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The Mostly True Story of Jack
Newbery Medal-winner Kelly Barnhill's debut novel is an eerie tale of magic, friendship, and sacrifice.
Enter a world where magic bubbles just below the surface. . . .
When Jack is sent to Hazelwood, Iowa, to live with his strange aunt and uncle, he expects a summer of boredom. Little does he know that the people of Hazelwood have been waiting for him for quite a long time. When he arrives, he begins to make actual friends for the first time in his life-but the town bully beats him up and the richest man in town begins to plot Jack's imminent, and hopefully painful, demise. It's up to Jack to figure out why suddenly everyone cares so much about him. Back home he was practically... invisible.
The Mostly True Story of Jack is a stunning debut novel about things broken, things put back together, and finding a place to belong.
"There's a dry wit and playfulness to Barnhill's writing that recalls Lemony Snicket and Blue Balliett...a delightfully unusual gem." -- Los Angeles Times
Enter a world where magic bubbles just below the surface. . . .
When Jack is sent to Hazelwood, Iowa, to live with his strange aunt and uncle, he expects a summer of boredom. Little does he know that the people of Hazelwood have been waiting for him for quite a long time. When he arrives, he begins to make actual friends for the first time in his life-but the town bully beats him up and the richest man in town begins to plot Jack's imminent, and hopefully painful, demise. It's up to Jack to figure out why suddenly everyone cares so much about him. Back home he was practically... invisible.
The Mostly True Story of Jack is a stunning debut novel about things broken, things put back together, and finding a place to belong.
"There's a dry wit and playfulness to Barnhill's writing that recalls Lemony Snicket and Blue Balliett...a delightfully unusual gem." -- Los Angeles Times
353 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
136 people are currently reading
4266 people want to read
About the author
Kelly Barnhill
54 books4,244 followersKelly Barnhill is an author and teacher. She won the World Fantasy Award for her novella The Unlicensed Magician, a Parents Choice Gold Award for Iron Hearted Violet, the Charlotte Huck Honor for The Girl Who Drank the Moon, and has been a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award, the Andre Norton award, and the PEN/USA literary prize. She was also a McKnight Artist's Fellowship recipient in Children's Literature. She lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota with her three children and husband. You can chat with her on her blog at www.kellybarnhill.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 513 reviews
August 1, 2012
Ok, so obviously a lot of people do not agree with my five star, so let me just say that I can see how someone would not enjoy this book. But I enjoyed it.
1) CLEAN. Ok. So I think Wendy said "oh God" maybe thrice. Jack did kindofnotreally kiss her, which is totally dumb because he's barely double digits. But that lets one totally disregard it. So I read this book without my brain being affronted by mind-numbing and completely unnecessary extensions of romance.
2) INTERESTING. Most books I can read a couple chapters and toss it aside. This one totally completely intrigued me (till about 4/5 of the way through, but by then it's ok to take a breather). Everything matched up so well. Sometimes I talk out loud when I'm interested in a book; I did with this one. Specifically, "Oh THAT's his stone!!! OOOoooooooh! He has that STONE!!!!" Although it wasn't a mystery, I enjoyed all the little magical clues lining up.
3) UNUSUAL. It just was. It's like My Name is Asher Lev (prose) meets Harry Potter meets The Great Good Thing.
Everything is so different yet it all blends together well; the characters, being very young, are not extreme wells of character, and although some might pine for more depth, it really wouldn't be realistic that way. I loved the part where Reginald is having tea with Clive and Mabel; something about the way she put her teacup down seemed very, very dangerous to him. The ending has enough plot twists to make one keep reading, and although I was not entirely satisfied with the whole two-sides-of-his-mother thing, it leaves room for a sequel.
Anyways, this book was really a breath of fresh air - I originally picked it up because I was hunting for a book with a guy as the main character. And I really liked it. I was really not expecting anything in the novel to happen as it did, yet it all made sense in the end.
Now. where I don't have to be all polished. Sure, Kelly COULD have written it from Wendy's POV but aren't there enough books with ass-kicking female characters soaking up the stage with their emerging stereotype class out there? (the answer is yes. Rhetorical question.) ALSO. I know it's nice to be gently eased into a world but really, I'm not sure how many young adults are out there reviewing young adult fiction. We generally aren't the type to want to be eased into something. I enjoyed being smacked right into motherly houses and guard cats and invisible people.
1) CLEAN. Ok. So I think Wendy said "oh God" maybe thrice. Jack did kindofnotreally kiss her, which is totally dumb because he's barely double digits. But that lets one totally disregard it. So I read this book without my brain being affronted by mind-numbing and completely unnecessary extensions of romance.
2) INTERESTING. Most books I can read a couple chapters and toss it aside. This one totally completely intrigued me (till about 4/5 of the way through, but by then it's ok to take a breather). Everything matched up so well. Sometimes I talk out loud when I'm interested in a book; I did with this one. Specifically, "Oh THAT's his stone!!! OOOoooooooh! He has that STONE!!!!" Although it wasn't a mystery, I enjoyed all the little magical clues lining up.
3) UNUSUAL. It just was. It's like My Name is Asher Lev (prose) meets Harry Potter meets The Great Good Thing.
Everything is so different yet it all blends together well; the characters, being very young, are not extreme wells of character, and although some might pine for more depth, it really wouldn't be realistic that way. I loved the part where Reginald is having tea with Clive and Mabel; something about the way she put her teacup down seemed very, very dangerous to him. The ending has enough plot twists to make one keep reading, and although I was not entirely satisfied with the whole two-sides-of-his-mother thing, it leaves room for a sequel.
Anyways, this book was really a breath of fresh air - I originally picked it up because I was hunting for a book with a guy as the main character. And I really liked it. I was really not expecting anything in the novel to happen as it did, yet it all made sense in the end.
Now. where I don't have to be all polished. Sure, Kelly COULD have written it from Wendy's POV but aren't there enough books with ass-kicking female characters soaking up the stage with their emerging stereotype class out there? (the answer is yes. Rhetorical question.) ALSO. I know it's nice to be gently eased into a world but really, I'm not sure how many young adults are out there reviewing young adult fiction. We generally aren't the type to want to be eased into something. I enjoyed being smacked right into motherly houses and guard cats and invisible people.
October 15, 2011
I originally thought this book was going to be an engaging read - the synopsis told of a boy who is normally overlooked and ignored, moves to a new town, and immediately garners the attention of several different people. However, rather than feeling drawn in by the mystery of the story, I found myself a little bored with the pacing and the lack of information provided. It's one thing to carefully construct a plot that keeps the reader wanting to know more, providing bits of information and cliff-hangers that makes them want to stay up late into the night just to find out what happens next. It's another thing to take a good premise and then write a mediocre story around it, where the characters are not fully developed and the plot seems to trip and stumble its way to the end. For me, the biggest flaw was the lack of world-building - not fully explaining the history of the town and the role that magic, and its guardian(s), played.
July 22, 2011
Jack has always felt invisible, even to his own family. When his parents get divorced and his home life falls apart, he's sent to live with his aunt and uncle in Iowa. But strange things begin to happen--first, he makes real friends, his aunt and uncle remember his name, and he draws the attention of the most powerful man in town who seems to want him dead. Why? Why is he suddenly so important here when back in San Francisco he was so effaced?
I finally picked up to this book due to critical praise. I enjoyed the some elements of the magical realism, the hazy summer atmosphere (cornfields!), and the spooky soul-parasitism, but as a seasoned fantasy reader, it just didn't connect with me. I think part of the reason is perspective--I don't find Jack a compelling protagonist. In fact, if it weren't for the fact that the book focused on him, I would have thought he was invisible too. I think I would have liked it far better if this book was told from Wendy's point of view, who is a kickass girl if there ever was one.
I finally picked up to this book due to critical praise. I enjoyed the some elements of the magical realism, the hazy summer atmosphere (cornfields!), and the spooky soul-parasitism, but as a seasoned fantasy reader, it just didn't connect with me. I think part of the reason is perspective--I don't find Jack a compelling protagonist. In fact, if it weren't for the fact that the book focused on him, I would have thought he was invisible too. I think I would have liked it far better if this book was told from Wendy's point of view, who is a kickass girl if there ever was one.
December 3, 2011
Honestly, this book frustrated me. In my mind, there's a limit to how long the author should keep the reader in suspense, and TMTSOJ mostly exceeded that limit. I was more than halfway through when I grew so frustrated I actually said, "Come on! Get on with it!" out loud. In a way that's a good thing. I cared enough about the characters and the plot to feel as confused and impatient as the character Jack himself probably did. On the other hand, I obviously disliked the overlong setup. So I'm not crazy about this book, but it did hold my interest.
Basically, the premise of the book is that there's something magical about a little town in Iowa, but what exactly is it? Our title character, Jack, is taken from his home in San Francisco to this little Iowa town and slowly realizes he is at the heart of some dangerous dealings. Children disappear, houses shimmer and move as if alive, and it's clear there are people out to get Jack. But Jack is happy in Iowa because, for the first time in his life, people actually see him. For as long as he can remember, he's been mostly invisible to everyone around him, even his family, even when he's standing right in front of them.
The ending left room for a sequel, but I never completely bought into the world Barnhill created, so I'm not too excited about it. Still, this may appeal to kids who like dark fantasy/fairy tale stuff.
Basically, the premise of the book is that there's something magical about a little town in Iowa, but what exactly is it? Our title character, Jack, is taken from his home in San Francisco to this little Iowa town and slowly realizes he is at the heart of some dangerous dealings. Children disappear, houses shimmer and move as if alive, and it's clear there are people out to get Jack. But Jack is happy in Iowa because, for the first time in his life, people actually see him. For as long as he can remember, he's been mostly invisible to everyone around him, even his family, even when he's standing right in front of them.
The ending left room for a sequel, but I never completely bought into the world Barnhill created, so I'm not too excited about it. Still, this may appeal to kids who like dark fantasy/fairy tale stuff.
October 22, 2018
hmmm... interesting
June 11, 2013
***May Contain Spoilers***
I did not like this book at all. This is not something I usually say about books. I would not include this book on my classroom's free reading shelves. The story itself was a good idea, but the way it was written was poorly done.
There was a severe lack of explanation throughout this book. The author was trying to be mysterious but took it was too far. She answered a few questions when she included excepts from the book that Jack read to get some answers, but that barely did anything to help clarify things. It was only really within the last 60-80 pages that the reader started to get some answers. I feel that a middle school reader would have gotten fed up a long time before they reached that part. When I read a mystery book, I don't need it all spelled out for me in the first half of the book, but it is a whole lot less frustrating to read when certain pieces start falling into place a little bit along the way. Any while this wasn't exactly a mystery, the characters were trying to solve a few problems.
And it wasn't just the author keeping the reader in the dark about what was going on in Hazelwood. It seems that all the kids in town except Jack had an idea of what was happening but none of them bothered to take the time to explain things to him (and by extension the reader). This was incredibly frustrating as a reader because it would have been a great time to start filling in the puzzle pieces. Half the fun of reading is to try to guess what is going to happen!
By the end of the book, I still wasn't sure why things happened. Why was a magic child supposed to be swapped with a human child? This seems to be the basis of the entire book but I never knew WHY I was reading about that. Without that knowledge, the whole thing seemed rather pointless to me.
I also had a lot of trouble trying to picture what was happening as I was reading. Barnhill seems to really skimp on the details in some key places, especially when it came to setting scenes, in my opinion.
One thing I would have liked to have seen with the book was an illustrated map of Hazelwood. Would it have been all the difficult to draw the map that Jack's uncle gave him?
Near the end of the book, I kept thinking that this story would have been much better off as a movie instead of a book. It would have been much easier to visualize and keep track of what was going on.
I did not like this book at all. This is not something I usually say about books. I would not include this book on my classroom's free reading shelves. The story itself was a good idea, but the way it was written was poorly done.
There was a severe lack of explanation throughout this book. The author was trying to be mysterious but took it was too far. She answered a few questions when she included excepts from the book that Jack read to get some answers, but that barely did anything to help clarify things. It was only really within the last 60-80 pages that the reader started to get some answers. I feel that a middle school reader would have gotten fed up a long time before they reached that part. When I read a mystery book, I don't need it all spelled out for me in the first half of the book, but it is a whole lot less frustrating to read when certain pieces start falling into place a little bit along the way. Any while this wasn't exactly a mystery, the characters were trying to solve a few problems.
And it wasn't just the author keeping the reader in the dark about what was going on in Hazelwood. It seems that all the kids in town except Jack had an idea of what was happening but none of them bothered to take the time to explain things to him (and by extension the reader). This was incredibly frustrating as a reader because it would have been a great time to start filling in the puzzle pieces. Half the fun of reading is to try to guess what is going to happen!
By the end of the book, I still wasn't sure why things happened. Why was a magic child supposed to be swapped with a human child? This seems to be the basis of the entire book but I never knew WHY I was reading about that. Without that knowledge, the whole thing seemed rather pointless to me.
I also had a lot of trouble trying to picture what was happening as I was reading. Barnhill seems to really skimp on the details in some key places, especially when it came to setting scenes, in my opinion.
One thing I would have liked to have seen with the book was an illustrated map of Hazelwood. Would it have been all the difficult to draw the map that Jack's uncle gave him?
Near the end of the book, I kept thinking that this story would have been much better off as a movie instead of a book. It would have been much easier to visualize and keep track of what was going on.
February 26, 2015
This is one of those books where the cover grabbed my attention. Not the current cover but the older version of the cover. There was something so haunting and yet intriguing about it that just grabbed my attention. And I am so thankful that I picked up the book and gave it a read. To be honest it was introduction to the writings of Kelly Barnhill but I know it will not be my last book by her. In fact I started a second as soon as I finished this one. While reading this I could barely put it down, in fact I read it in under 3 days and in three sitting.
This is the story of Jack a young boy who has always felt invisible, even in his own family. But when his parents are going through a separation he is sent to live with family in Hazlewood, Iowa to live with his aunt and uncle. And he no longer seems invisible, in fact everyone one seems to see him and want him for something. He makes friends for the first time with Frankie, Wendy and Anders. He is also beaten up by the town bully Clayton Avery. Clayton's farther MR. Avery is the most powerful man in town and he seems to have it out for Jack from the time he becomes aware he is in town.
This is a story about friendship, about healing, about magic and about finding your place in the world. Jack encounters each of those elements and as the story progresses it also becomes a tale about sacrifice. Sacrifice for a greater good, for those you care about, for friendship and for doing what is right even if it is really really hard.
This was a great read. I highly enjoyed it and can also highly recommend it. One of the greatest compliments I can give a book is my plans to share it with my children when they are older. This book is on that shelf waiting to be read again this time with them. Overall a very good book!
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More.
This is the story of Jack a young boy who has always felt invisible, even in his own family. But when his parents are going through a separation he is sent to live with family in Hazlewood, Iowa to live with his aunt and uncle. And he no longer seems invisible, in fact everyone one seems to see him and want him for something. He makes friends for the first time with Frankie, Wendy and Anders. He is also beaten up by the town bully Clayton Avery. Clayton's farther MR. Avery is the most powerful man in town and he seems to have it out for Jack from the time he becomes aware he is in town.
This is a story about friendship, about healing, about magic and about finding your place in the world. Jack encounters each of those elements and as the story progresses it also becomes a tale about sacrifice. Sacrifice for a greater good, for those you care about, for friendship and for doing what is right even if it is really really hard.
This was a great read. I highly enjoyed it and can also highly recommend it. One of the greatest compliments I can give a book is my plans to share it with my children when they are older. This book is on that shelf waiting to be read again this time with them. Overall a very good book!
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More.
July 30, 2017
This is the third book I've read by Kelly Barnhill, and as the other two that I've previously read, it is exquisitely written. It is also atmospheric as hell and not proper to the faint of heart.
The story... you know those books that you get at the end, and you're heartbroken and slightly confused by what you've read?
Well, this is one of those, so heads up! Also, and I've probably mentioned this on my reviews of the author's other books (The Witch's Son and The Girl Who Drank the Moon), I don't know if middle graders are the right crowd for this book. Honestly, the only people I see enjoying this are adults. Jaded adults probably, lol
I don't even know how to proper define this book: mystery? Adventure? Magical Realism? Fantasy? Horror?
It has all of that and much more.
It's about growing up and discovering who you really are, and in the end fulfilling your role in life.
The beginning is creepy as hell. In fact, If I had the will _ which I don't at the time _ I would go and re-read Coraline, because I found this one much more creepier that Gaiman's work.
This one is about kids gone missing, sentient houses, bargains gone wrong and all the ties that connect us to our families.
Ordinary families and strange families all alike.
November 2, 2011
Very confusing story. I was trying to explain it to my husband and I just couldn't. The magic is not clearly outlined, the chronology of events is blurred, and the build up to what is the "truth" is too much at times. Basically, the only redeeming quality was it had good voice....that is what kept me reading. There was suspense, but, again, it was blown out of proportion or it was quickly and not clearly resolved. I had expectations with the story going into it, thinking it was a retelling of Jack and the Beanstaulk...so I was kind of expectiing that, but that is NOT the story, if you are wondering. The use of the word "Jack" and showing growning vines and branches on the cover make be automatically think of that fairy tale...wouldn't you? I changed my rating just because it's a VERY confusing story.
August 4, 2011
Jack doesn’t know why people don’t see him. Family pictures only show his father, mother and brother; Jack has drawn pictures of himself and pasted them onto the pictures. He has no friends; he’s left by bus drivers. When his parents decide to divorce, his mother drives him to Hazelwood, Iowa to stay with his aunt and uncle, Mabel and Clive, and leaves him with these strangers at an old wooden farmhouse. Jack, at first, has no interest in his aunt and uncle, the town or the people. However, he cannot hold out when Wende, Anders and Frankie start becoming involved in his life. He finally has to admit the house he is in is very unusual, someone in the town wants to kill him, and the book his uncle gives him, The Secret of Hazelwood, can help him understand the mysterious happenings.
The Mostly True Story of Jack is a unique story. Kelly Barnhill has an impressive handling of details and plot twists. She opens up the puzzle of Jack bit by bit and her descriptions of the characters make them real. The Mostly True Story Of Jack tells of the magic of friendship and finding a place where you belong and are not invisible. It is a very good book for children who enjoy books about a mystery and that are mystical.
I received this book from the publisher.
The Mostly True Story of Jack is a unique story. Kelly Barnhill has an impressive handling of details and plot twists. She opens up the puzzle of Jack bit by bit and her descriptions of the characters make them real. The Mostly True Story Of Jack tells of the magic of friendship and finding a place where you belong and are not invisible. It is a very good book for children who enjoy books about a mystery and that are mystical.
I received this book from the publisher.
February 2, 2021
I LOVE MIDNIGHT READS
AND THIS WAS AN AWESOME ONE!!!!!!!!!!
How does this book not have more reviews, like, so yeah the girl who drank the moon is better and i was expecting sth like that, but this was pretty cool too, but sand in the end, and aww, they gave his skateboard to wendy yayy!!!!!!!!!!!!
*claps like an idiot*
I loved this book and the chapter titles were like always hilarious!!!
AND THIS WAS AN AWESOME ONE!!!!!!!!!!
How does this book not have more reviews, like, so yeah the girl who drank the moon is better and i was expecting sth like that, but this was pretty cool too, but sand in the end, and aww, they gave his skateboard to wendy yayy!!!!!!!!!!!!
*claps like an idiot*
I loved this book and the chapter titles were like always hilarious!!!
January 15, 2021
Loved this magical, Dandelion Wine-like, totally unique and fascinating story with great characters. I found that is had downloaded it to my Kindle and didn't know anything about it. 'Twas amazing.
March 7, 2012
Originally reviewed at Minnesota Reads.
I don't know what is with these authors making me cry lately, but add Kelly Barnhill to the list. At the end of The Mostly True Story of Jack tears were streaming down my cheeks as I bemoaned the unfairness of life.
Jack is the sympathetic hero in Barnhill's tale. He's a young, invisible boy, or at least invisible is how he feels. All his life his parents and brother have ignored him, even leaving him out of family portraits. Kids in his class ignore him, too, as well as the teachers. It's almost like he is invisible.
Jack's invisibility is heartbreaking, though he has learned to live with it, but when he has to spend the summer with his aunt and uncle, he becomes the center of attention. People stare at him, take an interest in him, and he starts to make friends for the first time in his life. All of this attention is new to Jack, but there is a reason people are so intrigued by him and the mystery of it drives this tale.
The Mostly True Story of Jack is a mixture of mystery and fantasy, but it's also more than that. This is a novel about loneliness, the importance of family, the closeness of friends, the difference between right and wrong, and the sad fact that choosing the right path isn't always the easiest or most fulfilling.
Just typing that last sentence makes me sad all over again as I think about the end of the book. It's similar to feelings I get at the end of Of Mice and Men. Every time I read that I want George to not do it, to just set the gun down and go build a ranch with Lenny. George makes a hard, good decision, even though it doesn't feel good. At the end of The Mostly True Story of Jack, Jack has a hard decision to make and I found myself so profoundly sad for him. Life is not fair. We can't always have everything we want or need, and even though I know this, I just wanted it all for Jack.
I didn't describe very much of this novel, but it's really because I don't want to give too much away. Just know that Jack finally feels visible with the family and friends he meets, that there is more to his life than its humble beginnings, and that he gives up a lot for those he loves. It really is a beautiful tale, a great lesson on tough choices, and it left me just as heartbroken in the end as I felt in the beginning.
I don't know what is with these authors making me cry lately, but add Kelly Barnhill to the list. At the end of The Mostly True Story of Jack tears were streaming down my cheeks as I bemoaned the unfairness of life.
Jack is the sympathetic hero in Barnhill's tale. He's a young, invisible boy, or at least invisible is how he feels. All his life his parents and brother have ignored him, even leaving him out of family portraits. Kids in his class ignore him, too, as well as the teachers. It's almost like he is invisible.
Jack's invisibility is heartbreaking, though he has learned to live with it, but when he has to spend the summer with his aunt and uncle, he becomes the center of attention. People stare at him, take an interest in him, and he starts to make friends for the first time in his life. All of this attention is new to Jack, but there is a reason people are so intrigued by him and the mystery of it drives this tale.
The Mostly True Story of Jack is a mixture of mystery and fantasy, but it's also more than that. This is a novel about loneliness, the importance of family, the closeness of friends, the difference between right and wrong, and the sad fact that choosing the right path isn't always the easiest or most fulfilling.
Just typing that last sentence makes me sad all over again as I think about the end of the book. It's similar to feelings I get at the end of Of Mice and Men. Every time I read that I want George to not do it, to just set the gun down and go build a ranch with Lenny. George makes a hard, good decision, even though it doesn't feel good. At the end of The Mostly True Story of Jack, Jack has a hard decision to make and I found myself so profoundly sad for him. Life is not fair. We can't always have everything we want or need, and even though I know this, I just wanted it all for Jack.
I didn't describe very much of this novel, but it's really because I don't want to give too much away. Just know that Jack finally feels visible with the family and friends he meets, that there is more to his life than its humble beginnings, and that he gives up a lot for those he loves. It really is a beautiful tale, a great lesson on tough choices, and it left me just as heartbroken in the end as I felt in the beginning.
March 1, 2012
I can't think of a kid who would really like this book. Only the most patient, persistent young reader would get through it and then they'd probably be disappointed by the somewhat adult message at the end.
The story begins with Jack's mother dropping him off for the summer at the house of his eccentric aunt and uncle - as she drops him off, she seems to be forgetting all about him. Odd things begin to happen to Jack, some of which are explained in a book he's given by Uncle Clive about magic that's been going on in the town for hundreds of years.
The story is somewhat fractured and hard to understand; there wasn't enough information about the characters to feel a solid connection to them and the ending was a bit ambiguous and wishy-washy.
I wanted to like this book because I liked the sense of knowing that Jack was special, and the anticipation of discovering why he was different - but for me the story never really came together - there was too much left unsaid (for instance, why was he always itchy? and how did his friend get the scars that wouldn't heal? and why wouldn't they heal?). I wouldn't recommend this even though I read some good professional reviews about it.
The story begins with Jack's mother dropping him off for the summer at the house of his eccentric aunt and uncle - as she drops him off, she seems to be forgetting all about him. Odd things begin to happen to Jack, some of which are explained in a book he's given by Uncle Clive about magic that's been going on in the town for hundreds of years.
The story is somewhat fractured and hard to understand; there wasn't enough information about the characters to feel a solid connection to them and the ending was a bit ambiguous and wishy-washy.
I wanted to like this book because I liked the sense of knowing that Jack was special, and the anticipation of discovering why he was different - but for me the story never really came together - there was too much left unsaid (for instance, why was he always itchy? and how did his friend get the scars that wouldn't heal? and why wouldn't they heal?). I wouldn't recommend this even though I read some good professional reviews about it.
March 14, 2012
When I first started to read this book, just picking it up at the library, a chill crept down my spine. A book about a boy who feels ignored by his parents, sent to stay with his aunt, a skateboard, a crumbling old house, a parent who is split in two. Was this the soul of my own book come back to haunt me? But as I continued one, I was drawn into this book's own story and mythology, heavily drenched in old world fairytales, the green man, the children in the corn, and bursting with power, yours and mine, belonging, Gog and Magog.
And in the end, that's what this story was, a fairytale. It wasn't a novel about a special boy, like there have been so much of lately, it was a story about balance, and the dangers of upsetting that balance. And any economist should agree.
Although I felt that there could have been more development of characters and that sort of thing, I think it was important that the story was centered. Because the stakes weren't about one boy, they were about the whole town, and though the ending was a little sad, it felt right.
Because it was a fairytale, and a good one.
And in the end, that's what this story was, a fairytale. It wasn't a novel about a special boy, like there have been so much of lately, it was a story about balance, and the dangers of upsetting that balance. And any economist should agree.
Although I felt that there could have been more development of characters and that sort of thing, I think it was important that the story was centered. Because the stakes weren't about one boy, they were about the whole town, and though the ending was a little sad, it felt right.
Because it was a fairytale, and a good one.
February 6, 2018
If you've ever grown up in the mid-west, the imagery evoked by this book will be intimately familiar. It's a nice blend of creepy-children of the corn feel and fantastical magical realism.
September 12, 2020
The Mostly True Story of Jack is a strange story of magic, friendship and doing the right thing for the right reason. It’s about finding a place to belong. Jack has a family but he isn’t really a part of the family. Never has been. And there’s a reason for that.
The story has a slow beginning; but quickly picked up speed. It’s a tale that begins generations ago...a trade of a child for riches and power. Who would even think to make this kind of deal? And to renege would have disastrous results which is exactly what happened. There are many twists and turns so just be prepared to expect the unexpected.
In the end, I think we have not seen the last of Jack.
August 20, 2020
This is the 2nd book by Barnhill that me and my kids have read and I think we have decided to read all of her books! The pacing is perfect for minds that wander too fast. This book was exciting to the last page! The kids were actually asking me to read to them instead of me pulling them away from what they were doing to start the days reading. The tale was magical, suspenseful, and even quizzical at times. I would even encourage adults to read it for some light brain candy. ♥♥
August 17, 2011
Complicated. That is the best word I can think to not only describe the plot behind "The Mostly True Story of Jack" by Kelly Barnhill, but quite possibly the whole point behind her writing the book in the first place. Don't misunderstand me; while the plot is unique, interesting and cleverly fast-paced, it is also easy to follow. Information is slowly unraveled for the reader as they discover the mystery of Jack, his foggy past, and the dark and mysterious history and happenings in the town of Hazelwood, which he finds himself recently plunked in the middle of. Readers, young or old, will find the book fascinating and it will easily capture their attention. With that said, after completing the book, I am still left wondering: Did I like this story? Did I like the characters? What was the message of the book? All questions I am sure very few 9-12 year olds will ever ask when reading a book, but this 30-year-old is left with them nonetheless.
While the storyline and message of the book is that things are complicated, I don't feel like the characters were very deep or complicated on their own. I found the emotions in this book a bit dry, and the relationships sort of stale. I can't put my finger on exactly why I feel this way, but an example would be the relationship between Jack and his uncle Clive. The reader can tell that Clive adores and cares for Jack, but Jack doesn't ever really reciprocate that affection anywhere in the story and Clive never really expresses it either. That is just one example; even the most personable characters like tomboy Wendy and school-bully Clayton lack scenes/interactions that would leave them a bit more memorable. With that said, there are many likable characters, I just don't feel I know or understand them individually very well.
(Mild spoilers below)
I can't help but pick up clues throughout the book that beg the reader to understand Barnhill's point, which is: life is complicated, people are complicated, good and evil can be complicated. You see... once upon a time, there was a single keeper of magic, something happened and her persona was split into two - both Good and Evil. The Good half grows stronger with laughter and joy of others, while the Evil half quickly steals souls for strength. Would that someone could join these two forces back together as they once were, so balance can once again be restored. The hope is that these two separate halves of the same person will join together again so that She can be "whole, complicated, and real... [Having] the same struggles of right and wrong, just like you and me." (P. 318) I am not sure I completely agree with this premise, but it is certainly deep enough to keep a book group talking for hours. Someone must stand in the "gap between good and evil" (P. 300) and help the two unite. That certainly is some deep material for children to read, and the whole complicated idea of black and white and gray is something that few youngsters can comprehend. I do applaud Barnhill for trying, think her story was interesting, and the descriptive writing fantastic. I guess I just wish there was a bit more depth to the interactions between characters that would support the complicated theme a little more than what I found.
While the storyline and message of the book is that things are complicated, I don't feel like the characters were very deep or complicated on their own. I found the emotions in this book a bit dry, and the relationships sort of stale. I can't put my finger on exactly why I feel this way, but an example would be the relationship between Jack and his uncle Clive. The reader can tell that Clive adores and cares for Jack, but Jack doesn't ever really reciprocate that affection anywhere in the story and Clive never really expresses it either. That is just one example; even the most personable characters like tomboy Wendy and school-bully Clayton lack scenes/interactions that would leave them a bit more memorable. With that said, there are many likable characters, I just don't feel I know or understand them individually very well.
(Mild spoilers below)
I can't help but pick up clues throughout the book that beg the reader to understand Barnhill's point, which is: life is complicated, people are complicated, good and evil can be complicated. You see... once upon a time, there was a single keeper of magic, something happened and her persona was split into two - both Good and Evil. The Good half grows stronger with laughter and joy of others, while the Evil half quickly steals souls for strength. Would that someone could join these two forces back together as they once were, so balance can once again be restored. The hope is that these two separate halves of the same person will join together again so that She can be "whole, complicated, and real... [Having] the same struggles of right and wrong, just like you and me." (P. 318) I am not sure I completely agree with this premise, but it is certainly deep enough to keep a book group talking for hours. Someone must stand in the "gap between good and evil" (P. 300) and help the two unite. That certainly is some deep material for children to read, and the whole complicated idea of black and white and gray is something that few youngsters can comprehend. I do applaud Barnhill for trying, think her story was interesting, and the descriptive writing fantastic. I guess I just wish there was a bit more depth to the interactions between characters that would support the complicated theme a little more than what I found.
December 6, 2011
Children often feel discarded when parents divorce, but, in Jack's case, he really is sent away and forgotten. And therein lies the mystery of the book: what has happened to children who have vanished and then been forgotten in the town of Hazelwood, Iowa, where Jack has been taken to live with his aunt and uncle?
The premise of this book is quite different from so many other fantasy books on the market and also quite similar in that a child who not yet knows his own way through life is sent to be the savior. Jack has gone through the first 12 years of his life without friends and without the love and nurturing of his parents. He knows he's different so he's surprised when other children befriend him in Hazelwood and his aunt and uncle seem interested in his activities. Even their house seems to welcome him.
My problem with the book is that Jack's ignorance of what is going on around him through so much of the book will be a problem to the reader, too. Unless the reader quickly learns to care about Jack, I suspect young readers will give up or be lost through a good portion of the book. The technique of not providing full disclosure of the evil in the book works to set up the horror element, but may not work so well on children who need to create an image in their heads.
I look forward to having some of my readers read it and see what the verdict is.
The premise of this book is quite different from so many other fantasy books on the market and also quite similar in that a child who not yet knows his own way through life is sent to be the savior. Jack has gone through the first 12 years of his life without friends and without the love and nurturing of his parents. He knows he's different so he's surprised when other children befriend him in Hazelwood and his aunt and uncle seem interested in his activities. Even their house seems to welcome him.
My problem with the book is that Jack's ignorance of what is going on around him through so much of the book will be a problem to the reader, too. Unless the reader quickly learns to care about Jack, I suspect young readers will give up or be lost through a good portion of the book. The technique of not providing full disclosure of the evil in the book works to set up the horror element, but may not work so well on children who need to create an image in their heads.
I look forward to having some of my readers read it and see what the verdict is.
September 15, 2011
Looking for something to recommend to my "tween" readers, I grabbed The Mostly True Story of Jack. This was a bit of an "eh" book for me. It was a bit difficult for me to plug through and I found a lot of the parts kind of boring.
After feeling invisible for most his life, Jack is sent to spend the summer with an aunt and uncle he doesn't know. However, he soon fnds that they, along with the others in the town, know a great deal about him. His uncle keeps pressing Jack to read a book on the history of the town that discusses its ties to magic. Jack, ever skeptical, does not want to believe any of it. Unfortunately, strange things keep happening to him.
While the idea was creative, I just don't think that the story ever achieved a very "magical" quality for me. It was almost more sad and moral ridden than fantasy. In a post-Harry Potter time, I don't know if any "magical" story will ever live up to the standards that that series set. I found myself more or less disappointed with the strange world that Jack found himself in and found that I never got pulled in to it with him.
It'll be a tough one for me to want to sell, but maybe it will find some interested readers.
After feeling invisible for most his life, Jack is sent to spend the summer with an aunt and uncle he doesn't know. However, he soon fnds that they, along with the others in the town, know a great deal about him. His uncle keeps pressing Jack to read a book on the history of the town that discusses its ties to magic. Jack, ever skeptical, does not want to believe any of it. Unfortunately, strange things keep happening to him.
While the idea was creative, I just don't think that the story ever achieved a very "magical" quality for me. It was almost more sad and moral ridden than fantasy. In a post-Harry Potter time, I don't know if any "magical" story will ever live up to the standards that that series set. I found myself more or less disappointed with the strange world that Jack found himself in and found that I never got pulled in to it with him.
It'll be a tough one for me to want to sell, but maybe it will find some interested readers.
May 10, 2017
This book just didn't do it for me. I love Luke Daniels as a narrator, and he did a superb job here, but the story just wasn't as fleshed out as it could have been. I think it was supposed to be a mysterious story, but instead I often just felt lost.
I was delighted by the enchanted beauty of The Girl Who Drank the Moon and was hoping to find that same magic here. Unfortunately, I never really got fully immersed in this story and so there was no enchantment for me.
I was delighted by the enchanted beauty of The Girl Who Drank the Moon and was hoping to find that same magic here. Unfortunately, I never really got fully immersed in this story and so there was no enchantment for me.
April 26, 2021
Kelly Barnhill writes good books and this is one of them. A modern day fairy story, although I suppose it fits into the "urban fantasy" genre. Think Neil Gaiman/Garth Nix though rather than Casandra Clare.
Jack's parents are getting a divorce, so he is sent to Iowa to be out of the way. But it is quickly obvious that Jack's family are a bit strange. At first his mom seems self absorbed but it becomes quickly clear that she does not seem to really notice that Jack is there. And the same is true for his dad and people in Jack's old home town. But here in Hazelwood, Iowa, he does get noticed. He also notices that the town itself is pretty strange.
Jack doesn't believe in fairy tales and magic. Which would be fair enough if he had not just moved into a house built on a magical eruption point.
Jack makes friends with Wendy, Anders, and Frankie - but something strange is going on in this strange place, and Jack is about to have all his assumptions about the world challenged.
This book had an original take on some well loved themes. It is written and paced well for mid grade readers.
Jack's parents are getting a divorce, so he is sent to Iowa to be out of the way. But it is quickly obvious that Jack's family are a bit strange. At first his mom seems self absorbed but it becomes quickly clear that she does not seem to really notice that Jack is there. And the same is true for his dad and people in Jack's old home town. But here in Hazelwood, Iowa, he does get noticed. He also notices that the town itself is pretty strange.
Jack doesn't believe in fairy tales and magic. Which would be fair enough if he had not just moved into a house built on a magical eruption point.
Jack makes friends with Wendy, Anders, and Frankie - but something strange is going on in this strange place, and Jack is about to have all his assumptions about the world challenged.
This book had an original take on some well loved themes. It is written and paced well for mid grade readers.
October 12, 2023
DID NOT FINISH
O livro tinha tudo pra ser uma fantasia com pegada de contos de Fadas muito bom, porém a autora fica dando volta em mistérios um tanto óbvios e extendendo a história de maneira ridícula e que não agrega nada a narrativa. Apesar de ter curiosidade sobre o que poderia acontecer os personagens também não ajudaram tanto.
Aqui foi o primeiro caso de múltiplos narradores que eu acabei vendo que não funcionou muito, e o motivo do mistério narrar a história também não ajudou muito visto que foi o que acabou deixando bem óbvio.
O livro tinha tudo pra ser uma fantasia com pegada de contos de Fadas muito bom, porém a autora fica dando volta em mistérios um tanto óbvios e extendendo a história de maneira ridícula e que não agrega nada a narrativa. Apesar de ter curiosidade sobre o que poderia acontecer os personagens também não ajudaram tanto.
Aqui foi o primeiro caso de múltiplos narradores que eu acabei vendo que não funcionou muito, e o motivo do mistério narrar a história também não ajudou muito visto que foi o que acabou deixando bem óbvio.
Read
April 16, 2022Trigger & Content Warnings:
Scars mentioned
Physical assault
Bullying
Scars mentioned
Physical assault
Bullying
June 30, 2022
Not the best book I’ve ever read but it was pretty interesting! :D
April 25, 2024
2.5 stars*
this had potential but far too much was left too late to reveal - most of the book I was just lost and confused and it was very hard to get through
this had potential but far too much was left too late to reveal - most of the book I was just lost and confused and it was very hard to get through
Read
August 28, 2025Bookshelf reread.
Jack has spent his life feeling invisible and forgotten, but it’s normal to him. His parents barely know he exists, and neither does his brother. He’s ignored. When his parents get a divorce and plan to move to different places, with his brother staying at friend’s house for the summer, he is surprised when his brother grabs him and asks what will happen to Jack. Their parents are startled and rush to make calls before declaring he will stay with his mom’s sister.
She drives him out there, and several people feel his approach, including silent and scarred Frankie and his protective sister Wendy; their friend, Anders, a farmer kid; and Clayton Avery, son of the richest man in town, who has a darker connection to Jack.
Frankie, like many others throughout the town’s history, disappeared when he was younger, and slowly everyone forgot about him. At first they were hunting, but his image faded from pictures and minds, and his name slipped away from them. Wendy heard this related to souls, and how memory was a big part of existence, so she clung to her memory, repeating his name and making sure others remembered him, desperate to find him. She saw a miniature boy in the corn, harmless, but she felt he was connected. She grew angry with everyone for letting Frankie slip from their minds, but with the help of Clive, Jack’s uncle, Frankie was finally found and brought home, but now he didn’t speak and had a never healing red scar on his cheek, that sometimes burned and whispered to him. He seems unaware of everything, but actually knows more than most.
Jack doesn’t want to be there, and is alarmed by the attention his aunt Mabel and uncle Clive give him. They say the family unraveled, he came unstitched too early, and it’s only right he belongs somewhere. They are happy to have him, and his mom leaves quickly, forgetting to even look back at him. After that, whenever he tries to write letters to his parents, the ink vanishes before he reaches the mailbox, calls don’t go through or get mixed up, answering machines are full, or when Mabel does sadly bring him a call from his mom, it’s like she’s talking to someone else and not hearing him. He also finds they have the only picture of him to exist, as he doesn’t appear in any others if they’re even taken.
He travels around on the skateboard his brother gave him, and meets town bully Clayton, and he’s so excited that someone is talking to him, having to sort through the recollection that this is bullying yet he’s still excited by it. Wendy comes and rescues him, having already sneaked into his room at night to look at him in curiosity while he slept a few times. She becomes his first friend, and along with Frankie and Anders, they drag him places sometimes.
Clive gives him a book on the town history that he reluctantly begins reading through slowly, some of it being Clive’s work, and some from a diary left by a reverend about The Lady, a magical guardian who protects magic and keeps it equal, and how she has a magic child every so often, but the reverend figured out that a trade between her child and a human child could be made and give the trader wealth and rewards, but when he talked about this theory with others, they used it and gained magic in their fortune, and for generations always had two children so they could trade the first and continue their family wealth.
That is the Avery family. But this generation they only had one son and didn’t want to lose him, so they traded a different child: Frankie. The good half of the Lady was split with the bad half and went to Clive desperate for a solution, since she didn’t have a wicked mind and thus couldn’t predict the evil half’s plans. To hide from the evil half, they set up defenses in the house, but this was used against them to trap the good half there, so she couldn’t interfere when the trade was made, as losing one more child would shatter her and the evil half would fully win. However, by trading the wrong child, this made the evil half go dormant and allowed the magic kid to escape, and Frankie to be rescued. Clive and Mabel brought the magic kid home and shaped him to look like a human.
The book also talked about taking a shoot from one tree and stitching it onto another of a different species to grow, which works, but if the tree is damaged, the shoot must be returned to its source to live.
The book has always stayed in the house, where the parrot and two cats living there help protect things, and the cats also follow Jack as guards when he leaves, but discreetly. No explanation on why these animals are magical geniuses. Mr. Avery has been searching for the diary, but never been able to find it no matter the locator spells, because Clive had took it apart and reordered it and intermixed it with his own writing and pages to publish a history book, making it a new book entirely so Avery was looking for the wrong book. However, staying in the house kept this hidden.
Jack doesn’t know and takes the book out on his explorations to read it in the forest, noticing that someone is following him. That is Mr. Perkins, Mr. Avery’s secretary who was given this task. He’s heard stories about the Lady, but only the bad stories, and he knows what Jack is and thus considers him evil and not real. The police are under Avery’s thumb too, and they use this as an excuse to be awful and they need punished. By the end, I don’t think Perkins learns any better, and the bad guys don’t get punished.
Anyway, he steals Jack’s book, and when Jack chases him, he’s able to claim that Jack is the thief when the police stop them. Wendy joins Jack, and later that night they break into the building he works at to take the book back, with the help of the cats. Perkins has copied a few pages, but that’s all. Mr. Avery wants to kill Jack as that will destroy the good half and solve his problems.
The others show Jack the old schoolhouse, where so many children disappeared and got forgotten. Frankie seems to disappear inside before it falls down, and Wendy panics while Anders is only concerned about her, which I still don’t understand. They say Frankie must’ve gotten out and go looking for him. He’s at Mabel’s studio, fine. He whispers to Jack and gives him a rock to not lose, as it will work as a gate to wherever Jack wants to go.
Mr. Avery has so much control that he can alter paperwork to legally demolish Clive and Mabel’s house to make way for a road to some other place that doesn’t yet exist, while no other blocking houses need this. They lure neighbors to have fun on their lawn that day.
But before that, Wendy goes missing, caught in the same snare that once took Frankie, and people start forgetting her. Frankie notices immediately and hopes Jack knows where she is, and they manage to eavesdrop on Mr. Avery and discover his plans. Then Mrs. Avery tries to drive off with Clayton but the roads keep looping her back home so they can’t escape the town, and she tries to lure the following storm away so it won’t notice Clayton.
Wendy meets disembodied voices that have forgotten who they are underground and starts rebuilding the Lady’s mirror that she used to watch everything and snatch souls. Frankie finds Clayton in a hole and starts talking and drags him through the tunnels. Jack and Anders also make their way into the tunnels after Jack is finally told who he really is. Once they meet up, vines under Jack’s control hug them and then he goes to trade places with Wendy and finish building the mirror and turn the underground of magic back into the great world is used to be.
Everyone goes to Clive and Mabel’s house, realizing they need to destroy the house to free the good half while she’s at her strongest, just as the bad half also erupts. Jack frees the trapped souls so they can move on, then snatches both halves of his real mother, using the magic words of “yours and mine” that were used for trades to reclaim them and demand they care for him, then pulls them back through the mirror where they merge into one again.
The town adjusts after all this, with so many disappearances now reappearing in pictures. Though the Averys gained money through magic, apparently this didn’t ruin them, and Mr. Avery split up his business and sold it so his family could move away after paying to rebuild Clive and Mabel’s house and donating a bunch of stuff. Clayton still comes back in summer to tutor under Clive now.
Wendy is sad over the loss of Jack, thinking he sacrificed for her rather than returned home. She sees him in water reflections, but he doesn’t see her. Clive says he’ll show up again one day.
This is an interesting book. The cover kind of gives some stuff away, but you know all the mysteries it mentions are about Jack anyway. Much like Nathan from Half Bad (ironic I’m realizing since that term can also relate to Jack’s mom), Jack turns into a tree. Unlike Nathan, it wasn’t devastating and didn’t scar me for life.
I liked the potential friendship between Jack and Frankie and wish I could have seen more to that. Jack was the first person Frankie talked to, and it was a secret. Though it was mysterious and odd and barely happened, it was still enough to make Jack realize how smart Frankie actually was and later be happy to see him on such little conversation—which makes sense since Jack’s life has lacked conversation so every sentence is huge for him.
I do my bookshelf rereads to see how I feel about the books I don’t remember enough and figure out if I want to keep them or can get rid of them. I’ll keep this one for now.
I’ve been rereading several books at once, and it’s interesting that they all came from different places: Target, Costco, Hand-me-down, Dollar Store, Hastings, gift, mysterious spontaneous appearance, and this one was from a library sale. I don’t remember where though, I got four books from there and I can tell which ones they are, but the library sale I do remember was at an old hospital where I got three other books and that was years prior. Oh well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 22, 2013
People are always forgetting about Jack. He has no friends, no enemies, even his family usually looks past him. So he's not surprised to find out that his mother forgot to call ahead when she drops him off at his aunt and uncle's to spend the summer. They make room for him, but he can tell he's not wanted. But there's something strange about this town. Not only do the people here notice him, but the pets and even his aunt and uncle's house seem to be watching him. He's excited to make his first friends, but not as thrilled to meet his first bully. He soon discovers that he has bigger problems though. Someone dangerous is coming back, and the town has a history of children disappearing.
I enjoyed the fairy tale atmosphere of the story and all the magical elements woven into it. The way the magic worked so that the town forgot entirely about those who went missing was heartbreaking. I loved Wendy and how feisty she is and fiercely protective of her brother. Her brother was an interesting character, you don't read about many elective mutes in children's literature. The pacing of the novel is fast and a delicious sense of mystery permeates everything.
There's a lot of troubling implications in the narrative. Jack's parents divorce just before the story starts and Jack fears that they will forget all about him, a common enough fear for a child going through that. Except in this story that literally happens. By the end his family has entirely forgotten that he ever existed. To make matters worse, it turns out that he was adopted into the family and the portrayal of adoption in the story is absolutely awful. His adoptive parents don't seem to care about him at all, he never fits in, and eventually Jack sacrifices himself to save the town and goes back to his abusive birth mother, who has been terrorizing the town and stealing children's souls for decades. Despite this his uncle acts like it's a good thing because 'his true mother is restored to him.' People often use this language around adoption asking adopted children who their 'true' or 'real' mother is as if the mother who has raised them all of their lives is false. It's possible that I'm reading too much into this, but it just didn't sit right with me.
I'd give this to fans of fantasy and fairy tales 4th grade and up.
I enjoyed the fairy tale atmosphere of the story and all the magical elements woven into it. The way the magic worked so that the town forgot entirely about those who went missing was heartbreaking. I loved Wendy and how feisty she is and fiercely protective of her brother. Her brother was an interesting character, you don't read about many elective mutes in children's literature. The pacing of the novel is fast and a delicious sense of mystery permeates everything.
There's a lot of troubling implications in the narrative. Jack's parents divorce just before the story starts and Jack fears that they will forget all about him, a common enough fear for a child going through that. Except in this story that literally happens. By the end his family has entirely forgotten that he ever existed. To make matters worse, it turns out that he was adopted into the family and the portrayal of adoption in the story is absolutely awful. His adoptive parents don't seem to care about him at all, he never fits in, and eventually Jack sacrifices himself to save the town and goes back to his abusive birth mother, who has been terrorizing the town and stealing children's souls for decades. Despite this his uncle acts like it's a good thing because 'his true mother is restored to him.' People often use this language around adoption asking adopted children who their 'true' or 'real' mother is as if the mother who has raised them all of their lives is false. It's possible that I'm reading too much into this, but it just didn't sit right with me.
I'd give this to fans of fantasy and fairy tales 4th grade and up.
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