Jack: The True Story of Jack & the Beanstalk

Reviewed by: Jill O'Connor - North Yarmouth Academy, Yarmouth, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: June 23, 2015

Review

A retelling of the "Jack and the Beanstalk" story that does a wonderful job with world-building. Jack's world is mightily disrupted when giants come down and destroy his farm and village, and steal his father. He is determined to enter the Giant Land and find his Papa. Using the classic trade of Milky White the cow for a handful of beans, Jack gets his wish. He feels that he is living up to his destiny and his name, as he was named for his great, seven-times-removed, grandfather, Jack, who was a renowned giant-slayer. Using his wits and his courage, Jack and his delightful sister Annabella do solve the "giant problem" bringing harmony to both the human and giant worlds. Just enough action; plucky characters; and an almost-realistic feel to the plot make this a fantastic read-aloud for 4th-6th graders, and will not disappoint any middle-grade reader into whose hands you place it.

Overall Book Score: excellent