Customer Reviews

Jackson Jones, Book 1: The Tale of a Boy, an Elf, and a Very Stinky Fish

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

When the publisher contacted me and offered me a review copy of Jackson Jones, I was curious. I can't remember working with Zondervan in the past, and I haven't reviewed very much christian fiction, as I've found it to be a wasteland with very few gems, and I prefer to read books I'll enjoy. However, I'd been spending time purging books in the school library and had been wondering how the genre of children's christian literature had changed since my childhood, and I am predisposed to liking fantasy with slightly nerdy protagonists, so I decided to give it a try. Unfortunately, the book only served to reinforce my frustrations.

Stylistically, this book is distinguished by it's peculiar narrator. As a literary device, an intrusive narrator who addresses readers directly can be a boost to some novels, when used sparingly and with great judiciousness, e.g. the famous line from Jane Eyre, "Reader, I married him." In Jackson Jones, the narrator addresses the reader incessantly. She informs the reader that she is going to take a bathroom break and suggests he do the same, as holding your bladder for a long time is unhealthy. Suspense is attempted by inserting an extra chapter that says "I'm so mean." Large words are used, and then parenthetically defined with examples and commentary.

As a parent, a former teacher, a lover of children and literature for children, I find myself firmly in the camp that believes that children respond best to literature that treats readers with dignity and respect. C.S. Lewis famously wrote in an essay about writing for children "We must meet children as equals in that area of our nature where we are their equals... The child as reader is neither to be patronized nor idolized: we talk to him as man to man." I rarely felt like the narrator could be connecting with eight to eleven-year-old children.

That lack of connection was disappointing, because the story itself was interesting in many ways. The characters, setting, and back story all had good potential. But like most of the christian literature I've encountered, the christian elements were rather heavy handed.

Theologically, I found the message mixed. The idea that God is the author of all of our stories and that he is weaving them all together into one great story is one that I not only believe, but share with my children. However, the book falls into the common western evangelical error that the things we think are most important in our lives (job, where we live, etc.) are most important to God. We can chose the wrong thing, and thus find ourselves wandering away from the story God has for us. In reality, I think the Bible consistently shows that God's story for us has less to do with whether we are concert pianists or businessmen and much more to do with how we live our lives. Do we love our neighbors well? Are we taking care of those in need? Do our lives reflect the values we say we believe? How has the gospel changed us?

There are some great meditations about our identity in Christ in this book. But the idea that we can make a mistake about where we go to college or what career to pursue creates a culture of paralyzing fear that we will miss God's will for our lives that is very real to 21st century North Americans and this may fuel that fire.

In the end, Jackson Jones is a fun story, and I don't think it's dangerous or absolute twaddle. I just hoped for something better.

Bed-time reading: it is a highlight of our day for the boys... and for me. Each night before lights out, the boys and I curl up together to read chapter books, picture books, comic books, magazines, whatever they are in the mood for on a given night. Over the past few weeks, we've been reading a newly published book: Jackson Jones: The Tale of a Boy, an Elf, and a Very Stinky Fish by Jenn Kelly, illustrated by Ariane Elsammak, and we've laughed, and smiled, and read well past our usual cut-off time on many a night!

Jackson Jones: The Tale of a Boy, an Elf, and a Very Stinky Fish is the story of ten-year-old Jackson Jones, a young boy who is struggling to fit in at a new school after his family's recent move far away from all that was familiar to him: his home; his friends; and his very large, very involved extended family. It is the story of a boy's search for his identity, for his "story."

Jackson is a quiet boy, a loner, a book worm, an aspiring author, a young man unsure of himself, his choices, and his future... until the day he falls into Great Aunt Harriet's hair. Yes, that's right. He falls into Great Aunt Harriet's GIANT hair and finds a whole new world, a world with elves, keys, doors, and ok, you knew it had to be coming, right?... a stinky fish.

The author is the mother of a young boy, and after reading this book, both of my boys are convinced that she must be one wild, crazy, and FUN mom! And, I am prone to agree! Jackson Jones: the Tale of a Boy, and Elf, and a Very Stinky Fish is written so that the reader feels that he is sitting down with the author and listening to her tell a story. There are interruptions as the author commiserates with the reader about having to put the book down after the cliff-hanger ending the previous chapter; congratulates readers alternating turns with their parents on lucking out in drawing a short chapter to read; and prepares the reader for an important chapter, an integral event, or a surprising turn in the story. There are breaks when the author stops to define a "sixth grade" vocabulary word or encourages the reader to use his imagination, to visualize, and to dream. And there are is laugh after laugh as Jackson meets a host of interesting characters in Great Aunt Harriet's world!

Jackson Jones: the Tale of a Boy, and Elf, and a Very Stinky Fish was as fun for me to read to the boys as it was for them to listen. We couldn't help but laugh at the story, the author, and the hilarious titles of the 78 chapters... my favorite: Chapter 15 In Which There are Too Many Books (as if That's Possible), or maybe Chapter 16 In Which There is Frustration, Annoyance, Irritation and Exasperation. The boys' favorite: hmmm... that's hard, maybe: Chapter 7 In Which the Book Really Begins... they thought reading 6 chapters before the book "really begins" was just over-the-top funny!

For all of its hilarity, this book also relays an important, though not heavy-handed, message to young boys... and girls, the message that each of them is created by "the Author;" each of them has a story to write, a life to live. It reassures children that although they will not be masters at everything they attempt, they each have strengths individual to them and it is their duty to develop these strengths and to use them to make a difference in their lives and the lives of those around them. In the end, quiet, uncertain, loner Jackson learns that he holds the key to making a difference in both his own life, and in the lives of those he loves, including Great Aunt Harriet!

I received this book from ZonderKidz. in exchange for my honest review. The thoughts printed in this review are entirely my own.

This was a fabulously silly book with a very serious message. The joyful narrative allows the reader to enter the silliness with all the seriousness that a truly silly tale requires! I found the main character very relatable (having been a bit dorky myself), and absolutely adored the supporting characters, especially Meeka, the heartwarming, slightly off-kilter tour guide! Children of all ages will enjoy the humour, and the quirky interjections of the writer. I loved it so much I wanted to devour it all in one sitting, but found that within the story, the truths being presented required more reflection and thought. Reluctantly, I put it down a couple of times and have been deeply impacted as a result. It is a fun and easy read, and with all the quirky characters would be an absolute joy to read aloud with all the different voices. No matter who you are, this book will provoke thought and challenge your understanding of who you think you are. Go get it for all the kids in your life, and the adults who are cool enough to be kids at heart!

I was skeptical about this book at first. It just seemed so...well, silly. How can there be an entire world in someone's hair? But the book turned out to be fun (not silly) and well-written with characters I really came to care about.

The best thing about the book was that the story was unique. Christian fantasy is gaining in popularity but if you're looking for Christian children's fantasy the pickings are slim indeed. Most of what you do find is full of knights and swords and epic battles between good and evil. Or they are about children who find their way into a magic land and are given a seemingly impossible quest. Many of these books are very good, but fantasy gives an author such a wide range of choices that it's a shame not to see more variety. Jennifer Kelly manages to pull off a refreshingly different story in a unique fantasy world with a believable plot and wonderful characters.

I think this book would appeal to readers that have enjoyed the Landon Snow series, The Phantom Toll Booth and A Series of Unfortunate Events.

This story starts out strong, and pretty cute too! I was eagerly winding my way through the first few chapters when it started to drag.....and drag....and drag. About a third of the way into the book, the story seems to lose itself. There are too many mini-adventures that distract from the one that is supposed to be the main one. Then there is a whole thing where one of the characters finds herself in danger, and the reader has no idea how she got there. The middle third was just plain boring, and by the time we get to the last third, it's just plain preachy. I thought that this would be in line with "The Phantom Tollbooth" where we get to meet lots of great characters while remaining with the main one and his guide, but instead, we end up meeting the saccharine Josh who spends the last third of the book telling us about how we all just need to be ourselves. The writing starts out strong, but again, by the end of the book it ends up like cotton candy. Cloying, with very little to hold it up and, ultimately, unsatisfying.

i thought it was a very cute story about true friendship. i especally like meeka`s character. i gave it four stars because i didn`t like how he askes the same questions again and again and again. but other than that aa pretty good book.

it is such a good book i couldnt wait to finish it i love how it the auother talked in the book i recomend it for readers who are willing to try and read but you have to pretend your with jackson to understand

got this book on kindle and read to my son 10 at night, loved the way the author talked to us, we had too keep reading in one part because the author said the parent would probably want to take a break! Funny. My son ended up reading the rest himself because he couldn't wait for night to come! He is waiting for book 2!!

my daughter started this book yesterday and finished it on the plane home from Hawaii. she loved the author's imagination.

If you like children's books that will make you laugh and keep you AND your children hooked, then this book is a must read. It's quirky, silly and captivating with pictures and words that the younger generation will be able to understand. The fantasy style of the book adds a bonus to keep the children hooked. Jennifer Kelly has created a book full of humor with lots of messages woven throughout that make this a easily read keeper! It's hard to write an overly long review of a short, easy read such as this one,especially since I was able to read it one day. Jackson,the main character is a bit on the nerdy side(maybe that's why I connected to this children's book character so well?!) and Meeka was a beautifully created character to add just the right amount of support to this charming story! This is a book that I give 4 stars to, and will be reading it to my children often! I definitely recommend this book to everyone who wants a good laugh or have children who love to read and like to laugh! Well done, Jennifer, on an awesomely written children's book!

*This book was provided for review by Zondervan*