Jack on the Tracks : Four Seasons of Fifth Grade (Jack Henry)

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Summary: Jack on the Tracks review
Review: I enjoyed Jack on the Tracks. As always, Gantos creates a fun mix of humor and tragedy (read Jack's Black Book, the best in the series). To address one reviewer's comments: yes, Jack does accidentally kill his cats often. However, the book's approach isn't heartless. I recall Jack tried very hard not to cry in front of his family at the death of his pet. Writing about the death of household pets isn't neccesarily cruel. I don't think Gantos meant to include the subject matter as comedial; he probably found it realistic. How often does a pet-owner lose his pets to accidents? Probably not as often as Jack, but you see my point.

That said, read the book.

Rating:
Summary: READ THIS adventurous BOOK
Review: If you know a reluctant reader in the 10-12 year old age bracket, this is the perfect title to change their mind about books. As a teacher, I've watched sixth grade boys (girls too!) snort and literally fall out of their chairs in fits of laughter over this one--for some it is the first book they have truthfully read cover to cover. No skimming. No fake reading. Pure enjoyment. Comprehension shoots up dramatically for these kids. They can't wait to meet to talk about Jack. They'll gladly reread their favorite misadventure to a friend--and with new found fluency. You can't imagine how wonderful it is to see your weaker readers standing in line for lunch saying, "Did you get to the part yet where . . . That book is SO funny!" Jack is their hero, living out their secret fantasy, when he drops a cockroach in the mouth of his sleeping sister.

Having said that, I feel I must address the concerns of the other educators who have written reviews here. Yes, Jack pulls a few stunts that might raise an eyebrow. He may not be a top-notch role model, but this is why children love him. He has a Bart Simpson type appeal-- slightly deviant, but lovable, and he often DOES suffer from the consequences of his poor judgement. Teachers who feel this is inappropriate because a child might immitate these episodes are not living in the same world as their students. This book is like an installment of the Wonderful World of Disney compared to the video games, movies, magazines, and regular television most children are entertained by for hour upon hour. You can't sanitize everything for children--what a pleasure killer. And I have NEVER met a twelve year old child who thought it would be safe to lie down in front of a train. Sit down and ask one if you are not sure. Reading should be fun--children do not have the same taste in books as their middle-aged, well-intentioned teachers.

Rating:
Summary: Even kids who hate books will beg for more of this
Review: If you know a reluctant reader in the 10-12 year old age bracket, this is the perfect title to change their mind about books. As a teacher, I've watched sixth grade boys (girls too!) snort and literally fall out of their chairs in fits of laughter over this one--for some it is the first book they have truthfully read cover to cover. No skimming. No fake reading. Pure enjoyment. Comprehension shoots up dramatically for these kids. They can't wait to meet to talk about Jack. They'll gladly reread their favorite misadventure to a friend--and with new found fluency. You can't imagine how wonderful it is to see your weaker readers standing in line for lunch saying, "Did you get to the part yet where . . . That book is SO funny!" Jack is their hero, living out their secret fantasy, when he drops a cockroach in the mouth of his sleeping sister.

Having said that, I feel I must address the concerns of the other educators who have written reviews here. Yes, Jack pulls a few stunts that might raise an eyebrow. He may not be a top-notch role model, but this is why children love him. He has a Bart Simpson type appeal-- slightly deviant, but lovable, and he often DOES suffer from the consequences of his poor judgement. Teachers who feel this is inappropriate because a child might immitate these episodes are not living in the same world as their students. This book is like an installment of the Wonderful World of Disney compared to the video games, movies, magazines, and regular television most children are entertained by for hour upon hour. You can't sanitize everything for children--what a pleasure killer. And I have NEVER met a twelve year old child who thought it would be safe to lie down in front of a train. Sit down and ask one if you are not sure. Reading should be fun--children do not have the same taste in books as their middle-aged, well-intentioned teachers.

Rating:
Summary: READ THIS adventurous BOOK
Review: The book I read was Jack on the Tracks. This book I read kept me wondering what would happen next. My favorite character in this book is his sister,Betsy. I also liked the cats he had. Number one and two. I would suggest this book to kids or adults who like wondering what happens next. So be sure to grab this book with your others.

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Summary: Jack on the Tracks review
Review: This book is an enjoyable read and I find Jack a very believable character. He has many good qualities and is looking to improve himself. However, as a parent and educator, I find many aspects of the book very troubling. Jack's friend digs out a hole between the railroad tracks big enough for a person to lie down in and have the train pass closely overhead. The characters do this several times. It horrifies me that kids will attempt to replicate this stunt and be killed. Additionally, his friend's older brother is memorialized in the story as he died from alcohol poisoning after being very depressed. Jack remembers this as he drinks his mother's cooking sherry becoming drunk and invincible. Jack is depressed, talks about death, jumps off a ladder and this is when he for the first time gets in the hole between the tracks and lets the train pass over him. The author brought up many true to life circumstances that could have served as great teaching tools. However, the characters never see that what they have done is particularly wrong and there certainly are never any consequences for their many wrongful acts. Some of these wrongful and many times dangerous acts include trespassing, stealing mail (a felony), placing objects on the tracks which then become projectiles, disregarding the police who have notified them of escaped convicts, and accidental, but preventable deaths of three cats.