Customer Reviews

Jack's Run

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The type of reader that would enjoy this book the most would be people who like adventure and people who like being tricked. I think that the protagonist is the type of person who doesn't mind getting into trouble. The antagonist is the type of person who doesn't care about anybody else but himself. This book has a lot of adventure. One you start reading this book you cannot put it down.

I rated this book wrong, it deserves ten stars! It was better than the 1st book! There is tons of action and unexpected twists in this story. Its "on the edge of your seat action" as movie critics call it. Which makes an a-w-esome book!!!!!!!!

Jack's Run, the sequel to to Zach's Lie, is one of Roland Smith's best books. this book is a page-turner that kept me on the edge of my seat with action and suspense. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a great book.

This book is the last in its series the auther is Roland Smith and you must start the series I dont remimber the first books name but go on to Google and search Roland Smith and go on his web site it is a great book 5 stars all the way!!!

Jack's run is the sequal to Zach's Lie. At the end of Zach's Lie the Grangers, after almost being killed by a drug lord named Alanzo Aznar, become the greens and move to Manteo North Carolina. Not long after they moved Jack's Parents are going to go to court to see how Alanzo's trial is going so Jack has to go live with his sister and her sister's room mate. But without thinking Jack's sister auditioned on a popular show. One of Alanzo's hentchmen saw the show that gave Alanzo all the information he need. Then Jack and his sister get taken to a large vinyard owned by Alanzo and his brother. When Jack's parents found out about Jack and joanne being kidnapped they both planned to go save them with the help of Sam Sebesta and Smitty who is an old family friend. While Jack's Parent are trying to save Jack and Joanne they are planning on how to get out they have to make a run at night to a nearby town an hope they don't get caught. When Joanne gets caught Jack luckly doesn't get caught and begins searching for Joanne. After a while Jack's Parent get there to save them but when a crazed woman threatens to kill Joanne they chase her to a small room where they find Jack and Joanne.
I really think Jack is a good character because he is very courageous and smart. He does not give up and is also funny even in bad situations. But most of all he tries his hardest to protect his family.
I would recommend this book to everybody it is a great book. although i didn't like it as much as Zach's lie i still really liked it. It really gets you thinking of what you would do if you were him. This book has great characters I really like Sam Sebesta because he always know what to do and is never afraid. If you like books with cunning villans than this is for you because Alanzo is very smart and very powerful. So if you are ever are bored I recommend reading this great book.

Bibliography:
Smith, Roland. (2005). Jacks Run.
New York: Schoolastic, Inc.

Their are many important characters in this book. Jack is a young boy who's life has been very hard, and now he is a very shy, strong, and brave teenager.
Alonzo is the leader of a drug cartel. He is now in custidy, but he has men and women kidnapping the Osbornes and he is still a very feared man.
Christine is Jack's sister, who is a very good actress and singer.
Mr. Osborne is an ex-criminal, ex-Navy SEAL, and ex-pilot. His main goal in the story is to save his children and bring Alonzo to justice.
Sam is a smart, sneaky, and strong man. He used to be a Russian spy, and now, betraying Russia, has many friends high in the government.
Catalin is a young girl from Jack's past-life. She is very important to him, and Jack really wants to see her once more.

Jack's Run is the very exciting sequal to Zach's Lies, which is also written by Mr. Roland Smith. In Zach's Lies, Jack's dad gets caught up in the drug business. The police discovered that Mr. Osborne was drug trafficing, and immedietly arrested him. Alonzo Aznar, the owner of the drug cartel, broke into Jack's house and had his whole family, except his father, held at gunpoint. He then called and told Mr. Osborne that he would kill his family if he told the police anything about the cartel. The Osbornes told the police about the break-in, and they were then put into the Witness Protection Program. The family's identities were changed, and they moved across the country. Jack, not knowing how much danger he was actually in, accidently let his secret out. Alonzo found the family, and threatened to kill them if Jack didn't destroy his dad's proof the Alonzo had the drug cartel. Luckily, the family escaped, and moved again across the country.
Now in the story Jack's Run, Jack's mom and dad went to Atlanta to bring Alonzo to justice. Jack went to LA to live with his sister, but Alonzo's men were there, and kidnapped Jack and his sister. They were brought to South America, where Alonzo lived and were left there trapped. Jack's mother and father got a phone call, and knew then that their children were brought to South America. The parents went after their children, into South America, to rescue their children. Read this book to find out if Jack and his sister live, and to see if Alonzo is ever brought to justice.

I love how the auther, Roland Smith, used short paragraph's which made you just want to read one more chapter, and end up reading the whole book. The whole idea of the book is wonderful, and the book is an excellent book for anybody, expecially children. The plot is very smooth, so the book is pretty easy to understand.

The genre of this book is fiction, and it may be a little action too. My rating of this book is 10 out of 10. It is one of the best books that I have ever read; it is even better than Zach's Lies, which is also a great book.

Bibliography
Smith, Roland (2005). Jacks Run.
New York: Schoolastic, Inc.
This story is about a boy jack wich is his third name and

his family. His mom and dad have to go to trial with Alanzo aznar. So thy send jack to live with his sister and her room mate who are both aspiring acters. But jacks sister got onto a tv show for acters and basically blew there cover and Alonzo found ot were they were hiding. Once Alonzo found that ot he sent some people down to take them away and threaten to kill them. Jacks parents found out about this and started to search for them. Once Jack and his sister got there they were not happy and every hour the people took a picture of them and sent to there parents to show them that they have not harmed them yet. Zack is the clever one and found a way to excape but the next day his got captered again. There mom and dad finally made it there and were able to trick them into thinking that they were part of the drug trafficing. Wall they were walking around they could here there daughter singing and that let them be able to find her right away. they found jack a little bit later limping around. So at the end they were all back toether again and were able to stop the drug buisiness. Also zack even got to see catelen again and give her the letter that he has always wanted to give her.

The theme of the book was theme of the book was Family. I think it is this because there familly stuck together. Also they were able to find echother by sticking together in a familly.

I liked the book a lot because It went fast and still was good. Also because Jack and his sister stuck together and helped eachother out. Also because It went well with the first book.
I give this book a 10

Have you ever been so into a book that you couldn't put it down? Well Jacks Run is so heart stopping and adrenalin packed you'll find yourself begging for more. Kidnapping, fighting and threats revolve around this book, but if you don't like action you might not like the Jacks Run.
After the first book, Zack's Run, the characters of Jack (his new name) and family have been moved to Montreal, in hope of starting over and forgetting about their near death experience with Alozon Azhar. Alozon is a former drug dealer who Jack's father worked for. When Alozon trail comes up, Jack's dad and mom leave for Elk in hopes of sending their enemy back to jail forever. Jack flies to L.A. with his sister, being only 13. There he will be safe and out of harm, or will he? All hopes of their safety are shattered when Christine, the oldest child, decides to try out for America Sings, making it to the finial 12. She is videotaped and put on TV. Jack and Christine are presented with many challengers dealing with Azhar and his people who want them dead. If only Jack could find a way to use his muses for something other than lifting weights.
Kids 12 and up could definitely read this book. The main character, who is 13, is like many kids, going through school, trying to make friends and figuring out how to fit in. Towards the end though it gets intense and most teens would love the action. This book is fiction but realistic parts to it, like a family in the witness protection program. To read Jack's Run you might want to read Zack's Run, the first book in this series. It's action packed and fun to read.
If you have read Thunder Cave by Roland Smith, you might enjoy Jack's Run. They are both jam-packed with action and full of adventure. Both main characters get kidnapped by the "enemy" and put in unfamiliar habitats, were they are forced to think on their feet to survive.
Perhaps the best thing in Jack's Run is the sense of adventure when you read it. Having two formal navy seals, the Attorney General of the US, a whole band of drug dealers and a man who specializes in giving heart attacks is very exciting when you put it all together. The use of words in this book however is not too exciting but boring. The hard words they use are Anzon (which is a name) it's almost like it's written for a 10 year old with a plot for teens. The narrator is Anmems, so he knows what all the characters think, making you feel closer to the characters and able to understand much more. You don't go a paragraph without a quote, so if you are like me and love to hear the characters express their thoughts to one another, this book is for you.
Like I say, this book was amazing. There were surprises around every corner with twist and spins. Ultimately you should read this book, if you're looking for adventure and action.

Have you ever read a story that changed your life? If you have, this isn't it. "Jack's Run" is a story that is interesting to read, but it isn't amazing. It has many good points, but it could have used one more rewrite. Overall, I thought it was a good story.
"Jack's Run" attempts to grab you from the beginning, but fails. It gradually takes you in throughout the story, but if you judge a book from its first page, you would think it is terrible. It does succeed at being suspenseful. It never tells you what happens next, and the foreshadowing is no where near close to being obvious. The suspense is the key in this story.
It also changes a lot, first it talks about how Jack's father flew planes for a drug cartel, and in the end he is a former Navy SEAL. Another example of this is that in the beginning of the story, Alonzo, the protagonist is threatening to kill Jack and his sister, but ends up kidnapping them. Smith also brings a character back from the first book, "Zach's Lie". He brings back Sam Sebesta, the loveable former KGB agent, if that combination works at all.
There are several story lines in this novel. There is Jack's sister, Joanne trying to win "American Superstar". Apparently, Mr. Smith could not use the name "American Idol", because that is basically what it is. Also, there is Jack and Joanne trying to escape from Alonzo's brother, Raphael. I forgot to say that Alonzo is in prison and is running his operation from the inside. And then there is Jack's parents and Sam Sebesta trying to rescue them. If you've read the book and have seen the movie "Taken", you'd think Mr. Smith should sue the producers of "Taken" for all they have.
Overall I enjoyed "Jack's Run" and would recommend it to someone who wants to read a book, but doesn't want to get committed to the series. It has a good story and some pretty good plot twists near the end. I congratulate Roland Smith on being able to come out with a good book that actually has a point.

Jack's Run By: Roland Smith, Scholastic Books.245pages


Roland Smith's action packed novel Jack's Run, brings a whole new meaning to the action/adventure genre. With a plot that will leave you hanging every time you set the book down.
Beginning with an introduction to the Greene family who reside in Manteo, and Alonzo Aznar. We quickly see that were this plot is leading is downhill for the Greene family. Jack's Run is the type of novel that when you read the first chapter you are instantly hooked and when you set the book down you are left pondering the next events to take place. Though others have different views for this novel I believe that this novel was and is directed to middle school/junior high students.
In summary, the author puts all of his focus on the main characters and what they have to gain and what they have already lost. Meaning that the outcome kidnapping of Jack and Joanne, and their families personal life is all on the line and is teetering on the outcome of the trial of Alonzo Aznar. The kidnapping of Jack and Joanne gives you a peek into how the story is going to turn out but, there is always another curveball. After, the children are rescued by their parents and are safe back in the states the Greene's get all that they deserve and become a united family once again. As for Alonzo Aznar and his employees everything is not so great for their business or their heath.
I believe that the novel Jack's Run does indeed do a lot of jumping around from places to people although this can be a fault in some novels if not used correctly I believe that in this particular novel it shows diversity. Though at times this novel could be a little overwhelming, for example in the first few chapters or so they kind of skipped around as well as during the middle of the novel there are name changes. These may be the con's of this novel but, as I listed in earlier paragraphs there are many more pro's. To sum it up I would most definitely recommend it to anyone who has not read it, and I would also say that whatever goal or vision that Roland Smith had for this novel he has definitely achieved it. By: Danielle Sydney