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The Mostly True Story of Jack, by Kelly Barnhill
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When Jack is sent to Hazelwood, Iowa, to live with his strange aunt and uncle, he expects a summer of boredom. Little does he know that the people of Hazelwood have been waiting for him for a long time. . . . When he arrives, three astonishing things happen: First, he makes friends ― not imaginary friends but actual friends. Second, he is beaten up by the town bully; the bullies at home always ignored him. Third, the richest man in town begins to plot Jack’s imminent, and hopefully painful, demise. It’s up to Jack to figure out why suddenly everyone cares so much about him. Back home he was practically, well, invisible. The Mostly True Story of Jack is a tale of magic, friendship, and sacrifice. It’s about things broken and things put back together. Above all, it’s about finding a place to belong.
- Sales Rank: #4000932 in Books
- Published on: 2012-01-10
- Formats: Audiobook, MP3 Audio, Unabridged
- Original language: English
- Number of items: 1
- Dimensions: 7.50" h x .50" w x 5.38" l,
- Running time: 8 Hours
- Binding: MP3 CD
Amazon.com Review
Amazon Best Books of the Month, August 2011 : Jack had always been invisible. Not literally, though it often felt that way even around his family. When Jack arrives in Hazelwood, Iowa, to spend the summer with his unusual relatives he suddenly finds himself getting noticed…a lot. In fact, people seem to know all about him, especially Mr. Avery, the wealthiest man in town who inexplicably hates Jack on sight. In The Mostly True Story of Jack a keenly perceptive boy, a fearsome girl, and her damaged twin brother, help Jack discover who he is--unearthing deeply rooted secrets in the process. Twists and turns abound as more is revealed in this strange town where nature, magic, love, and sacrifice, are deeply entwined with the extraordinary power of belonging. --Seira Wilson
Review
* "Truly splendid...the ultimate page-turner."
(Kirkus Reviews, starred review )
* "Suspense builds steadily, with twists and surprises woven throughout, and friendship emerges as a powerful theme....Barnhill explores the struggle between good and evil and the power of love and sacrifice, creating a provocative and highly original mystery." (Publishers Weekly, starred review )
* "Wonderful in the best possible way: filled with wonders and magic, yes, but magic that is ancient, numinous, and tied to the natural world...Barnhill's first novel for children is a marvel of both plotting and characterization, and it provides a foundation for the omnipresent magic that elevates this title to the first rank of contemporary children's literature." (Booklist, starred review )
* "A compelling story with genuine characters and a deliciously creepy atmosphere. The suspense builds from the very first page...This delightful story will captivate readers with its blend of magic, mystery, and adventure." (VOYA, starred review )
"There's a dry wit and playfulness to Barnhill's writing that recalls Lemony Snicket and Blue Balliett...a delightfully unusual gem." (The Los Angeles Times )
"Richly atmospheric, this folklorically flavored tale offers a strangely pleasing combination of midwestern charm and hauntingly creepy Tim Burton-like imagination. Barnhill reveals just enough of Hazelwood's many secrets to keep the readers gripped, and the perfectly timed pacing makes for a quick and accessible read." (The Bulletin )
About the Author
Kelly Barnhill is a poet and literary fiction writer. This is her debut children's book. Kelly lives in Minnesota with her husband and three children.
Most helpful customer reviews
19 of 21 people found the following review helpful.
Unique Plot and a Fast-paced read
By M. Fuller
Complicated. That is the best word I can think to not only describe the plot behind "The Mostly True Story of Jack" by Kelly Barnhill, but quite possibly the whole point behind her writing the book in the first place. Don't misunderstand me; while the plot is unique, interesting and cleverly fast-paced, it is also easy to follow. Information is slowly unraveled for the reader as they discover the mystery of Jack, his foggy past, and the dark and mysterious history and happenings in the town of Hazelwood, which he finds himself recently plunked in the middle of. Readers, young or old, will find the book fascinating and it will easily capture their attention. With that said, after completing the book, I am still left wondering: Did I like this story? Did I like the characters? What was the message of the book? All questions I am sure very few 9-12 year olds will ever ask when reading a book, but this 30-year-old is left with them nonetheless.
While the storyline and message of the book is that things are complicated, I don't feel like the characters were very deep or complicated on their own. I found the emotions in this book a bit dry, and the relationships sort of stale. I can't put my finger on exactly why I feel this way, but an example would be the relationship between Jack and his uncle Clive. The reader can tell that Clive adores and cares for Jack, but Jack doesn't ever really reciprocate that affection anywhere in the story and Clive never really expresses it either. That is just one example; even the most personable characters like tomboy Wendy and school-bully Clayton lack scenes/interactions that would leave them a bit more memorable. With that said, there are many likable characters, I just don't feel I know or understand them individually very well.
(Mild spoilers below)
I can't help but pick up clues throughout the book that beg the reader to understand Barnhill's point, which is: life is complicated, people are complicated, good and evil can be complicated. You see... once upon a time, there was a single keeper of magic, something happened and her persona was split into two - both Good and Evil. The Good half grows stronger with laughter and joy of others, while the Evil half quickly steals souls for strength. Would that someone could join these two forces back together as they once were, so balance can once again be restored. The hope is that these two separate halves of the same person will join together again so that She can be "whole, complicated, and real... [Having] the same struggles of right and wrong, just like you and me." (P. 318) I am not sure I completely agree with this premise, but it is certainly deep enough to keep a book group talking for hours. Someone must stand in the "gap between good and evil" (P. 300) and help the two unite. That certainly is some deep material for children to read, and the whole complicated idea of black and white and gray is something that few youngsters can comprehend. I do applaud Barnhill for trying, think her story was interesting, and the descriptive writing fantastic. I guess I just wish there was a bit more depth to the interactions between characters that would support the complicated theme a little more than what I found.
19 of 23 people found the following review helpful.
Wonderfully thought-provoking.
By Heidi Grange
When I started reading this book, I was impressed with two things. First, the writing was excellent, it flowed smoothly allowing the reader to focus on the story rather than the writing. Second, the story was kind of weird and I'm not really into weird, many of the kids I work with are into weird but I'm not. So I was tempted to put the book down and go onto something else. But then I decided that wasn't fair, especially since the book had been mentioned as a Newbery contender by one of my favorite bloggers, A Fuse #8 Production. And I also have a hard time putting a book down without finishing it, I know that's silly, but that's the way I am. So I finished the book.
The plot line is definitely unique, I can't say I've read another book like it, ever (and I've read hundreds of books in my lifetime). I was really impressed at the way that Barnhill slowly revealed bits and pieces of the puzzle, which kind of makes the book a mystery, but it doesn't really feel like one. This would be a great book to hand to kids who want a mystery, but not a formulaic one.
Being a geography fan, setting is something I pay a great deal of attention to. Here, once again, Barnhill excels. The reader quickly gets a feel for this town that is in some ways like any other small town, but in other ways very unique. Here's an example,
It was an old wooden farmhouse with a large porch, wide windows, and a small round porthole at the roof's peak. And it was purple. A deep, rich purple so intense it almost seemed to vibrate. Jack squinted. The front door was bright green and the trim of each window was painted a different color: red, yellow, orange, and blue.
You have to admit, that is a very intriguing description of the house that Jack comes to stay in. The reader realizes almost immediately that this is an unusual house. Barnhill has taken the regular world around us and given it a very interesting twist.
The characters I had a hard time with at first. Jack, who has spent most of his life being semi-invisible, has little interest in this new place or the people who live there, at least not at first. I found this hard to relate to, probably because I find the world a fascinating place. But slowly as I read, I realized that Jack was doing what many of us do when faced with changes that shake the very foundations of everything we though we knew. He was trying to ignore it. Of course, he eventually realizes the futility of this.
As I continued to read, I also began to connect with the other characters, Wende, the girl who is so determined to find out everything she can so she can protect those she loves. Frankie, the boy with the scars, both inside and out, whom everyone underestimates. Interestingly, I also started to feel compassion for the 'villain' of the story and his bully son. There aren't a lot of books, where I feel sorry for the villain. This happens to be one of them.
It turns out that this is one of the best books I've read this year and definitely worthy of Newbery consideration. I highly recommend it for all who enjoy interesting characters, an interesting setting, and a willingness to accept the weird. I'm thinking I might try it as a read-a-loud with my fifth graders. There is certainly much that is worthy of discussion.
8 of 10 people found the following review helpful.
Jack Be Nimble, Jack Be True
By Kate Coombs
When Jack comes to a small country town, everything changes. All he knows is that he's going to spend the summer with Uncle Clive and Aunt Mabel, but his coming impacts the people in the little town even before he reaches the unusual purple house where his aunt and uncle live. Little Frankie, the boy with the scarred face and the missing voice, hears a sound of bells, and his sister Mabel smells something sweet and strange. Anders feels a humming and prickling in the summer grass beneath his feet. Even Clayton Avery, the town bully, gets an odd ringing in his ears.
As for Jack himself, it hasn't really occurred to him just how strange his own life is: the kids at school, bus drivers, even his own parents tend to forget about him. But the experience intensifies when his mother drops him off. Afterwards, he tries to call her or his father, but he can never get through. He writes a letter, but the words disappear from the paper before he can get to the mailbox as his uncle's two big cats watch him far too knowingly.
On the other hand, Jack makes friends for the first time, with Anders, Mabel, and (sort of) Frankie. But town bully Clayton Avery tries to beat him up, and Clayton's wealthy father apparently wants to kill Jack. Why?
Kelly Barnhill's book is a fantasy, but it is also a mystery, its suspense building as we try to understand who Jack is and why he matters to so many different people. The other mystery is what happened to Frankie, who disappeared for a time and then was rescued by Jack's uncle. During the period when he was missing, people tended to forget he had ever existed. He's not the only one--others also disappeared and were instantly forgotten, mostly children who vanished from the old schoolhouse.
Things are going to get a lot worse before Jack finds the answers he needs...
Branhill's clear style, her well-drawn characters, and a sense of emotional nuance add to the success of her storytelling. Here's an excerpt:
"His glasses itched terribly under his nose, but when he tried to adjust them, he realized that he couldn't move his right arm. Or his left. Tendrils of grass and ivy slithered along his side. They twined around his ankles and wrists and held him tight.
'What's going on?' Jack squeaked, but a wave of moss covered his chest and a tangle of roots pulled him into darkness. 'Help me!' he yelled, 'Somebody help me!' And in that last second--when the sky above him was reduced to a spot the size of the head of a pin--only one thought remained:
Home."
For kids who like mysteries as well as fantasy, The Mostly True Story of Jack will be a captivating summer read.
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