Jasper John Dooley: Not in Love

Jasper John Dooley #3

by Caroline Adderson, Ben Clanton (Illustrator)

Isabel loves Jasper, and it's making life complicated. He just wants to play knights and dragons with Ori and Leon, but Isabel makes him play babies and tries to set up their wedding. The only good thing about Isabel is the trampoline at her house. But will the highs of their trampoline playdates be enough to cure Jasper's girl-itis? Jasper John Dooley: NOT in Love is the third in a series of chapter books featuring a charismatic and funny central character. An only child with active, loving parents (and a most impressive lint collection), Jasper John Dooley is a true original.

Genres: Childrens, Humor, Fiction, Friendship, Picture Books, Juvenile, Realistic Fiction

132 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2014

About the author

Caroline Adderson grew up in Alberta. After traveling around Canada, she moved to B.C. to go to university and has mostly lived there ever since. She started writing seriously after university, eventually going on to write two internationally published novels (A History of Forgetting and Sitting Practice) and two collections of short stories for adults (Bad Imaginings and Pleased To Meet You). When her son was five, she began writing seriously unserious books for young readers (Very Serious Children; I, Bruno;and Bruno For Real). Her contribution to the Single Voice series is her first really serious book for young readers and her first book for teens.

Caroline’s work has received numerous prize nominations including the Scotiabank Giller Prize longlist, the Governor General’s Literary Award, the Rogers Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize, and the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize. A two-time Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize and three-time CBC Literary Award winner, Caroline was also the recipient of the 2006 Marian Engel Award, given annually to an outstanding female writer in mid-career in recognition of her body of work. She also won the 2009 Diamond Willow Award—voted on by lots of nice kids in Saskatchewan—for her children’s novel Very Serious Children.

Caroline keeps writing for readers of all ages every day. She also does a little teaching at Simon Fraser University and hangs out with her husband, a filmmaker, their 10-year-old son, and their naughty dog, Mickey, a Jack Russell terrier who is very lucky to be cute or she would never get away with all she does. Caroline’s advice to young writers is to read, read, read and write, write, write, and never get a Jack Russell terrier.

Reviews

[Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Novel received courtesy of Goodreads.com giveaway

I had not read any of the "Jasper John Dooley" books before. I'm so glad that I won this one and I'll be buying more for my grandsons. As a teacher, it's difficult to find books for 1st-3rd grade. This series will fill a gap that need to be filled.

Jasper John and his friends are such well-written, believable characters; from their games on the playground to their families and play dates. I was happy to find some humor thrown in by Jasper's parents that would go over a child's head but will make adults laugh.

Jasper John is mortified that Isabella bribes him into playing babies on the playground. No matter what, he just can't seem to get away from her. When he goes to her house on a play date, he discovers that she has a trampoline! The only problem is that Isabella is in love with Jasper John but he is in love with Isabella's trampoline.

A great new alternative series for younger boys.

[Cat · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of all, this little girl Isabel is a stalker/psychopath in training. That girl has major issues with not taking a hint. Super scary. Also I feel bad for Jasper being forced into a marriage that he is not interested in and for Ori and his issues with self-confidence in being left out of the mix. Holy Cow. I kind of want to own this book just so I can share it with all of my friends.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

funny and clever-reads like a child would write if if they had the vocabulary and writing skills.

[Lana Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jasper John is pursued by a persistent admirer in his class. Isabel. He has his first "playdate" at her house and likes her trampoline, but not so much the talkative girl. His efforts to dissuade her are not very successful.

This is a cute story with lots of humor.

[Anne McKernan · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son's first grade class is going through weddings at recess so we found this delightful book to be timely and a whole lot of fun! Clearly the author knows first grade boys well!!

[Phyllis M. Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jasper and Izzy, sitting in a tree...

[Blake Spraggins · Rating 4 out of 5]

These are charming books.

[superawesomekt · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third in the series is perhaps as good as the first. Bad babies, jam, trampolines, and how to get out of marriage... I love Jasper :)

[Our Military Moments · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was laugh out loud funny... even for an adult. I found myself reading passages out loud to any family member nearby. It was really cute and I think young readers, Grades 1-3 will find this enjoyable. I really liked it, so maybe it's for adults too! :)

[Storywraps · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man what is a guy to do when a girl targets you, is in love with you and even wants to marry you? It sure can mess up your life if you are an early grade schooler. All you want to do is play with your best friends, Ori, Leon and Paul C., slaying dragons at recess not be dragged into marriage.

Jasper has a real girl problem on his hands and is trying to find a way to solve it. Isabel, a classmate, is smitten by him and wants to play babies with him a recess and is even planning their wedding. Poor Jasper gets further sucked into the relationship when his mom accepts a playdate on his behalf at Isabel's house. After hair brushing and jam eating Isabel finally invites him to jump on her trampoline and Jasper gets the trampoline-bug and thinks maybe she is not so bad after all. These conflicting feelings make him feel frustrated and embarrassed but he decides that marriage is not for him and he must concoct a way to end this overbearing girl from stocking him and trying to control his life.

The cast of characters are appealing and recognizable. The storyline is hilarious and I am sure many kids will be able to identify with it. Will Jasper be able to hatch a plan to put this crisis behind him? Will he succeed in convincing Isabel that he is not in love with her but just wants to be left alone with his friends? With the help of his loving parents, his grandmother and his friends his world is finally reconfigured and he does get his life back to normal. Whew! Love can make life complicated can't it?

[Mairéad (is roaming the Undying Lands) · Rating 3 out of 5]

***I received this book from a GR giveaway.***

3.5 Stars

This was a rather cute and fun read. Although it's the 3rd book of the Jasper John Dooley series, I could follow the story relativity well. The writing is easy to comprehend and read if you're in the grades 1-3, which is nice. And it allowed me to think about to my own childhood at that age again for the memories.

Jasper John Dooley has a problem--a girl problem. He wants to play knights and slay the dragon but the girls want to play babies. Classic stereotypes of recessland for this age group. Of course Jasper gains the attention of Isabel, who tries lots of things to get him to "like" or even "love" her. I can relate to his frustration somewhat. Mainly because I had my own "Isabel" during my elementary years. And man was it ever ridiculous. Of course there was no trampoline to distract me or to keep me coming back. But my "Isabel" just simply wouldn't leave me alone, then accusing me of liking other guys and then state they liked "x" girl rofl. So yeah, I would have him hanging around for a good four years until I moved.

So yeah, this book really took me back to that time. I look forward to read any others from this series. :)

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jasper John Dooley doesn't like Isabel. She is always licking him, asking him to get married, and forcing him to pretend to be her baby. Jasper John finds himself in a moral quandary when he learns how much he loves jumping on Isabel's trampoline, and he must decide whether it's worth getting along with her if it means he can use her stuff.

This third book in the Jasper John Dooley series, following Star of the Week (2012) and Left Behind (2013), is the best one yet. Every character, from Isabel's babysitter to Jasper himself is well-developed and believable. The author has a wonderful ear for six-year-old dialogue and an obvious affection for young children. Even overbearing and excitable Isabel, frightful as her behavior is, has a sweet quality that helps the reader see that she isn't all bad. Other highlights include Jasper's close friendship with Ori, his continued fascination with lint, and his relationship to his family, including his Nan. This series, and especially this book, is a must-have for fans of the Horrible Harry and Stink series, and of Third Grade Angels by Jerry Spinelli.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

The course of true love never did run particularly smoothly, and that's never more true than in elementary school. Jasper John Dooley and his best friend Ori enjoy being knights and slaying dragons, but when his teacher decides to pair him during reading with the rambunctious Isabel, their friendship is threatened. It's not as though Jasper actually likes Isabel, but she does have an awesome trampoline, after all. The author does a fine job of describing Jasper's attraction to the neat things he can do at Isabel's house while also being repulsed by her habit of licking him or sharing a spoon with her dog. I was charmed once again by all the characters, including the parents and the students' teacher, Ms. Tosh. My favorite part of the book was when Jasper channels Ms. Tosh in order to get Isabel to behave. There is something endearing about this series that lifts it over the pack.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jasper John Dooley enjoys playing knights and dragons with his friends on the playground. But those girls just want them to play babies! Isabel is the worst, she is in LOVE with Jasper. She may even want to marry him! Then the unthinkable happens his mother arranges a playdate at Isabel's house! Jasper dreads all the hair-brushing and baby-playing he just knows is going to take place. Boy is he surprised when he discovers her trampoline. It is the best thing he has ever done! But how can he keep bouncing on that wonderful trampoline without Isabel thinking he is in love with her too. He doesn't even want to be friends with her. But Jasper will do almost anything to keep experiencing that flippy-floppy feeling he gets every time he is on the trampoline.
Jasper is a wonderfully realistic little boy that is far from perfect, but perfectly entertaining.

[Dan Shonka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Caroline Adderson does a great job of capturing the vibe of early elementary school kids. She uses question marks to expertly convey the voice of these rascally characters. I really enjoyed each of the main characters and the teacher's part was spot on (from a youngster's point of view). The scene in the principal's office is a hoot. (One of the rascals practically has a customer-loyalty card for visits to the principal's office.) The characters will pull you in close, and if you haven't already, you'll want to read the first two books in the series. It'll be tough to wait for the next new book in the Jasper John Dooley series. By the way, I got this book through the Goodreads Giveaway program. And I hope I can buy the rest of the series to complete the set.

[Andréa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jasper John Dooley is a funny little guy. He doesn't like Isabel, not really, but he finds her trampoline oh-so-appealing. As a result, he gets into the kind of predicaments common with young kids: refusing to be nice to her, because he doesn't like her, but agreeing to (or at least going along with) playdates at her house so he can use her trampoline. Reminds me of a few times in my own childhood!

The best part of Jasper John Dooley: NOT in Love is the super cute illustrations. Those illustrations are the main reason I'll be reading the rest of the Jasper John Dooley books.

Note: I received a digital galley of this book through NetGalley.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway and I am so glad that I did! My son is little but I read him the book and we both loved it. It's a cute story about a little boy named jasper who is interested in playing knights and being a typical boy. A little girl is in love with him and wants to marry him but he is just not interested. This would be a great book for a 1st or 2nd grader. The whole series looks cute. We will be buy others in the future.

[Sandy Brehl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Any readers who read/cared about Jasper John will enjoy these continuing adventures, if that word can be used. The relatively familiar and simple situations Jasper deals with, when viewed through his eyes, are major challenges. This is true for all kids that age, so adults will be pleased if a child who loves these books is able to read them independently, and the series allows jasper to gain some insights and register some steps toward maturing in credible ways.

[Cassie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this aloud with my 7 year old and we both enjoyed it. There were several times that he laughed out loud and I have to admit a chuckle escaped me once or twice as well. The characters are pretty realistic and well developed. I appreciated Jasper's parents care, yet taking a step back approach. I'd probably be all over a situation like this if it happened in real life at our house. The other books are on our radar to read as well.

[NYC Reads 365 · Rating 5 out of 5]

"All girls do is stay inside and brush their hair, when they play at home. That's what Jasper John Dooley thinks. Jasper much prefers to play knights and dragons with his pals Ori and Leon. One day, he receives an anonymous "I love you" compliment, and he knows it must Isabel. So when his mom arranges a playdate for him at Isabel's house, naturally, he doesn't want to go. But he does, and things turn out differently than he expects."

[Jayna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

I read this story aloud to my kindergarten class. They really liked it and laughed a lot. I do think it would be a better first grade read aloud and second grade independent book, but they definitely enjoyed it! I've talked to my librarian about ordering the series!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

i received this book for free through goodreads first reads.
This is a super cute mini book for kids, playful and captivating.

[Jacqui · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny and endearing glimpse into boy-ness, “girl-itis-ness” and the immediacy and intensity of childhood emotions. With a nice little aside for under appreciated moms.

[Mary · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thought I would like this, but sadly thought it was dreck.

[Mandy Robek · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like the sweet fun and a bit Very Dangerous Trouble Jasper gets in. He is also clever and figures out how to convince a classmate they are not in love.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I laughed like this whole book and it's an early chapter book. Took me, maybe 30 minutes to read it?

[Sara Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

We just love Jasper in our house. This was another fun story, so true to the life of a kid. Jasper's "love story" is hilarious.

[Vicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was very cute. It felt very authentic that he only liked her because of her trampoline. Great read for second or third graders.

[Alysa · Rating 3 out of 5]

So fun to read out loud to my son.

[Hillvan]

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