Calamity Jack
A Review by Amanda Kendall
Bibliography:
Hale, Shannon & Dean Hale. 2010. Calamity Jack. Ill. by Nathan Hale. New York: Bloomsbury Children's Books. 1599903733
Plot Summary:
A clever twist on a classic tale, Calamity Jack introduces Jack as a natural born schemer with an unfortunate streak of very bad luck. Beginning with his childhood years, Jack grows up running money making schemes on the streets with his partner in crime, a fairy named Prudence. One day his biggest "take" leads to some very poor consequences. After stealing a goose that lays golden eggs from Blunderboar the Giant, cutting down a beanstalk which inadvertently kills another giant and destroys part of his town, and disappointing his mother beyond measure Jack must flee to escape Blunderboar's wrath. Jack returns to town after a jaunt in the West with his courageous and feisty friend, Rapunzel. However, Blunderboar has taken over the town and stolen Jack's mother, so Jack and Rapunzel must find a way to save Jack's mother, take the city back from Blunderboar, and fix all the mistakes of the past in Jack's most daring and important scheme yet.
Analysis:
Shannon and Dean Hale take a classic fairy tale character and add dimension and complexity to the traditional tale while gearing the story toward a more mature audience. Jack is a relatable and likeable character from the beginning. Well-meaning for the most part, Jack continues to find himself in sticky situations that just never seem to work out. Rapunzel is the perfect match for Jack, giving him the courage and strength to follow his heart and do the right thing no matter what the cost. The rapport between the characters drives the plot and enhances the realism of the characters and conflict. The plot is well developed and exciting to read as it loosely follows the traditional tale with plenty of twists and turns along the way. This unique tale is a well-crafted coming of age story that captures the ups and downs of adolescence while highlighting the emotions and struggles of accepting the responsibility and consequences of one's actions.
The vibrant, detailed illustrations create memorable characters, increase suspense and action, and set a mood for the entire story. Nathan Hale has expertly created a graphic novel that appeals to the masses. Each page is laid out to keep the pace of the novel and provide flawless storytelling. The detailed facial expressions, particularly the eyes of each character convey the character's mood and motives. The comic panels, witty dialogue, and text boxes all work together to create a memorable read for fairy tale fans of all ages. A solid follow-up to Rapenzel's Revenge.
Awards & Reviews:
From Publisher's Weekly: "The dynamic artwork fits well with Jack and Rapunzel's quick tongues, as they flirt their way through numerous hair-raising situations."
From Booklist: "Shannon and Dean Hale have done an excellent job stretching the bones of the traditional fable into a high-action coming-of-age story that will keep young teen readers excited and engaged."
- 2010 Utah Book Award - Children's Winner
- IRA/CBC Children's Choice
- Texas Maverick Graphic Novel List
- Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults (YALSA)
Great Graphic Novels for Teens (YALSA)
From Publisher's Weekly: "The dynamic artwork fits well with Jack and Rapunzel's quick tongues, as they flirt their way through numerous hair-raising situations."
From Booklist: "Shannon and Dean Hale have done an excellent job stretching the bones of the traditional fable into a high-action coming-of-age story that will keep young teen readers excited and engaged."
Connections:
More Middle Grade Reads by Shannon Hale:
More Middle Grade Reads by Shannon Hale:
- Princess Academy. 1619636131
- The Goose Girl. 1681193167
- Book of a Thousand Days. 1681193159
- Real Friends. 1626727856
- Buckley, Michael. Fairy Tale Detectives (The Sisters Grimm #1). 1419720058
- Gidwitz, Adam. A Tale Dark and Grimm. 0142419672
- Shulman, Polly. The Grimm Legacy. 9780142419045
- Levine, Gail Caron. Ella Enchanted. 0064407055
- Write your own fairy tale spin-off comic strip. Choose a well-known fairy tale character, change the setting, and create a comic of one of their adventures.
- Compare and contrast Calamity Jack with a traditional Jack and the Beanstalk story.
- Examine the character traits of Jack and Rapunzel. How are they similar and different to their original characters and to each other in this story?
- Create a wanted poster for one of the characters in the story.
