Jack's Black Book: What Happens When You Flunk an IQ Test? (Jack Henry) (Jack Henry, 5) - Softcover

Gantos, Jack

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0374437165 ISBN 13: 9780374437169

Publisher: Square Fish, 1999

Synopsis

From the Newbery Medal–winning author of Dead End in Norvelt, the uproarious final volume of Jack Henry stories

According to his new motto―A WRITER'S JOB IS TO TURN HIS WORST EXPERIENCES INTO MONEY―Jack Gantos's alter ego Jack Henry is going to be filty rich even before he gets out of junior high, for his life is filled with the worst experiences imaginable. For instance, in the course of the few months covered in this closing cycle of interlinked stories, Jack is humiliated by a gorgeous syncronized swimmer, gets a tattoo the size of an ant on his big toe, flubs an IQ test and nearly fails wood shop, and has to dig up his dead dog not once but twice. And that's not the half of it!

At the close of this final book of semi-autobiographical stories, Jack may not end up rolling in dough, but he will prove once again "a survivor, an ‘everyboy' whose world may be wacko but whose heart and spirit are eminently sane" (School Library Journal).

This title has Common Core connections.

About this title

About the Author

Jack Gantos has written books for people of all ages, from picture books and middle-grade fiction to novels for young adults and adults. His works include Hole in My Life, a memoir that won the Michael L. Printz and Robert F. Sibert Honors; the Joey Pigza series, which include a Newbery Honor book and a National Book Award Finalist; Dead End in Norvelt, winner of the Newbery Medal and the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction; and the Rotten Ralph series.

From Kirkus Reviews

Gantos trots out one disgusting and dangerous event after another to give his morose protagonist material for jokes, but the fun and games are edging over the top in this companion to Jack's New Power (1995). Jack wants to become a writer, but his familyunique but functioning in previous episodes and mere cartoons hereis united in a belief in his worthlessness. When the dog, BeauBeau III, breaks its neck and dies, Jack's sister, Betsy, is all wisecracks; on the trip to the vet, Jack's father suggests tying the dog to the car, like a dead deer, in case its bladder lets go (it's not the first time the dog's bodily functions are discussed). The parents are on vacation when Betsy, at home, sets a kitchen fire: ``We were screaming and laughing, but . . . we just managed to get the baby out [of the bassinet] before the blanket burst into flames.'' Away from home, the situation's no better: School is a former prison; the volunteer librarian bolts down books and accuses the boy of stealing; the cafeteria serves creamed chicken gizzards weekly. Crammed in are descriptions of digging up the dog Jack buries (twice), spit, broken teeth, head lumps, and more. With a mean-spirited reliance on shock and cheap laughs, the book gets some tacked-on introspection at the end: ``It was all about . . . what you wanted to become, and how much you love being yourself.'' (Fiction. 11-13) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

About this edition

• Publisher: Square Fish
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0374437165
• ISBN 13: 9780374437169
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 176