The Several Lives of Orphan Jack
Sarah Ellis, Bruno St-Aubin
Type:
Fiction
Categories:
Humorous Stories | Family | Fairy Tales & Folklore
Themes:
Orphans & Foster Homes, General
Language:
English
Publisher:
Grade Level:
2-5
Age Range:
7-10
Description
Winner of the Mr. Christie's Book Award and the IODE Violet Downey Book Award
For young Jack, life is tough at the Opportunities School for Orphans. But Jack is good at staying out of trouble. He has skipped over trouble, danced around trouble, slid under trouble, melted away from trouble, talked his way out of trouble and slipped between two close troubles like a cat through a picket fence.
When Jack turns twelve, he is given the biggest opportunity of all, but suddenly his life is nothing but trouble. Still, he is a clever and resilient boy, and eventually he makes his way into the big world. Jack is rich in ideas, and soon he finds there is a place for an enterprising boy who has whims, concepts, plans, opinions, impressions, notions and fancies to spare.
In the tradition of Natalie Babbitt, Sarah Ellis brings her quirky sense of humor and imagination to bear in this witty, warm fable. Bruno St-Aubin's evocative black-and-white illustrations capture perfectly the dreadful Schoolmaster Bane, the crowlike accountant Mr. Ledger, Lou the skinny bun merchant, and Christabel, the miller's little daughter.
Contributors
Formats
Awards
Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz AwardLong-listed
Hackmatack AwardShort-listed
Cooperative Children's Book Center ChoiceCommended
Chocolate Lily AwardLong-listed
Mr. Christie's Book AwardWinner
Sheila A. Egoff Children's Literature PrizeLong-listed
CCBC Our Choice (Starred Selection)Commended
Governor General's Literary Awards: TextShort-listed
IODE Violet Downey Book AwardWinner
CLA Book of the Year for Children AwardShort-listed