Rating: 
Summary: Just my kind of story
Review: A real page turner. I bought this book while I was reading Dumas' but, because I have read another Voigt's novel, Elske, I decided to put down the Dumas' (since I have arrived at somekind prolonged part) and picked this book.This book made my day!! Really happy to have bought it. Girl in adventure and subtle romance :)) just my kind of story.
Rating: 
Summary: A Disappointment - Generic Fantasy
Review: After reading the reviews on this page, I had high expectations for this young adult fantasy novel. While Gwyn is an admirable heroine and the "Jackaroo" legend at the core of the book is a great plot idea, the overall story has many flaws. It starts slow, and there is no humor or romance in it--just a little adventure and mystery. My main complaint is with the characters. The two young boys, Tad and the young Lord Gaderian, have no personality and they don't act or talk realistically for children. Except for Gwyn, all of the characters are stereotypical and boring. Even characters who figure significantly in the story, like Burl and Cam, are totally forgettable, with no distinguishing personality features. The fictional world is also lacking in creativity. Called simply the "Kingdom," it contains the "Inn," the "Village" and the "King's City." Come on, we could think of better place names than that! The common people are oppressed by the wealthy Lords, but no explanation is offered for the root causes of this situation, what the Lords are really up to, and why even they can't leave the "Kingdom." The setup is flat and generic, with few imaginative details to make it come alive. There is a certain gritty realism here in that the novel depicts a bleak upbringing without material comforts and security. In this I'm reminded of Margaret J. Anderson's "Searching for Shona" and "To Nowhere and Back," which I recommend reading instead of Jackaroo. They also feature strong heroines in bleak fictional landscapes, but they are more convincingly written.
Rating:
Summary: A Disappointment
Review: After reading the reviews on this page, I had high expectations for this young adult fantasy novel. While Gwyn is an admirable heroine and the "Jackaroo" legend at the core of the book is a great plot idea, the overall story has many flaws. The two young boys, Tad and the young Lord Gaderian, have no personality and they don't act or talk realistically for children. Except for Gwyn, all of the characters are stereotypical and boring. Even characters who figure significantly in the story, like Burl and Cam, are totally forgettable, with no distinguishing personality features. The fictional world is also lacking in creativity. Called simply the "Kingdom," it contains the "Inn," the "Village" and the "King's City." Come on, we could think of better place names than that! The common people are oppressed by the wealthy Lords, but no explanation is offered for the root causes of this situation, what the Lords are really up to, and why even they can't leave the "Kingdom." There is a certain gritty realism here in that the novel depicts a bleak upbringing without material comforts and security. In this I'm reminded of Margaret J. Anderson's "Searching for Shona" and "To Nowhere and Back," which I recommend reading instead of Jackaroo. They also feature strong heroines in bleak fictional landscapes, but they are more convincingly written.
Rating:
Summary: A legend comes to life!
Review: Although I do not consider Jackaroo Voigt's best work, it is a masterpiece nonetheless. She gives us a charcter to love in the daring Jackaroo, a fearless personage whose role is similar to the Scarlet Pimpernel, or Robin Hood. Gywn is the hardworking daughter of the inkeeper of the Ram's Head, an inn which prospers in a time of hardship. The inn is patronized by a lord and his young son, who claim to be making a map of the northeastern kingdom. Gywn and the inn's servant, Burl, accompany the lords on their rounds of the kingdom and are caught in a sudden blizzard. Gywn and the young lord, whose name she learns is Gaderian, are stranded in an isolated cabin as the storm runs its course. Gywn and Gaderian become friends, and together speculate on the differences between the lords and the people to pass the time, Gwyn learning new things about herself in the process. While residing in the cabin, Gywn makes a startling discovery, which soon transforms her personality completely. The story is an exciting one of adventure and suspence. The fast-paced ending peppered with romance makes up for a somewhat slow beginning. Voigt's kingdom sequels, On Fortune's Wheel, The Wings of a Falcon, and Elske share subtle connections that add greatly to each novel. Overall, Voigt creates engrossing fantasy world targeted toward youth but appropriate for readers of any age.
Rating: 
Summary: THE LEGEND MUST NEVER DIE!
Review: At 16 Gwyn is one determined female protagonist--a brave Innkeeper's Daughter who refuses to watch complacently while the common people--like herself--are bullied and butchered. My major confusion stemmed from the lack of a specific country or time: the novel was set in a nameless land governed by a King, three Earls and their various Lords--a palid prototype of the emerging feudal system. This was a dark and cruel world for most: the Lords kept aloof in their guarded castles, caring nothing for the injustice rampant in their domains. They lived in total disregard and utter contempt for the mere people whose lives they controlled, whose lands and labor they plundered. In this dark time of social and economic despair, only Lords received burial; the people were cremated. Hangings and civil corruption at every level were as natural and inevitable as Spring and Fall tithes. Priests there were though not necessarily of the Church; Lords could perform marriage rites. Thus Fear, Hunger and Avarice stalked the land. People were addressed by their trades and relationship (such as Weaver's Son). At the age of 16 a girl had to marry her family's choice or declare her intention to remain permamently unwed. A man at 45 had to name his heir, who could be only a child. Were these conventions fact or Voigt's creative fiction? All combine to create an alien world wherein almost anything can be believed. Was there no one in all the kingdom with a compassionate heart for the helpless and oppressed, who offered Hope (even if only in the form of old wives' tales) to those in need? Could no one force the Lords to become accountable to their power base, to avenge atrocities committed upon the people by each other? The Lords were laws unto themselves and often acted above the law. But wait--there was one hero after all: a masked horseman with a cloak and plumed hat, who appeared at odd moments to dispense his own brand of justice. Who dared rob the rich and give to the poor, indefiance of the Lords. Centuries before Robin Hood in England or Zorro in Alta California, there waa JACKAROO, the people's champion! He alone dared to reform the Lords' selfish philosphy, to teach them the meaning of "Noblesse Oblige." Most men scoffed at the idea that this dashing hero ever truly lived, or would return in dire need. But children grew up hearing tales of his exploits and the old cherished childlike faith that one day He would ride again. Gwyn had witnessed enough pillage and wanton destruction of life and property in her 16 years. How could she find meaning for her husbandless future? The day she returned to the family Inn after two weeks' enforced confinement in an empty hut with a young lordling, was the day she realized that she had become a stranger to her family. They all took to wearing masks with each other, rather than admit they were wrong in their quick condemnation of her actions. Thus she turned to subterfuge behind her mask of innocent ignorance, but she would need Jackaroo's help to accomplish her noble goals. She gradually realized that she would sacrifice her future and even her life to preserve the name and fame of the beloved bandit, Jackaroo. A fascinating tale with surprise twists at every turn. This one isn't over until the last page!
Rating:
Summary: One worth the reading and rereading and rereading....
Review: Cynthia Voight is an Arachne of storyweaving!
The dusky warmth from a fireplace, seated content of a full stomach after supper... sit back, and succumb to this tale.
Yes, there is adventure, yes there is romance (as in the archaic use), and yes, a hint* of fantasy; but more importantly, this is a tale of and for all ages.
This is what I believe Tolkein loved best... After myth searching, dragon slaying, discovering new languages and worlds, and even after creating history... coming home. The Shire was exactly that.
Jackaroo cannot compare with Tolkein's works in its wide worth on any level, except its author's heart.
That is what this book is to me.
It is not one of sheer thrill, or complexity, or corniness (thank goodness!), but of heart.
And yes, I agree with all those that said it has a taste of Scarlet Pimpernel or Robin Hood... more like the idea of these.
Alright, enough of reading the reviews, go out and read this book! On the the third reading, be sure to gather your children, or your younger siblings, and start making a tradition of reading a chapter after supper... if your family will be patient enough to draw it out that long.
Rating:
Summary: One of Voigt's worse books.
Review: Cynthia Voigt is one of my favorite authors, but this book was not her best. Jackaroo is very boring at some parts of this book. I read this book for a summer reading book report and halfway through the summer I decided that I needed to choose a different book to read. Another thing that was bad about the book was that the pages were horribly bound together and as soon as I started reading the book, they began to fall out. If you do read this book, try to get it in the hardcover edition, because the book is not worth trying to balance all the pages as you read it. The only person who I would recommend reading this book is a person who really likes fantasy and andventure books, otherwise, I would skip it.
Rating:
Summary: One of Voigt's worse books.
Review: Cynthia Voigt is one of my favorite authors, but this book was not her best. Jackaroo is very boring at some parts of this book. I read this book for a summer reading book report and halfway through the summer I decided that I needed to choose a different book to read. Another thing that was bad about the book was that the pages were horribly bound together and as soon as I started reading the book, they began to fall out. If you do read this book, try to get it in the hardcover edition, because the book is not worth trying to balance all the pages as you read it. The only person who I would recommend reading this book is a person who really likes fantasy and andventure books, otherwise, I would skip it.
Rating: 
Summary: The last 20 or so pages was all the action.
Review: I did not like the book Jackaroo for many reasons. One i did not like it because the author seemed to go on and on and on about the simplest things some times distorting the picture in my head. Two the last 20 or so pages was all the action the rest was just detailes. I think Cnthia Voight should rewrite Jackaroo and make it much, much more interesting.
Rating:
Summary: I did not like this book
Review: i did not like this book. i thought it was to predictable i knew what was goning to happen the second chapter of the book!!the story was well writen though and that is why i give it 5 stars.
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