The Graduation of Jake Moon

Rating:
Summary: laugh & cry at the same time
Review: Does your family ever embarrass you in front of your friends?

Jake's grandfather Skelly does in "The Graduation of Jake Moon" by Barbara Park. But Skelly can't help it because he has Alzheimer's. This is a disease when the brain plays funny tricks on old people and they think they're living in the past or don't even know where that are. At times, Skelly thinks Jake is Claude Harper, his childhood friend, instead of his grandson.

Jake and his mom have lived with his grandfather since he was a baby. He loves his grandfather dearly and has millions of great memories of their happy times together. But now Jake is in 8th grade and his grandfather acts strange in front of his friends. Sometimes the peer pressure is too much for Jake. (p. 17)

"The day I started fourth grade, I went to get a can of orange juice and found Skelly's pajamas in the freezer. It might sound funny. ... A few days later, when I brought my new best friend, Lucas Carney, home from school, there was a little note on the freezer in Skelly's handwriting. It said, THIS IS NOT THE HAMPER. Lucas looked at it. Then at me. I tried to laugh it off. "Oh that. That's just some stupid joke between Ma and me," I said. To distract him, I poured us something to drink. But just as I was handing Lucas his glass, we both noticed a piece of material sticking out the top of the oven door. Lucas pulled it open. Inside, on the top rack, were two wet sheets. "Is this another joke between your mother and you, or do you guys dry your sheets in the oven?" he asked."

Jake tries his best to manage pressures from school and friends, as well as sharing the care-giving responsibilities at home. The typical teenage sarcasm in Jake's replies makes this book marvelously funny. But it's also a tear-jerker with how much Jake's grandfather means to him. It had me laughing and crying, sometimes even at the same time, through the entire story.

What would you do if your grandfather embarrassed you in front of your friends? What if his behavior was beyond his control? Jake and his family are beside themselves with worry when Skelly wonders off and is missing for days? Then comes the biggest day of Jake's life ... 8th grade graduation! What is Skelly going to do now? How will Jake react this time?

Rating:
Summary: I was the editor of the audiobook.
Review: Fred Savage does an outstanding job on the recording of this book. The story is told from the view point of a young adult and since we all know Fred's voice from the Wonder Years, it fits perfectly. Fred was the best choice for this book and I hope he will continue to read audiobooks!

Rating:
Summary: This is the greatest book in the world!
Review: Graduation of Jake Moon
By Barbara Park
Date published 2000

This book is about a little boy who has a mently challenged grandpa.

An good part of this book is when this little boy who is walking home from school one day with some friends and he finds his grandpa in the dumpster eating out of it.Then the grandpa yellls out to the boys "HEY!".then the boys start to laugh at him except for one little boy who just stands there.

People who like true stories would like to read this story because this story is based on a true story.

If there were 100 people voteing for two books 80 people would vote for the book The Graduation of Jake Moon.

Rating:
Summary: Eighth graders like it!
Review: I am a new teacher and having just finished this book myself, I decided to try reading it aloud to my eighth graders. SO far they are enjoying the humor and realistic situations that Jake narrates.

Rating:
Summary: Clap, Clap, Clap
Review: I applaud Barbara Park for tackling this subject.

This middle-grade novel is a realistic portrayal of a single parent/only child family caring for a grandfather with Alzheimer's. That's a lot to tackle in one little book. And Park does it with grace and humor, although a few tears may roll as well.

My heart broke over Jake all through the book but I was cheering him on at the end. It's not a particularly cheerful book but it will stay with you and mean something to you for a long time to come.

In those darker moments I loved Jake's account of reading The Pearl by Steinbeck for a book report. He talked about how depressing it was, etc., which gave me hope that Park knew what she was doing and would be able to end this book in a realistically, yet somewhat cheerful way. She did.

Rating:
Summary: Graduation of Jake Moon, The
Review: I feel this is a very good book it is about a kid who has a very weird and lively grandfather. Then he finds out his grandfather has Alzheimer's. This Changes everything in jakes life especially because he has to live with him. Jake's mom say she will make his life as normal as everyone else's. But it just doesn't work out every time he has a friend over something weird happens and Jake doesn't play sports because he is embarrassed to take his grandfather anywhere. This book will make you want to help other with the Alzheimer's Diseases.

Rating:
Summary: Graduation of Jake Moon
Review: I had heard of Alzheimer's on the news but never read a novel about it until The Graduation of Jake Moon. When Jake's lively and heroic grandfather Skelly is diagnosed with Alzheimer's, it changes everything, though his mother says she will try to keep his life normal. At first it seems like nothing can harm Skelly, but bit by bit Jake's life is spun around, reversing the roles of grandfather and grandson. This is a read which will make you feel for those who live with Alzheimer's patients and the utter helplessness which accompanies it.

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful
Review: I think that the book is a thoughtful and well-written look into the world of Alzheimer's disease. Many children will be able to relate to Jake and the things happening in his life. Jake has to quickly learn how to act like an adult and caregiver. Many children face situations like these. Barbara Park shows how Jake's mother tries to cope with her father diseases as well as her son's reaction to the new way of life for them all. I like this book so much because Jake could be any child, anywhere. The characters are easily liked and identified with by the reader.
The only complaint that I find with the book is that the children in the story rarely face consequences for their actions. Many wrongful actions go unnoticed. Overall the actions and situations in the story can be helpful teaching tools when discussing real life situations with children. Jake slowly realizes throughout the book that his grandfather's illness affects everyone, not just him. This is an important lesson for all children to learn.

Rating:
Summary: The Graduation of Jake Moon
Review: I think that the book is a thoughtful and well-written look into the world of Alzheimer's disease. Many children will be able to relate to Jake and the things happening in his life. Jake has to quickly learn how to act like an adult and caregiver. Many children face situations like these. Barbara Park shows how Jake's mother tries to cope with her father diseases as well as her son's reaction to the new way of life for them all. I like this book so much because Jake could be any child, anywhere. The characters are easily liked and identified with by the reader.
The only complaint that I find with the book is that the children in the story rarely face consequences for their actions. Many wrongful actions go unnoticed. Overall the actions and situations in the story can be helpful teaching tools when discussing real life situations with children. Jake slowly realizes throughout the book that his grandfather's illness affects everyone, not just him. This is an important lesson for all children to learn.

Rating:
Summary: This book is awsome!!!!!!!!!
Review: I think this book is really the best book ever. It is about a boy whos grandfather has a desiese. Its also about how this boys love for his grandfather. I would rate this book 10000 Stars if i could. THis book is a page turner. I promise that.