Jack at the Helm

Reviewed by: Sheila Dube - Springvale Public Library, Springvale, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: February 10, 2016

Review

This is the third adventure in the comical Berenson Schemes series for readers in grades 2-4. Only child, Jack has always been the responsible one since his parents are gullible and dim-witted. This new adventure starts with his parents purchasing a farm in Nepal off the internet (visualize swamp property in Florida) with the intent to start their own religion and make huge amounts of money. As they board a bus in Nepal to locate said property, they recruit their first believer, eighteen-year-old Henry, who is world traveling as he tries to find himself. While hitching a ride on a truck at the end of the bus ride, since no one can seem to tell them the location of said farm, Jack and Henry are thrown from the truck and must work their way down the river in a raft. Along the way, they encounter crocodiles, a cave, torrential rain, capsizing and extreme rock climbing. Henry's fears are tested and Jack comes to believe that when they make it back to the states they should switch parents. When they are finally rescued in a convoluted way by Jack's parents, Jack concludes that his parents do love him, for all their foibles, and that he should stay with them. Stevanovic's full page black and white illustrations are scattered throughout and provide cultural setting details. Doan provides some adult comic stances on religion and some enriching vocabulary along the journey.

Overall Book Score: good