by Jack Gantos, Jack
It was okay.
I think middle-grade historical fiction just isn't really my thing.Although this is well-written and is obviously meant to be humorous, I'm afraid it didn't make me laugh. It felt like it relied a lot on its "voice" and a sense of atmosphere, since anything resembling a plot didn't start to emerge u...
Written by Jack Gantos. Read by Jack Gantos. About Jack Gantos. I think he likes to talk about himself. An enjoyable humorous/adventure story about Gantos' childhood. As he turns twelve, Jack's summer is officially over, his mother has grounded him for life. Only allowing him out to help their fri...
Newbery? Really?
Gosh, I'm having a hard time thinking of what to say about this book. When I put it down last night after finishing it I thought to myself, "Well that was really enjoyable. I liked it a lot, but I'm not sure I loved it." But I've been thinking about it most of today and I think I really do love it. ...
Jack Gantos (main character, maybe the author) is living in a small town in PA the summer he turns 12. The year is 1962. The country is still recovering from WWII and dealing with the Cold War. He's excited for a summer of baseball and running free with his best friend Bunny. We learn pretty soon t...
It was interesting to read this while also listening to "Okay for Now" on my commute - both feature the day-to-day life of boys in the 20th century, talk about war, are funny and bittersweet, and have yellow and blue covers with hidden faces.Since I read this after the Newbery was awarded, my expect...
I did not enjoy this anywhere near as much as the Newbery committee apparently did.
This is Jack Gantos at his best. Weird, funny and endlessly entertaining. If you're a fan of his Jack Henry and Joey Pigza books, you'll love this one.