Calamity Jack [Paperback]

Shannon Hale (Author)

Book Description

Jack thinks of himself as a criminal mastermind with an unfortunate amount of bad luck. A schemer, a trickster ...maybe even a thief? But, of course, he's not out for himself he's trying to take the burden off his hardworking mum's shoulders. She'd understand, right? He hopes she might even be proud. Then, one day, Jack chooses a target a little more ...'giant' than the usual, and as one little bean turns into a great big building-destroying beanstalk, his troubles really begin. But with help from Rapunzel and other eccentric friends, Jack just might out-swindle the evil giants and put his beloved city back in the hands of the people who live there ...whilst catapulting them and the reader into another fantastical adventure.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-9–The Hales follow up Rapunzel's Revenge (Bloomsbury, 2008) with this fast-moving story focusing on Jack. It begins in the city of Shyport with his birth. Even as a child, Jack tends toward scheming, conning, and thievery with various accomplices, including Pru, a hat-fancying pixie. One scheme involving magical beans and the wealthy and corrupt giant Blunderboar goes awry, leaving Jack's tenement and his mother's bakery destroyed. Jack's mother orders him to go, and go he does with a certain goose under his arm. After the events recounted in Rapunzel's Revenge, Jack and Rapunzel head back to Shyport to set things right. They arrive to find that Jack's mother is being held prisoner by Blunderboar, who is virtually running the city. They team up with Pru and Freddie Sparksmith, a young journalist, to save Jack's mom and the day. Nathan Hale's artwork again places the action in a fairy-tale version of the American West, now with the city as backdrop. His character sketches are delightfully expressive, and the book has the same rich palette as the previous story. It should satisfy readers who enjoy adventure, fairy tales, and anyone who loves a rogue. Some fans of Bill Willingham's Jack of Fables series (Vertigo) may also enjoy this take on the Jack stories for a younger audience.–Eric Norton, McMillan Memorial Library, Wisconsin Rapids, WI
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

Praise for 'Rapunzel's Revenge': 'Proving that fairy tales are not just for girls a fabulous, off the wall, cowboy-themed graphic novel' The Sunday Telegraph 'Exciting and fast-paced story makes for compelling reading' NATE, Classroom Issue 'If you ever thought of graphic novels as providing an easy read, this one will confound your expectations. It offers 144 pages of rip-roaring storytelling in which the familiar fairy-tale is hugely extended, gathering in its sweep all kinds of echoes from Wild West and Super-hero films as well as other fairy-stories' The School Librarian

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Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Childrens Books (January 4, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0747587426
• ISBN-13: 978-0747587422
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 7.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GreenBeanTeenQueen Reviews, January 12, 2010

By 

GreenBeanTeenQueen (MO) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Calamity Jack (Hardcover)

About the Book: Jack has long been a trickster-he's just not had the best of luck. When a heist involving magic beans, a beanstalk, and giants goes wrong, Jack leaves town. After his adventures with Rapunzel (in Rapunzel's Revenge) Jack returns home to Shyport only to discover that the giant Blunderboar is in charge, the city is in ruins thanks to a infestation of ant people, and his mother is being held captive by Blunderboar and in charge of baking bones into bread. It's up to Jack and Rapunzel to save the day!

GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: I'm often asked to give booktalks on great books for tweens and I always inlcude the Hale's first graphic novel outing, Rapunzel's Revenge. (and now Calamity Jack!) Rapunzel's Revenge and Calamity Jack are a librarian's dream come true! The Hale's combine witty dialogue, action and adventure, beautiful detailed artwork and lots of humor to create the perfect graphic novel. I would give this one to anyone who is not convinced in the value of graphic novels or anyone who's a newbie to graphic novels. (And of course old fans too!)

The fairy tale of Jack and Beanstalk is given the steampunk treatment in Calamity Jack and readers looking for a great adventure read will devour this one. There's even a cute bit of romance thrown in, so I think this one will have wide appeal. It is a sequel to Rapunzel's Revenge, but readers don't necessarily have to read the first one to pick this one up. The book starts with Jack's past and gives us a little information on Jack and Rapunzel met, so I doubt readers will feel lost.

As I mentioned, the dialouge is very witty-there were a few lines I just had to read aloud to my husband because they were too great to keep to myself. The artwork is very detailed-young Jack is pictured with his tounge out while thinking and we get a glimpse that Jack hasn't lost this habit as an adult. It's this attention to detail that make the art stand out. The text and illustrations pair perfectly and work together, which makes this an excellent example of a graphic novel. I can't wait to see the final full color, since the ARC came in black and white. (And be sure to check out the inside cover page for a peek at our author's and illustrator snuck into the artwork.)

This a book to share, to pass around to friends, and re-read because each time you'll see something new. I'm hoping we can look forward to more graphic novel's from this creative team-I'd love to see their take on other fairy tales.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another great fairy tale adventure!, January 16, 2010

By 

Backroads "Scatter-brained book fan" (Cache Valley, Utah) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

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This review is from: Calamity Jack (Paperback)

If you have read the Hale team's other graphic novel "Rapunzel's Revenge", you will enjoy this further splash into yet another circa 1800s fairy tale blend with the dynamic duo of Rapunzel and Jack. If you haven't, well, this stands very well on its own with the classic "Jack and the Beanstalk" story set in a dangerous old-time city called Shyport, where giants control everything, including the cops.

Jack takes the reins here as he and his sweetheart Rapunzel return to settle old scores with the giant Jack robbed. We see Jack's history, both personal and the whole giant affair, and as a result he becomes all the more lovable.

The nature of the setting has not dimmed a whit. "Rapunzel's Revenge" had all the spunk of the Old West; "Calamity Jack" brings us the all the flavor and clout of a dirty city street where you don't know who to trust. The characters? Wow, this story has them. The gallant-but-evil giants, a gritty show pixie, and a rich inventor with nerdiness to spare.

The Hales have a strong bit of magic with the graphic novel, and this is another gem to join the first.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book - or adults or kids!, May 20, 2011

By 

Lucy Willingham (Springfield, MA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Calamity Jack (Paperback)

I had previously given the first book (Rapunzel's Revenge) to my youngest daughter (when she was 5 years old) and she loves this one just as much!

Jack is a little rascally but is redeemed and I have no problem with the number of times she's now reread this. She's now almost 7 and she's constantly still pulling it out to enjoy the story and the artwork. She loves to 'play' Rapunzel and Jack with her brother and sister out in the yard.

It's a winner for the whole family!