or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
 
Express Checkout with PayPhrase
What's this? | Create PayPhrase
More Buying Choices
42 used & new from $0.01

Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
Jack on the Tracks: Four Seasons of Fifth Grade (Jack Henry)
 
 

Jack on the Tracks: Four Seasons of Fifth Grade (Jack Henry) (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "It was dark..." (more)
Key Phrases: Miss Kitty, Miss Fry, Elks Club (more...)
3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)

List Price: $16.00
Price: $12.48 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
You Save: $3.52 (22%)
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.

Only 2 left in stock--order soon (more on the way).

Want it delivered Monday, November 16? Choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. Details
19 new from $6.60 23 used from $0.01

Formats

Amazon Price New from Used from
  Hardcover, June 30, 1999 $12.48 $6.60 $0.01
  Paperback, September 11, 2001 $7.99 $2.81 $0.01

Frequently Bought Together

Customers buy this book with Jack Adrift: Fourth Grade Without a Clue (Jack Henry) by Jack Gantos

Jack on the Tracks: Four Seasons of Fifth Grade (Jack Henry) + Jack Adrift: Fourth Grade Without a Clue (Jack Henry)
  • This item: Jack on the Tracks: Four Seasons of Fifth Grade (Jack Henry) by Jack Gantos

    In Stock.
    Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
    Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

  • Jack Adrift: Fourth Grade Without a Clue (Jack Henry) by Jack Gantos

    In Stock.
    Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
    Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details


Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Heads or Tails: Stories from the Sixth Grade (Jack Henry)

Heads or Tails: Stories from the Sixth Grade (Jack Henry)

by Jack Gantos
4.8 out of 5 stars (4)  $7.99
Jack's Black Book: What Happens When You Flunk an IQ Test? (Jack Henry)

Jack's Black Book: What Happens When You Flunk an IQ Test? (Jack Henry)

by Jack Gantos
4.0 out of 5 stars (15)  $7.99
What Would Joey Do? (Joey Pigza Books)

What Would Joey Do? (Joey Pigza Books)

by Jack Gantos
3.8 out of 5 stars (23)  $5.99
Jack's New Power: Stories from a Caribbean Year (Jack Henry)

Jack's New Power: Stories from a Caribbean Year (Jack Henry)

by Jack Gantos
4.8 out of 5 stars (5)  $7.99
Joey Pigza Loses Control (Joey Pigza Books)

Joey Pigza Loses Control (Joey Pigza Books)

by Jack Gantos
4.3 out of 5 stars (134)  $5.99
Explore similar items

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Gantos draws inspiration from his own childhood diaries in the fourth collection of stories about Jack Henry. In these nine tales, his aggravations include his annoying older sister, some crazy cats, a tapeworm and a pair of escaped convicts. Ages 10-up. (Sept.)n

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.


From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6-This fourth book in a series of loosely knit autobiographical stories featuring Gantos's alter ego, Jack Henry, is a prequel to Heads or Tails (Farrar, 1994). Once again, the boy's peripatetic family has moved, this time from North Carolina to Miami. While the geographical location is different, much remains the same in Jack's life: an unbearable older sister and pesky younger brother, his love and admiration for his Dad, chronic problems with pets, and encounters with a number of unusual characters. But what most defines the boy is his absolute captivation with anything disgusting. Indeed, the short story he composes for school about his friend's tapeworm makes Thomas Rockwell's How to Eat Fried Worms (Yearling, 1953) seem like a picnic. But, even with his irresistible fascination with the gross and the weird, Jack is a likable and appealing fifth grader. His first-person preadolescent musings and worries are poignant, funny, and real. While his generous imagination may take him to extremes, his intentions are good; he strives to do the right thing, although circumstances seem invariably to get in the way of the intended outcome. These nine stories range from the macabre to the hilarious and from the surreal to the quirky. They will touch a familiar chord with readers who are struggling to figure out a world that seems complex and confusing.
Connie Tyrrell Burns, Mahoney Middle School, South Portland, ME
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

  • Reading level: Ages 9-12
  • Hardcover: 192 pages
  • Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR); 1st edition (July 1, 1999)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0374336652
  • ISBN-13: 978-0374336653
  • Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.6 x 0.8 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,316,143 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in this category: (What's this?)

    #53 in  Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators, A-Z > ( G ) > Gantos, Jack

More About the Author

Jack Gantos
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Visit Amazon's Jack Gantos Page

Inside This Book (learn more)


What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

Jack on the Tracks: Four Seasons of Fifth Grade (Jack Henry)
62% buy the item featured on this page:
Jack on the Tracks: Four Seasons of Fifth Grade (Jack Henry) 3.5 out of 5 stars (13)
$12.48
Heads or Tails: Stories from the Sixth Grade (Jack Henry)
11% buy
Heads or Tails: Stories from the Sixth Grade (Jack Henry) 4.8 out of 5 stars (4)
$7.99
Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key (Joey Pigza Books)
10% buy
Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key (Joey Pigza Books) 4.2 out of 5 stars (227)
$5.99
Jack Adrift: Fourth Grade Without a Clue (Jack Henry)
9% buy
Jack Adrift: Fourth Grade Without a Clue (Jack Henry) 5.0 out of 5 stars (2)
$6.95

Suggested Tags from Similar Products

 (What's this?)
Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product).
 
(5)
(2)

Your tags: Add your first tag
 

Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store

If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store. Learn more

 

Customer Reviews

13 Reviews
5 star:
 (5)
4 star:
 (4)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:
 (4)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
3.5 out of 5 stars (13 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Even kids who hate books will beg for more of this, April 15, 2003
If you know a reluctant reader in the 10-12 year old age bracket, this is the perfect title to change their mind about books. As a teacher, I've watched sixth grade boys (girls too!) snort and literally fall out of their chairs in fits of laughter over this one--for some it is the first book they have truthfully read cover to cover. No skimming. No fake reading. Pure enjoyment. Comprehension shoots up dramatically for these kids. They can't wait to meet to talk about Jack. They'll gladly reread their favorite misadventure to a friend--and with new found fluency. You can't imagine how wonderful it is to see your weaker readers standing in line for lunch saying, "Did you get to the part yet where . . . That book is SO funny!" Jack is their hero, living out their secret fantasy, when he drops a cockroach in the mouth of his sleeping sister.

Having said that, I feel I must address the concerns of the other educators who have written reviews here. Yes, Jack pulls a few stunts that might raise an eyebrow. He may not be a top-notch role model, but this is why children love him. He has a Bart Simpson type appeal-- slightly deviant, but lovable, and he often DOES suffer from the consequences of his poor judgement. Teachers who feel this is inappropriate because a child might immitate these episodes are not living in the same world as their students. This book is like an installment of the Wonderful World of Disney compared to the video games, movies, magazines, and regular television most children are entertained by for hour upon hour. You can't sanitize everything for children--what a pleasure killer. And I have NEVER met a twelve year old child who thought it would be safe to lie down in front of a train. Sit down and ask one if you are not sure. Reading should be fun--children do not have the same taste in books as their middle-aged, well-intentioned teachers.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Funny and Thoughtful, March 5, 2001
I enjoyed Jack on the Tracks. As always, Gantos creates a fun mix of humor and tragedy (read Jack's Black Book, the best in the series). To address one reviewer's comments: yes, Jack does accidentally kill his cats often. However, the book's approach isn't heartless. I recall Jack tried very hard not to cry in front of his family at the death of his pet. Writing about the death of household pets isn't neccesarily cruel. I don't think Gantos meant to include the subject matter as comedial; he probably found it realistic. How often does a pet-owner lose his pets to accidents? Probably not as often as Jack, but you see my point.

That said, read the book.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars Jump Back Jack!, April 6, 2009
By Upset teacher (Cincinnati, OH) - See all my reviews
I am a 5th grade teacher. I ordered Jack on the Tracks for my class. I have just wasted my money. I cannot use these books in my classroom. I was reviewing through this book before using it in class, when I saw the chapter entitled "Adults Only." I could NOT believe that an author would put in a ten and eleven year old book the topics of PORNO and STRIPTEASE! Not to mention a lot of other inappropriate parts in the book.

I am thinking of starting a bonfire now!
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

1.0 out of 5 stars NO STARS for PORNO & STRIPTEASE!!!!!!
I bought this book for my 11 year old daughter. She's an avid reader -- books delight her and cause her to get in trouble when she's supposed to be sleeping or getting ready for... Read more
Published 13 months ago by A. Aden

5.0 out of 5 stars PCE Student Review
My favorite book is JACK ON THE TRACKS written by JACK GANTOS. It is an autobiographic fiction book about a boy's troubles in 5th grade. Read more
Published 18 months ago

5.0 out of 5 stars THIS BOOK IS AWESOME!!!!!!!
Jack on the tracks is and awesome book and I think everyone should read it!!! I don't want to give any of the book away but if you read this you will be howling with laughter... Read more
Published on August 21, 2005

5.0 out of 5 stars Jack on The Tracks
This book i readwas so funny. Some of the things he does, like run around the streets naked around the blook and drinking alchohal this is a funny book
Published on May 6, 2005

4.0 out of 5 stars The wack jack
Jack on the Tracks is a funny book . If you enjoy anything funny then this is a good book to read . Read more
Published on May 5, 2005

5.0 out of 5 stars A Book Report on the Tracks!
Jack on the Tracks was a hilarious book.I can relate to Jack, at times. Like when Miss Kitty got ran over by a train, my cat got ran over by a car. O.K. Read more
Published on May 2, 2005

4.0 out of 5 stars READ THIS adventurous BOOK
The book I read was Jack on the Tracks. This book I read kept me wondering what would happen next. My favorite character in this book is his sister,Betsy. Read more
Published on April 30, 2004

1.0 out of 5 stars Jack on the Tracks review
This book is an enjoyable read and I find Jack a very believable character. He has many good qualities and is looking to improve himself. Read more
Published on June 13, 2001

1.0 out of 5 stars Jack on the tracks review
What could have been a funny story is severly marred by the author's twisted sense of humor when it comes to the killing of animals. Read more
Published on October 22, 2000

4.0 out of 5 stars A extreamly funny book!
This book was the most funniest book I have ever read! I always love Jack Gantos books I think he is the best childrens author. Read more
Published on February 22, 2000

Only search this product's reviews



Customer Discussions

This product's forum
Discussion Replies Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
Search all Amazon discussions
   




Product Information from the Amapedia Community

Beta (What's this?)


Look for Similar Items by Category


Look for Similar Items by Subject

 

Feedback

If you need help or have a question for Customer Service, contact us.
 Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
Is there any other feedback you would like to provide?

Your comments can help make our site better for everyone.


Your Recent History

 (What's this?)

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.