Jack: Secret Histories by F. Paul Wilson

Jack: Secret Histories by F. Paul Wilson

Reviewed by Mighty Mom (The Adventures of Mighty Mom)

Not much happens in Johnson, New Jersey until the day 14-year-old Jack discovers a dead body in a wooded area near his home. Soon after, members of an exclusive lodge in Johnson begin to die, one after the other. Driven by intrigue, Jack and his friends work to uncover the secret behind these suspicious deaths. But can they do so without becoming victims themselves?

Jack: Secret Histories is the first of three prequel novels to F. Paul Wilson's Repairman Jack series. As such, Jack's fate is predetermined: we know he's going to make it. The question is this: Can Mr. Wilson keep readers engaged when the hero's fate is not in mortal jeopardy? I would say, yes. There is an adequate mix of whodunit intrigue and paranormal creepiness to draw the reader to its final pages. My only reservations revolve around his injudicious mention of 1980's paraphernalia and the questionable relevance of some secondary characters and their respective scenes. While the significance of such oddities as the old lady with a dog may become clear later in the series, for now I am left feeling the narrative could have been tighter.


Jack: Secret Histories would be best read by the young adolescent or any fan of the Repairman Jack series who wants to step back in time.

What Other Bloggers are Saying:

Bookshelves of Doom: "There was also some effort made to explain some of the differences between 1983 and now (no internet, cultural stuff), but those bits felt disjointed and inorganic, and so they were also distracting, felt a bit teach-y and made me feel like the author might not think much of the audience's reasoning capabilities" (read more...)

Au Courant: "If you want a quick read thick with mystery and secrets, and a little supernatural icing that will leave you wondering what would happen next, I suggest Jack: Secret Histories." (read more...)

BookMoot: "...I must say that Jack is one of the most amazing characters I’ve ever encountered. He has no last name, no SSN and no official existence. He earns a living “fixing” problems for people who have no where else to turn. And he’s very good at it." (read more...)

Jean Little Library: "This is a great mystery, suspenseful and well-plotted. The mysterious secret societies are fascinating and Jack's character is a perfect foreshadowing of his future persona." (read more...)

Jen Robinson's Book Page: "I must admit to having a hard time assessing whether or not this book will stand on its own for teen readers who haven't read the Repairman Jack series. But as someone who has read that series, this book is a lot of fun." (read more...)




More Info:

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Tor Teen (May 27, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0765318547
• ISBN-13: 978-0765318541
• Source: Review copy from publisher
  

The Blue Stone - A Journey Through Life by Jimmy Liao, translated by Sarah Thompson

Today, I'm presenting Mighty Mom's first review at The Well-Read Child.

The Blue Stone: A Journey Through Life by Jimmy Liao, translated by Sarah Thompson

An enormous blue stone lies peacefully in the forest until the day it is discovered by people. The people split the stone in two, leaving one half undisturbed while taking the other to a sculptor's workshop to be carved. There, the artist turns the stone into a massive grey elephant. The people delight in sculptor's creation, but the stone is not happy. It mourns for its forest home and crumbles. The largest remaining piece is delivered to a new artist. This time it is shaped into bird for an old lady's garden. The lady is quite happy with her bird, but the stone is not. Again, it falls to pieces. And so the pattern continues: the stone, transformed repeatedly by humans, crumbles each time it remembers its true home. Only when it finally turns to dust can a breath of wind bring it back to where it belongs. There, in the forest, the stone finds peace.

When I first read The Blue Stone to myself, I found it incredibly sad. Author-Illustrator Jimmy Liao and translator, Sarah L. Thomson create in both word and image a sense of inconsolable longing for a place remembered. Later, I read the book a second time with my children, ages 5 and 7. It was clear they appreciated a more positive, uplifting layer to the story. They were excited to see the stone reinvented again and again. The question, "What's it going to be next?" propelled them to the book's conclusion despite it's heavy-hearted narrative.

Living where we do, in Switzerland, most English-speaking children live quite far from the their cultural home, much like the blue stone during the bulk of this story. On the one hand, The Blue Stone might provoke interesting discussion on homesickness; on the other, the suggestion that such feelings can only be resolved by returning to one's place of origin is an unfortunate conclusion. That said, I would be unlikely to read this story in a classroom setting, particularly here. It would be better shared on an individual basis, ideally to initiate discussion with a child going through a painful transition. In truth, I would prefer a book that offered a balanced outlook change. Unfortunately, The Blue Stone – A Journey Through Life isn't it.

What Other Bloggers are Saying:

Mayra's Secret Bookcase: "The Blue Stone is a beautiful story book about hope and rebirth. The illustrations are evocative and mysterious, perfectly matching the eerie resonance of the prose. This is also a story about time and the effect it has on things. This unusual book will make a lovely gift for any child." (read more...)

Bloomabilities: "This is a story of the different possibilities of life, and finding home again." (read more...)

Pinot and Prose: "It really isn’t for the picture book crowd, though some kids may enjoy browsing the illustrations. It’s really ideal for older kids, and it’ll be a good graduation gift..." (read more...)


More info:

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 80 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers (April 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316113832
• ISBN-13: 978-0316113830
• Source: Review copy from publisher