Wednesday, July 6, 2011

The Mostly True Story of Jack by Kelly Barnhill


When I was a kid there was a commercial with the tagline “It’s not nice to fool Mother Nature!”  Ironically it was for margarine, which is totally messing with nature.  That’s a whole different topic.  The Mostly True Story of Jack by Kelly Barnhill has a different take on what happens when one tries to fool with Mother Nature.

Jack is delivered to the house of his aunt and uncle.  They live in Hazelwood, Iowa.  Jack’s life in San Francisco was lonely.  He had no friends and his parents rarely paid any attention to him.  He wasn’t in any family pictures.  Jack was invisible.  Once he moves in with his aunt and uncle everything starts to change.  Jack is noticed, he learns how to have friends and the town bully sets his sights on him.  He thinks things might start to become normal.  WRONG!!! 

While Jack is getting accustom to his new life magical and spiritual happenings are making his life anything but normal.  Mother Nature was split in half.  The Good and The Bad.  Greed took the lives of many innocent children.  As Jack’s friendships strength he learns that he must make a huge sacrifice for the ones he loves.

I am not doing justice to The Mostly True Story of Jack  by Kelly Barnhill. I don’t want to give too much away from this wonderful, creepy story.  Just like in the story where children are sucked in, Ms. Barnhill’s storytelling sucked me in.  I had trouble putting this delightful book down.  The twists and turns made it exciting and emotional. 

The press release and the info on the back of the book say’s that is for ages 8-12.  NOPE.  The content is too mature for 8 year olds.   My best bet is 9 ½ to 12.  There will be a fourth grade or fifth grade class that will be excited to get my copy.

Copy courtesy of the publisher.  On sale August 2011.


4 comments:

Natalie Berges Tucker said...

I know I was suppose to read for content, but "Great Voice!!"

michellechristine said...

Hi Kyle,

I read and enjoy your blog regularly. It is so funny to me to hear you say you don't consider yourself a writer!

Do you have any suggestions for an author visit to my school? I teach in a 4/5 building and we are looking for an author who can really connect with BOYS and be dynamic. Any ideas? Thanks. :)

Michelle

Anonymous said...

Hey I just saw this, and thanks for the nice review.

I just wanted to say that I 100% concur with your last comment on the age recommendations. Even the very good readers in second and third grade will likely find the book too scary, I think. Fourth graders will likely be fine, but my target in writing it was fifth graders. Perhaps because when I was in fifth grade I read the books that shaped me for the rest of my life (Tolkien, Stevenson, Scott, Lang, Nesbitt and Bronte), but in any case, fifth grade is a creative sweet spot for me.

Thanks for taking the time to read it!

Kelly barnhill

michellechristine said...

Kyle,

Sorry! I am new to blogging and didn't realize my comment would lead you to my weight loss blog. :)

Anyways, thanks for the book recommendation (Food Matters).

Michelle