Saturday, February 13, 2016

Jack Strong Takes a Stand by Tommy Greenwald - ADVISABLE

Greenwald, Tommy Jack Strong Takes a Stand, 226 pgs. MacMillan (Roaring Brook) 2013. $15.99. 

Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: G; Violence: G.  

12-year-old Jack Strong’s life is over-scheduled.  Besides cello lessons and baseball (which he loves) he also has soccer, swimming, 2 different tutors, karate, tennis, EMT class and homework.  There is very little free time or room for socializing like class parties and celebrations.  Eventually Jack decides to go on strike.  He wants his dad to let him drop some of them so he can have time to be a kid, but his dad wants Jack to be competitive for college and he stands his ground.  So Jack takes a stand by sitting - on the couch.  He refuses to do anything but stay on the couch.  

Greenwald writes another commentary on today’s kids and their problems.  This time it’s parents with super high expectations.  Addressed with humor and balance, this timely topic will certainly relate to our own over-scheduled students.  This stand alone companion to the Charlie Joe Jackson series - Charlie Joe makes a brief text messaging appearance,  has all the fun of the other books in the series.  

MS - ADVISABLE  Lisa Librarian

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