Jack Strong Takes a Stand (BOOK REVIEW)
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Jack Strong Takes a Stand
by Tommy Greenwald
Illustrated by Melissa Mendes
Roaring Brook Press
Hardcover, $15.99
236 pages, Illustrated
ISBN: 978-1-59643-836-1
Book
Review by Kam Williams
“Extracurriculars
are ruining Jack Strong’s life. His parents have overscheduled his week with
every afterschool activity you can think of, all on top of regular seventh-grade
homework. They want him to be well-rounded and ready for college.
Finally…
Jack decides he’s had enough. No more cello recitals. No more tennis matches
and baseball games… Jack vows to sit on his couch until his parents let him
quit some of his extracurriculars.”
--
Excerpted from the inside book jacket
Do you ever
feel sorry for the children of this generation, since their lives are so
structured from morning to night that they barely have any time to relax or freedom
to explore? They seem to go from school to sporting events to music practice to
tutoring sessions to volunteering to homework to play dates to birthday parties,
etcetera, without enough downtime to process what they’re experiencing.
And when
you factor in the further distraction of incessant text messaging, email and
cell phone calls, no wonder so many of them suffer from Attention-Deficit
Disorder. If you know any such unfortunate youths a bit overwhelmed by the
demands of modern life, they’re likely to find a kindred soul in the young
protagonist of Jack Strong Takes a Stand.
Intermittently
illustrated with pleasant drawings by Melissa Mendes, this pro-adolescent
adventure, designed with 4th to 6th grade readers in mind,
chronicles the rebellion of a junior high student who has grown tired of being
told what to do 24/7. So, he goes on strike and replaces his regular routine
with watching TV and doing yoga with his grandma.
However,
after attracting media coverage, Jack becomes something of a cause célèbre, and
the stressful situation lands Nana in the hospital. Fortunately, not only does she
recover by the end of the book, but Jack and his folks arrive at a manageable
compromise lightening the lad’s daily load.
A timely cautionary
tale with a valuable message worthy of consideration by parents and kids alike.
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