her beautiful book  ’Pearl Verses The World’ which won the Australian Family Therapist Award in 2010, is accompanied by ‘Toppling’ which was runner up to my ‘Always Jack’ this year.  However as the award judge said, it was on a coin’s throw which book to select.

I love that my ‘Always Jack’ is in the company of Sally Murphy’s ‘Toppling’.

Both deal with cancer but in different ways. Both positive, sensitive, warm and loving. They make it safe for young people to talk about cancer.

‘Always Jack’ carries the Cancer Council’s yellow daffodil.

I am proud to be an Ambassador for The National Year of Reading.

J

We are in script development and loving it – had a great session today over red wine, crisps and I Am Jack.

Last week was Anti-Bullying Week in Canada and in the UK, where there is currently a move to make the focus on this important issue last for the whole of November.   But of course, the issues highlighted don’t disappear when you’re not looking at them – in fact, bullies are usually very clever at keeping their actions hidden.  The message still needs to be got across at all times that bullying is not acceptable.  We adults have a responibility for teaching respect for others and ourselves, both through formal education and in the example we set in our own behavior.

I have recently been reading two books in which young people tell of their experiences of bullying in their own words, accompanied with photographs and names in most cases.

The first, We Want You to Know: Kids Talk About Bullying is by Deborah Ellis (Coteau Books, 2010), who is well-known for drawing attention to the plight of children around the world caught up in mess caused by adults, both in her fiction (The Breadwinner Trilogy, set in Afghanistan; and the Cocalero novels, set in Bolivia), and in her non-fiction (Off To War: Voices of Soldiers’ Children; Children of War: Voices of Iraqi Refugees).  We Want You to Know brings together the stories of young people aged 9-19 who have been bullied, who have bullied others, and who “have found strength within themselves to rise above their situations and to endure.”  They are all from Ellis’ “little corner of Southern Ontario” in Canada, following her involvement in a local Name It 2 Change It Community Campaign Against Bullying (and, indeed, royalties from the sale of this book go to the organization).  At the same time, interspersed with the longer accounts from the Canadian children are shorter highlighted statements from children across the world – Angola, Japan, Madagascar, South Korea, Uganda, the US.  Yes, bullying happens everywhere.

The book is divided into five main sections, You’re Not Good Enough, You’re Too Different, You’re It—Just Because, We Want to Crush You, and Redemption.  Each account has a couple of follow-up questions, asking “What Do You Think?”, and then there are discussion questions at the end of the sections.

The other book is Bullying and Me: Schoolyard Stories by Ouisie Shapiro with photographs by Steven Vote (Albert Whitman, 2010).  Again, it features first-hand accounts of young people who the introduction reminds us, “had a hard time reliving their experiences”, while recognising the importance of not remaining silent, to remind others who are bullied that “you’re not alone.  And it’s not your fault.”  Each account is followed by useful summarising statements from Dr Dorothy Espelage, a psychologist specializing in adolescent bullying.

Both these titles are aimed at young readers – but make no mistake, they are hard-hitting books that deliver a punc

CEO of Varuna The Writers’ House, Lis Bastian and her fabulous family drove from the Blue Mountains to see Monkey Baa Theatre’s ‘I Am Jack’  at The Seymour Theatre Sydney.

The boys said that ‘it was great’ – they loved it.

Author and librarian Lindy Batchelor joined us and she loved JACK too.

Fabulous morning with a fabulous show.

‘I Am Jack’ is endorsed by The Alannah & Madeline Foundation – charity performance 7 p.m. 4 the November bookings [email protected]

 Website: www.varuna.com.au

The Alannah & Madeline Foundation keeps children safe from violence and is successful against school bullying.

The Alannah & Madeline Foundation endorses ‘I Am Jack’ as significant in creating safe schools – NO TO SCHOOL BULLYING!

The brilliant Monkey Baa Theatre will be performing “I AM  JACK’ 7 p.m. 4th November at the Seymour – tickets $30 with all proceeds going to The Alannah & Madeline Foundation.

I’ll be there – please say hello to me – and to the actors. Tim McGarry the iconic JACK is mingling.

Bookings: – [email protected]

Love from Susanne

Yianni Johns is the ABC Radio Central Coast,  Arts presenter, an artist and a fellow Australia Day Ambassador  which we both LOVE!

We had fun this afternoon in the fishbowl in Erina – the glass window is exposed to shoppers and passer-bys – so everyone sees you.  Scott Levi is a great interviewer and has a great banter with Yianni.

Chatted about MonkeyBaa Theatre’s ‘I AM JACK’ at the Seymour and invited everyone across Australia to support the charity performance of ‘I Am Jack’ for The Alannah & Madeline Foundation, keeping children safe from violence – 7 p.m. 4th November at Seymour [email protected].

As Breast Cancer Month comes to a close, it was fitting to talk about ‘Always Jack’ which is endorsed by the Cancer Council – making it safe for kids, parents and community to talk about cancer and celebrate life.

Book at:-

[email protected]

Susanne Gervay’s

I AM JACK

7pm, Friday 4 November, 2011

Reginald Theatre, Seymour Centre

BOOKING FORM

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Susanne Gervay's I AM JACK with Tim McGarry, Monkey Baa Theatre, Seymour Centre

Monkey Baa Theatre’s I Am Jack’  just returned from the Ipswich Festival of Children’s Literature where it was the feature event, performed to 1000′s of young people and adults.

Tim McGarry performs the 11 characters in a brilliant one man show.

JACK’s having a return season at the Seymour 24th October to 4th November.

From: Adam Kronenberg – Artistic Director Outback Theatre for Young People

In the finest tradition of the one person show Tim McGarry gave a stunningly good performance. It was like watching Billy Crystal for school kids: terrific range of characters, excellent direction, simple in terms of no need for pyrotechnics and yet so sophisticated in terms of requiring the audience to invest a great deal of belief and understanding of the theatrical devise of the one person show.  

Contact: Monkey Baa Theatre

Bookings: [email protected]

PH 02 9351 7938

FAX 02 9036 7037
www.monkeybaa.com.au

My Book Week has become book months – from 1 August to end September.

Robert Townson Public School is set among fields on the outskirts of Sydney.

Hundreds of great kids poured into the school hall where we cheered ‘I Am Jack’ & NO SCHOOL BULLYING.

I spoke at St Brendan’s School too. The kids and teacher was so responsive. There were special moments with great comments and questions.

I especially loved Jordan’s comments that ‘We need to be survivors, not victims because then we can be everything we can be.’

I drive towards The Southport School at Southport on the Gold Coast Queensland. The skies are sparkling blue, the sun bright and the sprawling fields the green of  spring.

I had the pleasure of meeting Stewart Eglington again, a brilliant teacher and educator who two years ago took The Southport boys to MonkeyBaa Theatre’s  ’I Am Jack’ which was the feature event of the Somerset Celebration of Literature Festival.

In my 29 years of teaching that (I Am Jack) was the most powerful and moving experience that dealt with bullying in an honest open yet sensitive manner.

Stewart Eglington.
Coordinator of Students and Staff
The Southport School – Preparatory School

I spotted Stewart when I saw boys running towards him. They had things to tell him and share the education experience. When I asked if they’d like a photo with Stewart, there was a rush and crush.

Such great teachers – a special thanks to Mr Mac and librarian Deborah Schinckel and all the staff for the warm welcome.

It is such a special experience when a school embraces my JACK series where I invite readers to come into my home and life.

Sackville Public School is past Campbelltown in a township nestled between fields and national parks. 

BOOK WEEK is fantastic except it’s BOOK MONTH!!!

I loved the welcoming librarian Wendy and welcoming Principal Neil Robertson and the teachers and kids.

Everything was so easy and there was a -no problem – attitude even when I arrived late due to a breakdown on the freeway.

The Principal and Wendy will be taking a group of kids to Monkey Baa Theatre’s ‘I AM JACK’ at the Seymour Theatre 1st November- so hope to see them there.

www.monkeybaa.com.au

What should welcome me, but a real live PONTO – created by the wonderful school librarian Ian McLean at Penrith Public School.

What is a PONTO?

It’s Jack’s experiment of joining a potato and an onion.

Kids and teachers piled into the school hall excited about JACK – they LOVE his jokes, photos and experiments especially his potato-onion.

                                                                                                           It’s growing thanks to Ian!!!!!!