Customer Reviews

Jerk, California

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4 star:		(6)
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2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Jerk is the story of a young man who is freed from a cruel prison. I'm not talking about Tourette's but everything and everyone around him who beat him down with it, including himself. I found myself cheering for Jack (Sam), balling up my fists and wanting to fight for him and alongside him. As Jack becomes free from his prison, he frees others with him. His grandma. His mom. Naomi. Lane. And in a very real sense, baby Jess.

It is the story of a beaten down boy who learns to stand tall and stright. A boy who quietly joins the ranks of men who have earned the title Hero. Not because of some glorious moment in a sporting event, but because of his choices, his character, the man he becomes. This was the most enjoyable read I've had in a long, long time.

I expect this book will be one that becomes required or recommended reading in high school classrooms all across the U.S. And it ought to be.

Jerk, CaliforniaJerk, California tells the fascinating story of high school senior Sam Carrier's search for the truth about his life. Rejected by his stepfather after being diagnosed with Tourette's as a child, Sam has endured plenty of bad treatment at home and school has been worse. His best, and only release from the constant betrayal of his body's constant movement is in running.
A mistake and a fortunate fall introduce the lovely Naomi into his life of chaos and the beginning of a most memorable year for Sam.
After graduation, the surprises continue as Sam discovers a job, a new home, a friend and mentor and a different identity all in the form of George, the town "coot" (who also has a connection to Naomi). The more Sam learns about his past the more he feels an undeniable desire to separate the lies he's always believed from the truth of his past.
As he and Naomi follow a mysterious map across the nation Sam literally drives into his father's history. Following a trail of windmills, small towns and unforgettable characters eventually winds them up in the seaside town of Jerk, California and a long lost family member.
My favorite part of Jerk, CA, was the beautifully written characters. They were real and honest and had you rooting for them all the time. I also loved the unexpected twists and turns of the plot as it took me from Minnesota to California. At the end of the book, I find my self reflecting on the character of Sam. His determination to live his life on his own terms unafraid to be who he really is reflected that he "may have Tourette's, but Tourette's doesn't have him".

Jerk, California is the story of Sam Carrier, the kid who can't sit still. He jerks and twitches, in near constant motion. The only time he feels in control of his limbs is when he runs. High school is a nightmare. No friends, nothing. Then he meets beautiful Naomi, the girl who makes him feel like he can't remember which way is up.

But everything changes after his embarrassing graduation. New job, new name-- well, not new. Suddenly he finds himself on a cross-country trip with only his questions and Naomi for company.

I loved this book. Seriously. I read it in about 24 hours. I even read parts out loud to my husband-- the butter scene is hilarious!!

By the end of the first chapter, I was hooked on Sam. He's funny and his struggles were so real and heartfelt. In reading the story, I felt like I could understand how it would feel to have Tourette's. It's definitely worth reading. I'm sure I'll read it again!

Have you thought about what it would be like to not have control over your own body? Tourettes syndrome is a disease that takes over your body which you can't control. Like breathing, you can't stop for a long period of time. It causes embarrassment and makes it difficult to complete tasks. Author, Jonathan Friesen explains the way Jack Keegan notices, not just the disadvantages, but the advantages of Tourettes in the fantastic novel Jerk California.
Jack Keegan, the name his stepdad replaced with Sam Carrier, lives with his mom, stepdad Old Bill, and Tourettes. James Keegan, Jack's dad, died when he was just a baby. Old Bill says that his dad was a drunk and that he abandoned the. Jack doesn't like his dad from what he heard from Bill, and his mom doesn't talk about him. Running is what Jack loves to do because you can't see him twitch and he feels free. Naomi also likes to run. They met at a race, and Jack couldn't stop thinking about her. After graduation, the town Coot asks Jack to live with him. It takes awhile, but Jack eventually moves in. George, the Coot, taught Jack everything about gardening, his dad, and Naomi. One evening, George dies in Jack's arms but he left him a map. It was a road trip of three stops. Each one represents a piece of the puzzle to better understand his dad and George. All of the different twists make you want to keep reading.
Jerk California is for teens because they use bad language frequently, there are difficult words, and there's other mature content. Realistic fiction books like Jerk California are fun to read because it didn't really happen, but its nothing out of this world. Jonathan Friesen shows the genre through all of the life like experiences he writes about that could happen. This book is like no other. You literally feel like you're in Jack's head which helps you better understand the plot.
If you like this book, you might also like the movie, The Front of the Class. It's about a boy who also has Tourettes. Jack Keegan and Brad Cohen both have challenges to face to get where they want to be. Brad wants to be a teacher and Jack is going to California. The movie and the book explain the tough times they go through to show everyone they're not any different.
Jerk, California is an easy book to read because you're in Jack's head throughout the whole book. It's in italics so you can tell when he's thinking. It the dialogue, the words are spelled how the person would say it. So if someone has an accent, you pronounce it the way they would. However, you don't always understand the words they use. Some characters use tough words and you have to look them up. Another disadvantage is that it's hard to foreshadow and predict what will happen. Naomi changes her mind multiple times and after awhile, I gave up and just kept reading until the end.
Ultimately, Jerk California was very good. It keeps you wondering and you never know what's going to happen. I recommend this book to anyone who likes romance and mystery books.

I read this book after receiving it signed by the author. Though it does start off slowly, and I found myself forcing myself to read it, as to make it through the boring parts, once I got into it, I really got into it! I found the 2nd part of the book much better than the 1st, with so much more going on! The book was definitely emotionally compelling, and even made my eyes water in several parts. The characters were GREAT, and I really felt that they were realistic and deep. Naomi, especially, though very odd, was most definitely a deep character, with a lot to her. Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and I would recommend it to anyone in need of a gripping, satisfying, and thought-provoking novel. Solid! I can't wait for the author's next book!

I finished Jerk, California in one day---it's that compelling. It's the story of Sam Carrier, a high school student with Tourette Syndrome and a dysfunctional nuclear family. School is a chamber of horrors filled with snickering peers, condescending teachers, and ignorant therapists, while Sam's home is an endless purgatory for the neurologically atypical. The only activity that brings Sam any relief is the long distance running that stops his incessant twitching and temporarily lifts his spirits.

Sam meets beautiful, brilliant, and mysterious Naomi while running, but it's his mortifying graduation day that brings a true earthly angel into Sam's life. George may look like a stubble cheeked geezer with dirty fingernails, but he gives Sam a home, a job, and a map for a road trip to California. With Naomi by his side, Sam begins a journey of self-discovery that will change his life, his perspective, and even his identity.

This book is very nearly perfect, but it does contain a few distracting flaws.

First, George tells a story about some drunken sailors "haggling" two young women in a pub. "Hassling" or "harrassing" would have been a better word, as the most common definition of the word "haggling" is arguing between two people to settle the terms of a sale or contract.

Second, I was dissatisfied with the reason Sam's mother remained with her abominable husband when her son was so clearly suffering. Yes, Lydia feared and pitied Bill, but she failed to protect her eldest son from this damaged bully and then brought another child into the family! Why didn't she ask George for help?

Third, once Sam discovers his original family's support network, why isn't he angry with his mother for not contacting them?

Finally, near the end of the book, the protagonist thinks, "I'm alone. Everyone's left me or died. And it's not fair, not anymore. I don't deserve it. Because I'm not dumb or retarded." Um, what? People who are developmentally disabled deserve abandonment? Probably not what the author intended to say, and an unlikely sentiment to come from the protagonist in his new role as protector of the defenseless, but there it is.

Still, flaws and all, this is a very good book and a wonderful first effort from author Jonathan Friesen. I look forward to reading more of his work!

A fascinating book with great characters! Well written and a very fast read! I couldn't put it down!

I received my copy of Jerk, California, on Sunday and finished it in three days! I couldn't put it down. Thrilling twists and turns. Gritty. Heart-wrenching. I absolutely loved the book. Each character drew me in. I felt Sam/Jack grew to be a good friend--felt myself pulling hard for him and wanting him to win! I didn't want the story to end. Great truths and life lessons all the way through. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who can relate with pain--looking for a powerful, uplifting story! This book reminded me that healing truly can be found!

This book left me smiling and crying, a feat not accomplished often wih stubborn 14 year old girl. I had some laughs along the way and began to love the charachters with something akin to obsession! this book will save your life and kill you in the same breath!
So enjoy it...!

Everyone I have shared this book with, loves it! If you are a teen or 40, it is a must read!!!Jerk, California

I just finished his new book Rush, and I can not wait for another book to hit the shelves.Rush