| The Several Lives of Orphan Jack Contributor(s): Ellis, Sarah (Author), St-Aubin, Bruno (Illustrator) |
|
 |
ISBN: 0888996187 ISBN-13: 9780888996183 Publisher: Groundwood Books OUR PRICE: $8.06 Product Type: Paperback - Other Formats Published: July 2004 Annotation: For Jack, life is tough at the Opportunities School for Orphans and Foundlings, where he has to avoid trouble with the wrathful Schoolmaster Bane and Edwin, the school bully. But when he turns twelve, trouble finds him. Apprenticed to a bookkeeper, he believes he has the job of his dreams. He loves the idea of taking care of books. What could be better for a boy whose most treasured possession is a grubby, torn dictionary that he received from the Benevolent Ladies Auxiliary one year for Christmas? But when Jack learns that bookkeeping does not involve keeping books safe, he realizes he cannot stay. Traveling to the market town of Aberbog, the he becomes an ideas peddler, selling whims, concepts, plans, opinions, impressions, notions, and fancies, eventually winning the town's heart. Will Jack settle down in Aberbog or continue his hardscrabble life on the road? Bruno St. Aubin's illustrations vividly capture the strong personalities drawn by the gifted and acclaimed author Sarah Ellis. |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes - General (see Also Headings Under Family) - Juvenile Fiction | Family - Orphans & Foster Homes - Juvenile Fiction | Fairy Tales & Folklore - General |
| Dewey: FIC |
| LCCN: 2003102599 |
| Lexile Measure: 630 |
| Physical Information: 0.3" H x 5.5" W x 8.3" (0.25 lbs) 84 pages |
| Accelerated Reader Info |
| Quiz #: 72902 Reading Level: 4.1 Interest Level: Middle Grades Point Value: 2.0 |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: For young Jack, life is tough at the Opportunities School for Orphans and Foundlings. But Jack is good at staying out of trouble. But when Jack turns twelve, he is given the biggest opportunity of all, and suddenly his life is nothing but trouble. Jack is made an apprentice to a bookkeeper, which at first sounds like the job of his dreams. Taking care of books -- what could be better for a lad whose most treasured possession is a grubby, torn dictionary that he received from the Benevolent Ladies Auxiliary one year for Christmas. But Jack soon learns the hard way that bookkeeping does not involve keeping books safe. Life becomes a misery, and he decides he has no choice but to run away. But Jack is a clever and resilient boy, and he takes to the traveling life like a creature of the field. Then he arrives in the market town of Aberbog. Lacking worldly merchandise, he becomes an ideas peddlar, selling whims, concepts, plans, opinions, impressions, notions and even fancies. After a rocky start, the dour Aberbogians take him to their hearts, and Jack must decide whether it is time to settle down, or continue his life on the road. |