Me & Jay [Paperback]

W. Royce Adams (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

One hot summer day, thirteen-year-olds Geri Thomas and Jay Thornton try to find a place to cool off so they seek Blue Pool, a dangerous, off-limits area. The two discover adventures they never bargained for as they foolishly hop a slow freight train to take them up the river road and accidentally start a grass fire. Soon they find themselves being chased through a mammoth cave by two desperate men willing to do almost anything to keep the teens from telling what they've discovered. Geri and Jay's adventures bring them one step closer to maturity and acceptance of responsibility while delivering a solid message that bad decisions can have frightful consequences.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Gr. 5-8. Unpopular Geri and her best buddy, Jay (both 13), decide to sneak off to find Blue Pool, a water pond located beyond a treacherous, forbidden region of caves and hills. Their thrill seeking quickly turns life-threatening when they get stuck in one cave, then are nabbed by two potentially murderous con men in another. The antagonists are little more than caricatures, and the resolution is too tidy. But with her rough-edged narration, Geri makes a believable misfit; Jay, her good-hearted pal, is endearing; and the message that misbehavior and rash decisions reap dire consequences, sometimes even for innocent bystanders, is a good one. Best of all, perhaps, is Randall, Geri and Jay's younger friend, who is ridiculed at first for refusing to take a dare but turns out to be both wise and admirable. Roger Leslie
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author

W. Royce Adams, emeritus professor of English at Santa Barbara City College, earned degrees from Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri and California State University, Long Beach. He is past-president of the College Reading and Learning Association. He is also a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, the Authors Guild, and the International Reading Association. He has published over twenty college textbooks, primarily in the areas of reading, writing, and study skills. He has authored a collection of adult short stories: Teacher, Teacher, I Declare! and Other Little Tattle Tales, as well as the juvenile fantasy/adventure series, the Rairarubia Tales: Rairarubia, Return to Rairarubia, and Raid on Rairarubia.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Paperback: 134 pages
• Publisher: UNLIMITED PUBLISHING LLC and Rairarubia Press (July 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1588320219
• ISBN-13: 978-1588320216
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,490,370 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars As young reader friendly as it is entertaining, May 29, 2001

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Me & Jay (Paperback)

When thirteen-year-old Geri and her best friend Jay decide to cool off by finding Blue Pool (and unfrequented, off-limits area known to be dangerous) they discover more than they bargained for as they hop a freight train to take them up river, accidentally start a grass fire, and find themselves chased through a huge, unchartered cave by two men willing to do anything to keep secret what the kids have discovered. The adventures of Geri and Jay bring them one step closer to maturity and acceptance of responsibility, along with the sense of a new, unfamiliar relationship between them. With Me & Jay, author Royce Adams documents an undeniable talent for story telling that is as young reader friendly as it is entertaining.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best I've read in a long while!, November 9, 2001

By 

Huntress Reviews (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Me & Jay (Paperback)

Geraldine Thomas was a thirteen year old tomboy. Her best friend was Jay Thornton, who was always too curious for his own good. Geri's other friend was Randy, who was an oddball to others his age due to his high intelligence. During a hot day Geri suggested hunting up, what the locals called, Blue Pool. It was a an isolated, tear drop shaped, crystal blue lake a few miles away. Many tales circulated about people dying at the lake or disappearing, but Geri and Jay still decide to go. That was only the first of several bad choices the two made that day. Randy was the only one smart enough not to thumb his nose up at danger. He stayed home. Soon Geri and Jay are facing venomous snakes, hopping on and off moving trains, starting a brush fire, finding a new cave, being chased by two mean men out to seriously harm them, and much more! During it all, Geri and Jay become closer and learn some interesting things about each other.

***** Author, W. Royce Adams, writes the way pre- teens and teens talk in today's real world. This makes the story more believable and smoother for the reader. Readers cannot help but learn a few things while reading the story as well, such as what stalactites, stalagmites, and gypsum grotto are. I would not be surprised to see this book win awards! Many will place this book upon their "Keeper" shelves. I sure will! My twelve year old son could hardly wait to get his hands on the book once I was finished.

Perfect for fans of "Hardy Boys" and "Nancy Drew", or just for those who enjoy a lot of excitement in their stories! Highly recommended reading here! Don't miss this one! *****

Detra Fitch

4.0 out of 5 stars Adventurous read!, January 13, 2006

By 

Michelle Dunn "Award winning author, columnist" (The White Mountains of NH) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Me & Jay (Paperback)

Very adventurous book about Geri and Jay who go looking for adventure and find it. Very suspensful, interesting read. This will be a hit with kids and also a quick read. I will be sure to check out the sequel.