Customer Reviews

The Graduation of Jake Moon (Aladdin Fiction)

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To parents: Has Alzheimer's touched your family yet? As we baby boomers and our parents age, it's more likely than not to do so. It's difficult enough to watch your own, once proud and independent parent struggle with this horrible illness (I know, I have), but how are you going to explain it to your children? Jake Moon's story is one that perhaps all families can use as a starting point for discussion. Jake's fears, frustrations, anger, and love for and about his grandfather, Skelly, are presented with honesty and a touch of humor in this important and perfect tale...

To the kids: Meet Jake Moon - a regular kid (just like you) who loves his family, but, Boy! They sure can be a pain sometimes (just like yours)! Especially his grandfather, Skelly, who USED to be so great to live with. Now that Skelly is sick, Jake has to babysit him. And Skelly does the most embarassing things all the time! How can Jake get on with being a regular kid with all this going on his life? The Graduation of Jake Moon is funny, truthful, and a story you will remember for a long, long time. Be prepared to root for both Jake and Skelly, because you'll love them both!

Does your family ever embarrass you in front of your friends?

Jake's grandfather Skelly does in "The Graduation of Jake Moon" by Barbara Park. But Skelly can't help it because he has Alzheimer's. This is a disease when the brain plays funny tricks on old people and they think they're living in the past or don't even know where that are. At times, Skelly thinks Jake is Claude Harper, his childhood friend, instead of his grandson.

Jake and his mom have lived with his grandfather since he was a baby. He loves his grandfather dearly and has millions of great memories of their happy times together. But now Jake is in 8th grade and his grandfather acts strange in front of his friends. Sometimes the peer pressure is too much for Jake. (p. 17)

"The day I started fourth grade, I went to get a can of orange juice and found Skelly's pajamas in the freezer. It might sound funny. ... A few days later, when I brought my new best friend, Lucas Carney, home from school, there was a little note on the freezer in Skelly's handwriting. It said, THIS IS NOT THE HAMPER. Lucas looked at it. Then at me. I tried to laugh it off. "Oh that. That's just some stupid joke between Ma and me," I said. To distract him, I poured us something to drink. But just as I was handing Lucas his glass, we both noticed a piece of material sticking out the top of the oven door. Lucas pulled it open. Inside, on the top rack, were two wet sheets. "Is this another joke between your mother and you, or do you guys dry your sheets in the oven?" he asked."

Jake tries his best to manage pressures from school and friends, as well as sharing the care-giving responsibilities at home. The typical teenage sarcasm in Jake's replies makes this book marvelously funny. But it's also a tear-jerker with how much Jake's grandfather means to him. It had me laughing and crying, sometimes even at the same time, through the entire story.

What would you do if your grandfather embarrassed you in front of your friends? What if his behavior was beyond his control? Jake and his family are beside themselves with worry when Skelly wonders off and is missing for days? Then comes the biggest day of Jake's life ... 8th grade graduation! What is Skelly going to do now? How will Jake react this time?

I had heard of Alzheimer's on the news but never read a novel about it until The Graduation of Jake Moon. When Jake's lively and heroic grandfather Skelly is diagnosed with Alzheimer's, it changes everything, though his mother says she will try to keep his life normal. At first it seems like nothing can harm Skelly, but bit by bit Jake's life is spun around, reversing the roles of grandfather and grandson. This is a read which will make you feel for those who live with Alzheimer's patients and the utter helplessness which accompanies it.

Do you like books with suspense? If you do, then you should read this book The Graduation of Jake Moon by Barbra Parks.

This book is about a boy named Jake Moon and when he and two of his friends were walking home from school. Just before they were about to take off in different directions, they saw an old man doing something in a dumpster at the end of the parking lot. One of the boys started yelling stuff to the old man then the other boy did too. The third one just kept quiet. That old guy was his grandfather, and he was losing his mind. He had Alzheimer Disease. Jake was in 8th grade and he was about to graduate in a few weeks. Jake wanted to take music lessons, but couldn't because nobody could watch Skelly. Finally, a sitter was found. She took Skelly to the nursing home because she had to do something. She let him paint outside while she went in. When she came back, she noticed that Skelly was missing. Once Jake got home, his mother told him what happened, and a cop came. The next day while Jake was walking, a cop came over and picked him up to help him find Skelly. The next day a cab pulled up with a cart on the top, and the man who came out was Skelly, Finally, it was a few days from graduation and Skelly wouldn't get rid of his cart. Jake's cousin was supposed to be watching Skelly, when he walked onto the stage. Read this book to find out what happens on next.

Tim W.

If you have not read The Graduation of Jake Moon You need to now. This book is very emotional. This is the best book yet that Barbara Park has written, to me. It will make you cry, laugh, and even mad. If you pick up this book, it will be glued to your eyes and hands, you would not want to put it down. The front cover is so mysterious you would think that the entire book is about school, but it is about a boy going through a lot. He is having to deal with a sickly grandparent, Skelly. If you want to find out more, find the book of "The Graduation of Jake Moon". Then I want You to read! read! read! I promse you will love it!

I applaud Barbara Park for tackling this subject.

This middle-grade novel is a realistic portrayal of a single parent/only child family caring for a grandfather with Alzheimer's. That's a lot to tackle in one little book. And Park does it with grace and humor, although a few tears may roll as well.

My heart broke over Jake all through the book but I was cheering him on at the end. It's not a particularly cheerful book but it will stay with you and mean something to you for a long time to come.

In those darker moments I loved Jake's account of reading The Pearl by Steinbeck for a book report. He talked about how depressing it was, etc., which gave me hope that Park knew what she was doing and would be able to end this book in a realistically, yet somewhat cheerful way. She did.

This book tells of a boy who is all alone in the world, but has a wonderful grandpa who does wonderful things just to see him happy.Then the worst thing happens, the grandpa gets all timers. This story tells of hardships and loving comedy.

Through Barbara Park's wonderful writing, a boy struggles to help and understand his grandfather, Skelly, who is diagnosed with Alzheimers. From the point where Skelly is normal, to the point where he can't remember where his keys are, to the point where he can't do anything for himself.
Along the way, Park invents some delightfully quirky characters! Mrs. Russell, Skelly's nurse, was my favorite...

"'This stupid hat isn't even his, I bet! And even if it was his, there are a million ways it could have gotten to the edge of the water. Like the wind could have blown it. Or a dog might have carried it down there. Or---'
'OR A WHOOPING CRANE COULD HAVE FLOWN IT!' she shrieked.
I stopped jumping and just stood there. I mean, that's the whole trouble with Mrs. Russell. Just when you think that you may have made a connection, she goes and says something so freaky it scares you."
-The Graduation Of Jake Moon, by Barbara Park

One of the great moments! Hilarious and touching. You must read this book.

I think that the book is a thoughtful and well-written look into the world of Alzheimer's disease. Many children will be able to relate to Jake and the things happening in his life. Jake has to quickly learn how to act like an adult and caregiver. Many children face situations like these. Barbara Park shows how Jake's mother tries to cope with her father diseases as well as her son's reaction to the new way of life for them all. I like this book so much because Jake could be any child, anywhere. The characters are easily liked and identified with by the reader.
The only complaint that I find with the book is that the children in the story rarely face consequences for their actions. Many wrongful actions go unnoticed. Overall the actions and situations in the story can be helpful teaching tools when discussing real life situations with children. Jake slowly realizes throughout the book that his grandfather's illness affects everyone, not just him. This is an important lesson for all children to learn.

This is a wonderful book that takes you through the hardships of a twelve year old boy. His grandpa has Alzheimer's disease and it is affecting his life dramatically. Jake all of the sudden feels that he is the parent and his Grandpa is the kid. Jake has to sacrafice his own time just to watch his grandpa. He is embaressed to go out in public with his Grandpa. I highly recomend this book to anyone who is ready to go on an adventure of a boy with a big heart.