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.
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.
Today is my last day of my book tour visit to the USA.
The evening parents’ talks have been emotional as we all work towards a safer world for our kids.
Thankyou to John Muir Elementary Redmond WA and the Parents Association and principal for your welcome.
Thankyou to View Ridge Eelementary and the fantastic librarian for your welcome.
The schools I have spoken at are creative, with committed teachers and enthusiastic kids.
There were 400 kids and teachers at my talk about I AM JACK at Hedden Elementary School Edgewood Washington State
Washington State is stunning with the towering evergreens and lakes with Mr Rainer soaring above the landscape.
It is a reminder that we have to keep our kids safe when I see signposts that there’s no tobacco, drugs and guns in their schools.
I’m working so that PIGS will FLY will fly, so that schools are safe.
TODAY TONIGHT Channel 7 TV – took us on a fabulous day with the charming James Thomas TT reporter.
We had the best head massage ever from BLOW DRY BAR at the top of Kings Cross
A glorious sparkling day overlooking our harbour
Crab and salmon cooked to perfection from MANTA at Finger Wharf
Champagne, champagne and champagne
Shopping at Tiffany’s, DIOR, Bvulgari ….. with funny, fast, fantastic over 50s gals embracing life
Julie Schoneveld from Marketingeye travelling the world, bringing Tourism Thailand to Sydney – LOVE Thailand
Annette Guerry – committed to COURAGE TO CARE – promoting peace through Holocaust survivors
Me – just back from the IBBY Congress LONDON where I spoke about ‘Ships in the Field’ my beautiful new picture about everyone having the right to home.
AND totally excited that I AM JACK is published in the US by Kane Miller
AND MonkeyBaa Theatre’s adaptation of JACK which will tour the USA from Florida to Alaska
AND and guess who’s going with the brilliant actor Tim McGarry and the wonderful production manager Sam Johnson on the tour of the USA with I Am Jack?
- ME.
Watch our for the feature film coming- I AM JACK – (includes all my JACK books) and in the Billy Elliot genre. Can’t wait!
It’s hard to get to 50 and beyond but if you can get there, work out divorce, caring for families, work and suddenly find you’re free to pursue your dreams – what a trip!
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.
