Book Reviews
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Just Jack
by Adele Broadbent
Published by Harper Collins
Reviewed by John Wyllie, Homeschooled, Collingwood
Jack had always wanted to be a jockey so he went off to Mac's stables. There he got made to only clean stables and not ride horses or train to be a jockey like he was meant to be. Jack was patient and cleaned stables and put up with it and didn't ask when he would be a jockey. Finally he shifted to Laddie's stables. There it was a better managed stables than Mac's but he met up with Kenny again, who was his enemy from Mac's.
They all had two horses to look after and Jack got to ride and look after horses at last. The only problem was that he needed to stop growing and some old fool told him that drinking gin will stop him growing. Jack is so determined not to grow that he tried the gin. With all these problems would Jack ever get to ride in a race?
The main characters are Jack, a nice, kind, caring happy teenage boy who is very determined to become a jockey; Mac who is a mean stable owner who bullies Jack and drinks to get away from his problems; Kenny who is another trainee jockey and doesn't like Jack; and Laddie who is a kind, happy stable owner who looks after Jack. Isabel is Laddie’s only daughter. She is nice and Jack thinks she is very cute but she is scared of something.
The book is easy to read and this is a passage from it which describes the outcome of the gin. "Slowly I opened my eyes. Sunlight flooded through my bedroom window. The brightness searing through my pounding head like a hot poker".
I liked the character of Jack because he was keen, helpful and determined and he set a good example or trying to do the right thing, and learnt from his mistakes.
I think "Just Jack" is a book which will be enjoyed by readers from 9 to 15 years, mainly those who are animal lovers and especially who like horses. I liked this book because it was about a boy who faced challenges and worked with horses. It made you keep thinking ahead to what may happen so you will have to read it to find out.
Jade and the Stray
by Amy Brown
Published by Harper Collins
Reviewed by Mary Wyllie, Homeschooled, Collingwood
Jade is staying with her Granddad because her father is in jail and her mother is dead. Jade falls in love with a stray horse and begins the life of a horse owner. Through her pony she makes a new start in Flaxton with the help of her new friends.
The main characters are Jade and her Granddad, her friends, Laura and Rose, and Pip who is a black and white horse who Jade loves. I thought that they were all well written in the book and seemed real.
I liked the horsey stuff in the book such as the details about the pony club days, the different horse temperaments and the things the girls did to care for them. Here is an example: "Jade spent a couple of hours with Pip before racing home to prepare for Rose's arrival. While she was sluicing the sweat mark off Pip's belly, Jade told Mr. White about her assignment with Michaela Lewis. "The details of looking after the horse are included so you can imagine what Jade is really doing.
I enjoyed the book and I think that other girls who are 7 to 13 years old will too, especially ones who like horses.
Fang
by James Patterson
Published by: Random House (2010)
Reviewed by: Nikolas Young, Hamilton’s Fraser High School.
Fang is about six children born in dog kennels in a laboratory who have been genetically modified to have giant wings on their backs, who travel the world helping people. Their names are Max, Fang, Iggy, Angel, Gazzy and Nudge. Fifteen year-old Max is the leader of the flock and Fang is her deputy leader. Angel is always trying to take over from Max, in fact she has tried eighteen times, but she keeps failing. However, this time she succeeds.
A new character that emerges in the story is Dylan, who also has wings and is supposed to be Max’s perfect match, but she likes Fang better than Dylan.
The children also have a few enemies such as Dr Hans Gunther-Hagen who is a huge billionaire and owns lots of companies, and the Erasers’ gang who are like human-wolf hybrids that attack the children.
The book is written through the eyes of Max and my favourite character is Iggy because even though he is blind, he can still battle and cook.
This type of book is an action/adventure because the children travel a lot and there are quite a few fighting scenes. I think it would be suitable for young people aged 13 and over and would recommend this book and the rest of James Patterson’s Maximum Ride series because if the rest of the series is alike Fang, I would say they are definitely worth reading.
Escape From Shadow Island
by Paul Adam
Published by: Random House (2010)
Reviewed by: Nikolas Young, Hamilton’s Fraser High School.
Shadow Island is about Max Cassidy, who is a 14-year-old escapist who lives with Consuela, his guardian and assistant in his stunts. Two years ago, Max’s father was believed to have been murdered by his mother, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison. But one day, a strange man arrives saying that his father is not dead. They decide to meet again, but when Max goes to see the strange man, he has been shot in the forehead. Max, now, is searching for his father with help from Consuela.
The book is written in the third person and my favourite character would have to be Max because no matter what situation he gets into, he can always find a way out. This type of book is an Adventure/Thriller because Max is always travelling and getting into trouble somehow. I believe it would be suitable for ages 11+, and recommend it to those with a good imagination.