Zack

by William Bell

While doing a research project that will save him from failing his history class, seventeen-year-old Zack begins to look into his family's past and soon finds himself travelling from Canada to Mississippi where he finally has the opportunity to meet his maternal grandmother. Reprint.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Teen, Childrens, Canada

Mass Market Paperback

First published January 9, 1998

About the author

William Bell is an award-winning author of more than a dozen books for young adults.

Born in Toronto, Ontario in 1945, he has been a high school English teacher and department head, and an instructor at the Harbin University of Science and Technology, the Foreign Affairs College in Beijing, and the University of British Columbia.

Reviews

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Traag verhaal over Zack. Hij heeft een donkere moeder en een blanke vader die ook nog eens Jood is. Het boek kaart vooral racisme aan en doet dat best redelijk.

[Manda · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I was in grade six, we had a first-time teacher that our class basically broke. I mean, I have memories of him sitting at his desk with his head in his hands and I'm also pretty sure we also made him cry (damn horrible pre-teens). The next year he became the school librarian. That's one of my strongest memories of grade six. The other one is seeing this book on our teacher's small book shelf in that class and picking it up one day to read. I don't really much remember what it was about or what was in it, except a sort of struggle with self-identity, as well as a first girlfriend, but I figure that this was probably my introduction to YA fiction. In grade seven, I soon began visiting our school's library every day and constantly reading (often getting in trouble in class). I think that this book marked a sort of turning point in my reading obsession, and so I will always have a sort of fondness for this book.

[Zachary Stephens · Rating 1 out of 5]

H o w f a r i s t o o f a r ?

Z a c k ,
T h i s i s b o o k a b o u t a k i d n a m e d z a c k
H e i s a s e n i o r i n h i g h s c h o o l , h e h a s o n e l a s t
c h a n c e t o s a v e h i s h i s t o r y g r a d e . s o , w i l e h i s
p a r e n t s a r e a w a y h e p l a n s a r o a d t r i p t o
m i s s i s s i p p i t o i n t e r v i e w h i s m e n t e r n a l
g r a n d f a t h e r , w h o m h e h a s n e v e r m e t
W h a t z a c k f i n d s , a f t e r b e i n g s t o p e d b y p o l i c e
G e t t i n g c o u g h t i n a r a i n s t o r m , h e n e w h e w o u l d g e t i n t o t r o u b l e w i t h h i s p a r e n t s a n d d a m a g i n g t h e
F a i m l y t r u c k i s w o r s e t h e n h e h a d e x p e c t e d
B u t i t c o u l d a l s o b e a b i g c h a n c e f o r h i m t o s a v e h i s h i s t o r y g r a d e a n d h o l d t h e k e y t o h i s f u t u r e ,
o f a g e s t o r y a n d a p o r t a i t o f a n i n t e r r a c i a l f a i m l y z a c k i s o n e b o o k y o u l l n e v e r f o r g e t .


Rate = 2 out of 10

I d i d n o t l i k e t h i s b o o k i d o n t l i k e a n y b o o k b e c a u s e i h a t e r e a d i n g i t h i n k r e a d i n g i s o n e o f t h e w o r s t t h i n g s f o r t h e h u m n a n b r a i n i t t r y i n g t o t r i c k u s i n t o t h i n k i n g t h a t t h i s s t u f f i s r e a l t h a t w e r e a d i n t h e b o o k s t h i s b o o k b y m e a n s a r e a l l y g r e a t b o o k i f y o u w a n t e d t o g e t b r a i n w a s h e s t h i s i s w h a t h a p p e n d t o m e i d o n t k n o w a n y t h i n g a b o u t t h e r e a l w o r l d b e c a u s e t h i s b o o k h a s c a p t u r e d m y s o u l a n d i t is t r a p p e d i n t h i s b o o k

[rose · Rating 1 out of 5]

this book is dripping in white man writing. a little splash of male author writing and it’s a nightmare to read for english class. Here’s a quote from page 45: “…and before i could speak she threw her arms around my neck and kissed me. […….] and the firm press of her breasts against my chest put all thoughts of anger out of my mind.” What is this actual garbage? I don’t want the defence that Zack is a teenage boy. Cause i know the author didn’t wanna make this the most realistic book ever by having a perverted teenage boy paying attention to that kind of stuff. The author put it in because thats the only way he can describe a kiss scene, by describing her tits. Thanks, William Bell, you’ve sickened me. And let’s just say he WAS trying to make a ‘realistic book’ Jen has literally no personality or background it seems like she’s just there for the boob comment. I hate this god awful book. I know i’m not that far in but it still grosses me out. and i HAVW to read it for english class god hates me

[Bryan Laprise · Rating 4 out of 5]

In retrospect, I read this book for English class, but I really enjoyed this novel, which I probably wouldn't have picked up otherwise.
The character of Zack and his story really touched me, and I really appreciated the historical touch to the book. I learned about a new person in history, while in an enjoyable manner.
Zack's story was really deep and profound, and William Bell brought such a heavy and hard topic in a somewhat light and easy read.
I'd definetly recommend this book to anyone who's into history, but doesn't want a book set at the time. Or anyone who's like Zack, trying to discover their own identity, story and roots.

Good job, William Bell! This was a really good read!

[Fatima Ahmadzai · Rating 2 out of 5]

zack is the main character, from biracial parents. He searches out his grandfather who objected to the marriage. good for readers who have patience for a slow plot and minimal suspense. it was Ok

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a thoughtful, resonant story about history, family, identity, race, harm and healing. Highly recommend!!

[ash · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick, well-developed read with a lot of really nice writing and some very serious, truthful confrontations about race and slavery that are powerful and important, especially for the intended age group. I like Zack and his parents and Jen. I like his grandfather. I like the power of what Zack learns through his research. I don't love that the book feels very much like it was written by a white man and I'm not sure that I agree with the socio-political rejection of his grandfather's attitude. To have Etta be personally injured by her father's dismissal is perfectly understandable and more than enough reason for her to have severed their relationship, to turn it into a white writer's morality lesson about how a black person hating white people is as terrible as racism? No, thanks.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good young adult novel written from the point of view of a young man who is also an adopted African-Canadian. Disgruntled because he has been relocated from the big city to rural Ontario life with his parents, he reconnects with both his parents, gets his academic career back on track AND rediscovers his roots while undertaking independent research on some historical objects unearthed while gardening in his new backyard. Quite contrived but very informative about the origins of slavery and the evolution from African-American slave to freed men and women. Canadian language arts curriculum.

[Abdi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had to read this as an English project for school, half of the time I was sitting down bored to death. However the book does have a good plot as well as some important points that people in modern society still seize to comprehend or even acknowledge for that matter. In my opinion, I would recommend this book to someone who likes this genre of books.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very interesting.It is about black heritage. A boy named zack has to go interview his grandfather about it. While his parents are out of town.

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Zack is from biracial parents. He searches out his grandfather who objected to the marriage.

[Suzy · Rating 2 out of 5]

literature circle book.

[Mehak · Rating 1 out of 5]

Book was ok, suitable for readers who have patience for a slow plot and minimal suspense. But had an effective meaning.

[Dorian · Rating 3 out of 5]

a wonderfull story ! just finished in 3 hours ;)

[Jane Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coming of age story with insight into bi-racial marriage for children. Good story.