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Jojo's Story
[Cambridge Readers Level 2]
Award-winning original fiction for learners of English. At seven levels, from Starter to Advanced, this impressive selection of carefully graded readers offers exciting reading for every student's capabilities. Jojo is playing in the fields when soldiers come and kill everyone in his village. With the help of Chris, a British journalist, and his memories, Jojo struggles to come to terms with the loss of his family and friends. Jojo's journey across his war-torn country leads him to self-discovery and a decision that will change his life for ever. Paperback-only version. Also available with Audio CD including complete text recordings from the book.
Award-winning original fiction for learners of English. At seven levels, from Starter to Advanced, this impressive selection of carefully graded readers offers exciting reading for every student's capabilities. Jojo is playing in the fields when soldiers come and kill everyone in his village. With the help of Chris, a British journalist, and his memories, Jojo struggles to come to terms with the loss of his family and friends. Jojo's journey across his war-torn country leads him to self-discovery and a decision that will change his life for ever. Paperback-only version. Also available with Audio CD including complete text recordings from the book.
48 pages, Paperback
First published December 7, 2000
16 people are currently reading
205 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
July 15, 2015
This story's genre is drama. The main character is Jojo who is a ten-years-old boy. The story is very gloomy, so it was difficult for me to read to the end. This story starts from Jojo is alone because everyone in Jojo's village is dead.
Jojo was spending the days of frightened all alone. Few days from getting to him was alone,soldiers came to his village. At first Jojo was afraid but Chris was very kind person. So he smiled at Jojo and he gave him food. And also, he helped him from the village. After that Chris take Jojo to the Children's House for protect orphan who don't have their family because of war. Jojo lived at the Children's House. Jojo lived happily with other children and doctor at the Children's House.
I have a impressive scene . "There aren't any more days. There's just time. Time when it's dark and time when it's light. Everything is dead, so why not days too?" It's a phrase that he said when everyone in his village was dead and he was hiding in his house. This phrase mad me think about Jojo's feeling. And it pained me that thinking about his feeling.
I would recommend this book to everyone who want to read serious story or think about war.
I don't want to read this book again because it's serious and heavy story and i can't be happy after reading.
Jojo was spending the days of frightened all alone. Few days from getting to him was alone,soldiers came to his village. At first Jojo was afraid but Chris was very kind person. So he smiled at Jojo and he gave him food. And also, he helped him from the village. After that Chris take Jojo to the Children's House for protect orphan who don't have their family because of war. Jojo lived at the Children's House. Jojo lived happily with other children and doctor at the Children's House.
I have a impressive scene . "There aren't any more days. There's just time. Time when it's dark and time when it's light. Everything is dead, so why not days too?" It's a phrase that he said when everyone in his village was dead and he was hiding in his house. This phrase mad me think about Jojo's feeling. And it pained me that thinking about his feeling.
I would recommend this book to everyone who want to read serious story or think about war.
I don't want to read this book again because it's serious and heavy story and i can't be happy after reading.
May 25, 2025
As I was reading this book, I couldn't stop thinking about some wars in the world are happening right now. It's absolutely wrong that many innocent people are killed. The main character said that 'A land without borders is a good place', and there are only a few countries in the world, and I live in such a country. I want to do the things I can do, and I have to read books and articles.
December 19, 2022
The story is about Jojo, who lost his family in a war. Only he left, alone. A change; from a 10-years-old boy to a man. It is very, very sad.
April 3, 2023
I loved this book but it wasn't the best I've ever read
November 18, 2015
1. Cambridge level2
2. Nov13th. 25 minutes / Nov17th 30minutes
3. Village / Soldier / journalist / war / army / guns
4. a) When a ten years old boy "Jojo" who live in a village came back his village from outside field, All of villager was killed by somebody. Jojo became alone because his family was also killed, and he was taken to the child hall..
b) This story is about Jojo and Chris who is British journalist mainly, and Jojo was told about the situation of his country and village by Chris. ( I think a civil war happened in his village.) And Jojo made a decision after some experience and encounter. I was deeply impressed by the scene that Jojo was thinking about what he should do for his present situation. I thought it was too harsh think about that because he was still ten years old boy. Jojo was in hard situation because he lost his family, but the scene that Jojo talked about his memory of his family and village was overflowed with happiness, so it made me feel miserable more and more.
5. This book is easy to read because the level of this book is 2 and there were no too much difficult vocabulary. But the content of this book was really deep and heavy because it tells about the war and child soldier. Although it was written shortly and concisely, I thought it tells me the story straighter. I was impressed and made to think about the child soldier. I had not expected Jojo's decision, so I was surprised when I read a last sentence of this book.
2. Nov13th. 25 minutes / Nov17th 30minutes
3. Village / Soldier / journalist / war / army / guns
4. a) When a ten years old boy "Jojo" who live in a village came back his village from outside field, All of villager was killed by somebody. Jojo became alone because his family was also killed, and he was taken to the child hall..
b) This story is about Jojo and Chris who is British journalist mainly, and Jojo was told about the situation of his country and village by Chris. ( I think a civil war happened in his village.) And Jojo made a decision after some experience and encounter. I was deeply impressed by the scene that Jojo was thinking about what he should do for his present situation. I thought it was too harsh think about that because he was still ten years old boy. Jojo was in hard situation because he lost his family, but the scene that Jojo talked about his memory of his family and village was overflowed with happiness, so it made me feel miserable more and more.
5. This book is easy to read because the level of this book is 2 and there were no too much difficult vocabulary. But the content of this book was really deep and heavy because it tells about the war and child soldier. Although it was written shortly and concisely, I thought it tells me the story straighter. I was impressed and made to think about the child soldier. I had not expected Jojo's decision, so I was surprised when I read a last sentence of this book.
June 12, 2014
1. Publisher/Level:Cambridge/2
2. 06/11=90minutes
3. Seven-word summary: 1)a boy 2)nothing 3)village 4)soldiers 5)photo 6)wall 7)guns
4.(a): "It's dark again. So it's the third evening. No, I'm wrong. It's the fourth evening." "Everything is dead, so why not days, too? Yes. No more days. No more Thursdays. There's only now." This two sentences are in the first and second paragraph of this book. These sentences explain
(b): I like this scene. This scene is very strange, I think. Very strange beginning. I had never read such a strange beginning book. Moreover, these sentences make me exciting. I couldn't expect what's going on next. I like the impression of these sentences, so I chose these sentences as my favorite scene.
5. I said I like the first page, but actually, I don't like this book. As I read the first page, I thought this book is SF story. However it's not SF story, but also documentary. It's about the Cold War in German. I'm not so interested in that, so I didn't want to read about that, therefore I disappointed and don't recommend you to read this book if you like SF.
2. 06/11=90minutes
3. Seven-word summary: 1)a boy 2)nothing 3)village 4)soldiers 5)photo 6)wall 7)guns
4.(a): "It's dark again. So it's the third evening. No, I'm wrong. It's the fourth evening." "Everything is dead, so why not days, too? Yes. No more days. No more Thursdays. There's only now." This two sentences are in the first and second paragraph of this book. These sentences explain
(b): I like this scene. This scene is very strange, I think. Very strange beginning. I had never read such a strange beginning book. Moreover, these sentences make me exciting. I couldn't expect what's going on next. I like the impression of these sentences, so I chose these sentences as my favorite scene.
5. I said I like the first page, but actually, I don't like this book. As I read the first page, I thought this book is SF story. However it's not SF story, but also documentary. It's about the Cold War in German. I'm not so interested in that, so I didn't want to read about that, therefore I disappointed and don't recommend you to read this book if you like SF.
April 16, 2014
1.Cambridge level2
2.4/11 40min 4/13 50min
3. 1.Kill 2.blood 3.Alone 4.children 5.war 6.soldier 7.men
4.a. In chapter2, when Jojo was alone, and there were nobody survive except him. A lorry with many soldiers in it came. One of the people from lorry could speak Jojo's language,so Jojo was able to say what he experienced and the men could help Jojo.
b. I like the passage that men came and talk to Jojo and they became friend.
5. At first, I was very sad when I read through first chapter. Everyone in the village were killed and Jojo was a boy that only survived at the village. I could imagine that how sad is being alone in that village. If I were Jojo, I would kill myself, because I can not accept reality that family and everyone else was killed. However, at final chapter, Jojo decide to take revenge.
It's makes me to achieve something difficult.
2.4/11 40min 4/13 50min
3. 1.Kill 2.blood 3.Alone 4.children 5.war 6.soldier 7.men
4.a. In chapter2, when Jojo was alone, and there were nobody survive except him. A lorry with many soldiers in it came. One of the people from lorry could speak Jojo's language,so Jojo was able to say what he experienced and the men could help Jojo.
b. I like the passage that men came and talk to Jojo and they became friend.
5. At first, I was very sad when I read through first chapter. Everyone in the village were killed and Jojo was a boy that only survived at the village. I could imagine that how sad is being alone in that village. If I were Jojo, I would kill myself, because I can not accept reality that family and everyone else was killed. However, at final chapter, Jojo decide to take revenge.
It's makes me to achieve something difficult.
May 25, 2014
1:Cambridge,Level 2
2:5/23=54minutes, 5/24=14minutes
3:everyone dead, the lorry, the soldiers, the man with the cameras, ghosts, United Nations, with the gun
4:a)The last passage that " I was a boy when I met Chris. That was then. Now I have a gun and I'm a man."
b)I think that Jojo decided to revenge on his enemies with the gun, but I don't agree his determination. This is why he is only a ten-year-old boy!! It's too dangerous!
5)Before reading this book, I thought that this book would be the adventure of young boy. However, it was completely different that I have expected. When I read the first chapter, my feeling became sad. This story was very serious, especially the end of this story. It shocked me, but we need learn several things related war and children which happen in all over the world. I would like to recommend this book to my friends.
2:5/23=54minutes, 5/24=14minutes
3:everyone dead, the lorry, the soldiers, the man with the cameras, ghosts, United Nations, with the gun
4:a)The last passage that " I was a boy when I met Chris. That was then. Now I have a gun and I'm a man."
b)I think that Jojo decided to revenge on his enemies with the gun, but I don't agree his determination. This is why he is only a ten-year-old boy!! It's too dangerous!
5)Before reading this book, I thought that this book would be the adventure of young boy. However, it was completely different that I have expected. When I read the first chapter, my feeling became sad. This story was very serious, especially the end of this story. It shocked me, but we need learn several things related war and children which happen in all over the world. I would like to recommend this book to my friends.
January 13, 2014
@Time of reading
1/6 80 min
@7 word summary
journalist met family fight war soldier gun
@Discussion question
Do you think you can survive by yourself without your family in childhood?
@My answer
of cause No. i'm not so strong. However, in other country, war is common thing for them. i couldn't believe it actually. if i ask same question to them, they would answer that they think they could be alive without helps. they are stronger than me, i think.
@What I think about the book.
i felt sad after reading this book... because main character's family were killed. only Jojo( the main character) survived. if i were him, i might choose death because alone is the most awful thing to me. however, war is so. i thought about my life. how my life is happy.
1/6 80 min
@7 word summary
journalist met family fight war soldier gun
@Discussion question
Do you think you can survive by yourself without your family in childhood?
@My answer
of cause No. i'm not so strong. However, in other country, war is common thing for them. i couldn't believe it actually. if i ask same question to them, they would answer that they think they could be alive without helps. they are stronger than me, i think.
@What I think about the book.
i felt sad after reading this book... because main character's family were killed. only Jojo( the main character) survived. if i were him, i might choose death because alone is the most awful thing to me. however, war is so. i thought about my life. how my life is happy.
May 27, 2015
1. CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS
2. 05/27 = 90 minutes From 1~27 page
3. Jojo
Familiy
Dead
Ghost
A man
Picture
Chris
4a. Jojo is a ten years old. His family was killed by a man. Jojo is the only person here. All the others are dead. He always think that why aren't I dead too? However, that's not his question. He want to know why I was in the fields. Why wasn't I in the house with my family?
4b. Actually, I didn't know what this book want to say. That why, I'm looking foward to reading the end of story.
5. I couldn't read all of pages. Therefore, I don't know the end of story. However, I enjoyed to read this book because the insipit is different anther books. I enjoyed reading this book.
2. 05/27 = 90 minutes From 1~27 page
3. Jojo
Familiy
Dead
Ghost
A man
Picture
Chris
4a. Jojo is a ten years old. His family was killed by a man. Jojo is the only person here. All the others are dead. He always think that why aren't I dead too? However, that's not his question. He want to know why I was in the fields. Why wasn't I in the house with my family?
4b. Actually, I didn't know what this book want to say. That why, I'm looking foward to reading the end of story.
5. I couldn't read all of pages. Therefore, I don't know the end of story. However, I enjoyed to read this book because the insipit is different anther books. I enjoyed reading this book.
June 12, 2013
CAMBRIGE
level2
90minute
family/gun/river/friend/fight/save/duck
Q.Can you be alive without your family?
A.No,I can't. I can't understand how I live without family.
Opinion
This is dangerous story. Now there are so many dispute or war. This is one of them story. All of people were killed without him in his village. He was afraid of killer. But at last he became a man. I was surprise. He tried to fight at the age of ten. I can't believe it. because when I was ten, ihave't thought fighting other people with gun.
level2
90minute
family/gun/river/friend/fight/save/duck
Q.Can you be alive without your family?
A.No,I can't. I can't understand how I live without family.
Opinion
This is dangerous story. Now there are so many dispute or war. This is one of them story. All of people were killed without him in his village. He was afraid of killer. But at last he became a man. I was surprise. He tried to fight at the age of ten. I can't believe it. because when I was ten, ihave't thought fighting other people with gun.
October 17, 2012
If you have to kill someone in wars, what will you do?
- I will try to escape from such a situation. Or, I may kill myself.
How do you feel about a war?
- Of course, I have to criticize wars. However, some teacher taught me that every techniques always progress during wars. So I think this is irony of history.
7 words to summarize
- wars
- children
- village
- a man
- a journalist
- to help
- a gun
It took 95 min. to read.
- I will try to escape from such a situation. Or, I may kill myself.
How do you feel about a war?
- Of course, I have to criticize wars. However, some teacher taught me that every techniques always progress during wars. So I think this is irony of history.
7 words to summarize
- wars
- children
- village
- a man
- a journalist
- to help
- a gun
It took 95 min. to read.
November 18, 2012
time:2 hours
7words summary
empty, dog, gan, hospital, war, peace, must
Discussion Question
Q1. Have you ever seen real gans?
A1. No I haven't but when I went to a zoo in Vietnam,
I saw some real soldiers training for shooting with model guns.
Q. In daily life, when do you catch a calm or quiet feeling?
A. when I hung the washing out to dry in fine weather.
I like this book very much, and get a strange feeling.
I can't express well, a little bit sad.
because this book is related to war.
7words summary
empty, dog, gan, hospital, war, peace, must
Discussion Question
Q1. Have you ever seen real gans?
A1. No I haven't but when I went to a zoo in Vietnam,
I saw some real soldiers training for shooting with model guns.
Q. In daily life, when do you catch a calm or quiet feeling?
A. when I hung the washing out to dry in fine weather.
I like this book very much, and get a strange feeling.
I can't express well, a little bit sad.
because this book is related to war.
June 20, 2013
Antoinette Moses
CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS
6/18=20min 6/19=30min 6/20=20min
RL:2
7words summary
confusing-village-death-soldier--duck-friend-gun
Discussion Question
Q:Have you ever seen a real gun?
A:Yes,I have. I met a policeman who had handgun in Boston,but actually I've never seen it in Japan.
I think men admire guns at least once,I had 6 airguns but, I'm not sure where they are.
CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS
6/18=20min 6/19=30min 6/20=20min
RL:2
7words summary
confusing-village-death-soldier--duck-friend-gun
Discussion Question
Q:Have you ever seen a real gun?
A:Yes,I have. I met a policeman who had handgun in Boston,but actually I've never seen it in Japan.
I think men admire guns at least once,I had 6 airguns but, I'm not sure where they are.
October 9, 2013
1. CAMBRIDGE Level.2
2. 80min 10/9/2013
3. 1 man 2 village 3 gun 4 chicken 5 soldier 6 photo 7 war
4 Q: What do you think that American has a gun?
A: I think it is not good. American shouldn't have a gun for peace.
5. I like this book very much. If I were alone in the village, I would feel very sad. I think people in the world should prevent war from occuring. This book made me excited.
October 28, 2012
cambridge english readers level 2
time 10/27 60minute
only- soldier-orphanage-together-fight-country-action
what do you think if you leave only one?
i dont know what to do.
What is important to do action?
i think it is bravery.
This story made me think about a lot of things. I wonder what's gonna happen next.Be sure to read this story.
time 10/27 60minute
only- soldier-orphanage-together-fight-country-action
what do you think if you leave only one?
i dont know what to do.
What is important to do action?
i think it is bravery.
This story made me think about a lot of things. I wonder what's gonna happen next.Be sure to read this story.
June 12, 2013
1 CAMBRIDGE/Antonette Moses/level2
2 6/7=90min 6/10=90min Total-180mins
3 dead/war/village/photographer/soldier/dog/children
4 Do you agree with war?-No,I wonder why people want to fight.
5 The village Jojo lived in died. All people except Jojo died. Someone killed people. This is a very sad story. I know misely of war.
2 6/7=90min 6/10=90min Total-180mins
3 dead/war/village/photographer/soldier/dog/children
4 Do you agree with war?-No,I wonder why people want to fight.
5 The village Jojo lived in died. All people except Jojo died. Someone killed people. This is a very sad story. I know misely of war.
October 10, 2013
1.Jojo's story/Cambridge/level2
2.104min
3.alone, dead, a villege, blood, a war, a children school, a photographer
4.What do you do if you are alone in a village? - I'll feel lonely and go to other place to find other person.
5.It is about a lonely boy. It was very sad and we should not go to a war.
2.104min
3.alone, dead, a villege, blood, a war, a children school, a photographer
4.What do you do if you are alone in a village? - I'll feel lonely and go to other place to find other person.
5.It is about a lonely boy. It was very sad and we should not go to a war.
Read
November 7, 2013This story is serious, because main character family was killed. It is so serious. Civil war relates this story.
Read
October 28, 2013cool
January 16, 2015
2015.1.16 9125
February 3, 2013
very interresting ;)
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews