Jack Strong Takes a Stand
A Charlie Joe Jackson Book
-
- $12.99
-
- $12.99
Publisher Description
Overscheduled and Overwhelmed, Jack Strong Stages a Sit-In on His Couch!
All Jack Strong wants is to be a regular kid, but his parents have packed his schedule with every extracurricular activity imaginable: tennis, baseball, cello, karate, tutoring, and Chinese language lessons—on top of his regular homework. They're determined to make him "well-rounded" and prepared for those crucial college applications. But Jack's had enough.
In Jack Strong Takes a Stand, Jack stages a sit-in on his couch, refusing to budge until his parents let him quit some of the extracurriculars. As his protest gains momentum, a local television host takes interest in doing a segment about him. With tensions rising as counter-protesters camp out across the street, Jack's enjoying the newfound attention—but worries his sit-in may have gone too far.
This humorous middle grade book is perfect for reluctant readers and kids who love funny stories about school, friendship, and family. Part of a hilarious series, Jack Strong Takes a Stand will have tweens and teens laughing out loud while relating to the challenges of growing up in today's overscheduled world.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Between school, orchestra, tutoring, karate, and swimming, 12-year-old Jack Strong has a full schedule, designed by his father to ensure he'll get into a good college. But after a week when Jack is stuck in Chinese class while the ice cream store gives away sundaes, must attend a cello recital instead of a party, and can't celebrate his own game-winning hit with the baseball team because he's due at tennis, Jack shuts down. Like Bartleby the Scrivener, he refuses to budge, intent to sit on the couch until he is allowed to reduce his workload. The school newspaper gets wind of his strike and spreads word about one boy's heroic opposition to overprogramming. Greenwald (the Charlie Joe Jackson series) has a good eye for authentic details that breathe life into characters: Jack's mother "watched about one pitch per game, the rest of the time she was yakking," while his father videotapes every at-bat. In the end, common sense prevails, and a family emergency makes Jack realize his EMT training is not such a bad idea. Mendes contributes humorous b&w spot illustrations. Ages 8 12.
