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Jack
Mama doesn't like boys, but Jack's not like most boys.
Born a girl during the Civil War, Jack has been passing as a boy in the slums of Five Points, Manhattan, since running away from an orphans' home at age eight. He makes his living at petty thievery, surviving pocket watch-to-pocket watch until he discovers a talent for gambling.
Lucy is a bright girl trapped in a dreary life with her widowed mother. When she meets Jack on the street, her days are happier than they have ever been. But her heart is broken when mother takes her far from New York, perhaps never to see Jack again. Her new home in a rowdy Arizona mining town is as dismal as ever, but she finds a glimmer of hope in dreams of a career on stage.
Now, to find their way to the life they promised each other, Jack and Lucy will have to dodge dangers and take risks they never dreamed of as childhood sweethearts.
Born a girl during the Civil War, Jack has been passing as a boy in the slums of Five Points, Manhattan, since running away from an orphans' home at age eight. He makes his living at petty thievery, surviving pocket watch-to-pocket watch until he discovers a talent for gambling.
Lucy is a bright girl trapped in a dreary life with her widowed mother. When she meets Jack on the street, her days are happier than they have ever been. But her heart is broken when mother takes her far from New York, perhaps never to see Jack again. Her new home in a rowdy Arizona mining town is as dismal as ever, but she finds a glimmer of hope in dreams of a career on stage.
Now, to find their way to the life they promised each other, Jack and Lucy will have to dodge dangers and take risks they never dreamed of as childhood sweethearts.
193 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 18, 2013
1 person is currently reading
152 people want to read
About the author
Shannon L.C. Cate
3 books14 followersI was raised in my father's independent bookstore. Literacy ensued.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
October 2, 2013
The greatest compliment my almost 13 year old can give a book is "Is this part of a series?" She and I were both delighted with this story of romance and adventure in the old "wild west". It was extra fun to have the romance be between Jack, who born with a female body then came of age with a male identity and Lucy, every bit a girl, who falls in love with him. They are separated by Lucy's mother who moves herself and her daughter to Arizona for marriage and stability with a shady but wealthy character. They are then brought back together through a westward journey by Jack (with some convenient twists that I forgave because they needed to get back together!)
Besides young adult and romance, I am shelving this YA novel as LGBT. Because of the courageous content, I don't forsee it being easily accepted in school libraries but I do hope it reaches LGBT youth. On the other hand, I hesitate to call these boys transgender, which is a very modern concept, and the author also avoids that word. But certainly the impulse to convert genders has always existed; whether for socio-political reasons or by nature of how someone feels about themselves or a combination of both. I also hesitate to call the girls who love these boys lesbian. They are attracted to people they perceive to be men; and perhaps because of having endured less than ideal relationships with men--they are actually intrigued and relieved to learn the truth! Perhaps in a world without the constrictions of labeled identity, these things have happened naturally. And yet, the author does acknowledge how dangerous and precarious their lives could be.
Without spoiling, I will just say that through the actions of the characters, one can definitely distinguish the difference between crossdressing as a costume/disguise and outfitting oneself with the signals of identity. Jack seems to have started out in a protective boy's costume but then over time, it became right to him--or perhaps was right to him from the start and doubled as protection. Through an underground network, he meets others like him. And finds out there are girls who specifically like boys like Jack.
There is a sweet, brief sex scene that may satisfy the curiosity of someone who wonders how "it" might be done. There is also a bit of cursing at high stress times that lend authenticity. Still, I was very happy to present a young adult novel like this to my daughter. You see, her dad (my husband) was born a girl and my daughter loves reading about a sweet and gallant hero like her dad and enjoyed recounting it to him.
I wanted more. More detail, more adventures, more bonding among the boys, more supportive girl-girl friendship and more romance. I do hope Jack and his posse, and the girls who know good men when they find them, return in a sequel or series.
Besides young adult and romance, I am shelving this YA novel as LGBT. Because of the courageous content, I don't forsee it being easily accepted in school libraries but I do hope it reaches LGBT youth. On the other hand, I hesitate to call these boys transgender, which is a very modern concept, and the author also avoids that word. But certainly the impulse to convert genders has always existed; whether for socio-political reasons or by nature of how someone feels about themselves or a combination of both. I also hesitate to call the girls who love these boys lesbian. They are attracted to people they perceive to be men; and perhaps because of having endured less than ideal relationships with men--they are actually intrigued and relieved to learn the truth! Perhaps in a world without the constrictions of labeled identity, these things have happened naturally. And yet, the author does acknowledge how dangerous and precarious their lives could be.
Without spoiling, I will just say that through the actions of the characters, one can definitely distinguish the difference between crossdressing as a costume/disguise and outfitting oneself with the signals of identity. Jack seems to have started out in a protective boy's costume but then over time, it became right to him--or perhaps was right to him from the start and doubled as protection. Through an underground network, he meets others like him. And finds out there are girls who specifically like boys like Jack.
There is a sweet, brief sex scene that may satisfy the curiosity of someone who wonders how "it" might be done. There is also a bit of cursing at high stress times that lend authenticity. Still, I was very happy to present a young adult novel like this to my daughter. You see, her dad (my husband) was born a girl and my daughter loves reading about a sweet and gallant hero like her dad and enjoyed recounting it to him.
I wanted more. More detail, more adventures, more bonding among the boys, more supportive girl-girl friendship and more romance. I do hope Jack and his posse, and the girls who know good men when they find them, return in a sequel or series.
September 13, 2017
Shannon L. C. Cate has a very easy reading style. I found her work by accident (whilst reading reviews from some other story) and all I can say is I'm happy I got a chance to read about Jack and Lucy growing up in New York City in the late 1900's. It's a coming of age story discribing the life of Jack, a boy trapped in a girls body. After being left by his mother in an orphanage (read prequel Jump) Jack escapes to New York where he survives living on the streets picking pockets. Then he meets Lucy and her widowed mother Evelyn.
Eventhough there is plenty of darkness in this book, the author does a good job keeping it light and enjoyable. Themes are friendship, loyalty and family. There are no explicit sex scenes.
Eventhough there is plenty of darkness in this book, the author does a good job keeping it light and enjoyable. Themes are friendship, loyalty and family. There are no explicit sex scenes.
October 7, 2013
History (realistic and detailed). Love (against the odds). Plot (unexpected but credible developments). 'Jack' has the whole package.
Gosh, that was fun! It was also quick. It flew past, and like the other reviewer I'm left wondering what's next for these characters.
Gosh, that was fun! It was also quick. It flew past, and like the other reviewer I'm left wondering what's next for these characters.
July 6, 2014
Just delightful! Set in a richly described 19th century NYC and Arizona, this beautifully written book gives us a host of sweet characters who find ways to claim their identities. It was over too soon, and I am imagining what’s happening next.
November 15, 2016
Fun, unique read
I enjoyed this unusual, gender-bending read, which offers sympathetic main characters, good pacing, and interesting plot. I would recommend it to people interested in LGBTQ lit and/or historical fiction.
I enjoyed this unusual, gender-bending read, which offers sympathetic main characters, good pacing, and interesting plot. I would recommend it to people interested in LGBTQ lit and/or historical fiction.
March 26, 2017
One of my favorite books by one of my favorite authors. Jack is a compelling and engaging story, and it is clear from the details that the author did a great deal of research. I highly recommend this as YA literature, particularly for its foregrounding of Trans and genderqueer protagonists- even if those are terms contemporaneous to the story's setting.
June 14, 2017
Amazing, I'll never forget it.
January 24, 2015
“Jack” by Shannon L C Cate is a YA western adventure with a LGBT tilt. Ms. Cate is just about spot on throughout the book in maintaining a level of description (from the Five Points in Manhattan to the Arizona Territory), action, and characterization suited for a YA audience. Her writing skills are excellent and the book flows very, very well. Jack, the title character, follows in the tradition of the Artful Dodger and Gavroche, the street wise urchin living by wits and a semi-miraculous talent for theft, with one exception – Jack was born a mixed race female. I’m guessing Jack would have been about 8 when she escaped from an orphanage realized that survival on the streets of mid-19th Century Manhattan was somewhat easier for a boy, and began masquerading as one. By the time the story begins (about 4 years later) Jack has grown to think of himself as a male. When Jack meets Lucy and her mother the plot begins its trek through developing friendship, separation and reunion, while treating the reader to gambling dens, western action and characters always living in the hope of a better life. I’ve already noted the LGBT tilt to the book (with one brief, gentle, scene of intimacy), but I’m not going to ‘shelve’ it because I found the book rich with the more subtle themes of caring for others, and the desire for home and family. Add in the good characters, well described action and motivation, and what more could you ask for from a YA novel.
I will look forward to more stories from Ms. Cate.
I will look forward to more stories from Ms. Cate.
February 9, 2015
2.5 stars, I wanted to like this book more. Very readable style and some interesting side characters. Unfortunately, the villain and sub-villains are too mustache twirling puppy kicking monsters for it to be enjoyable and just make it a misery fest for the lady in jeopardy. ( The mother character felt like she was created from the Reba McEntire song “Fancy” but with less gumption. ) It would have also have been more interesting to spend time with characters in Jack and his gang than with convoluted caper, rescue, and escape storyline.
October 9, 2016
Really enjoyed this book! I've had real trouble focusing on reading these past few years, but tore through Jack in two sittings. The characters were personable and engaging, the drama was compelling without feeling overblown and despite some dark themes the book remained light and did not get bogged down in dreariness. Would definitely recommend for anyone who enjoyed Tipping the Velvet or similar novels.
December 23, 2014
Lucy has to escape evil stepdad; will Jack come save her? I wanted to like this book very, very much, and I just didn't. I tacked on an extra star for the trans characters and I think the lens is great. But it was very uneven and over-coincidental, and just too long.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews