Jake the Fake Keeps It Real

Jake the Fake #1

by Craig Robinson, Adam Mansbach

Jake can barely play an instrument, not even a kazoo. And his art? It's better suited for Pictionary than Picasso. Which is a real problem because Jake just faked his way into the Music and Art Academy for the gifted and talented (and Jake is pretty sure he is neither). More jokester than composer, Jake will have to think of something quick before the last laugh is on him.

Genres: Humor, Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Childrens, School, Juvenile

Audio CD

Published March 28, 2017

Reviews

[Miranda Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, my plan of hoping that summer would never end and school would never start has failed.

Jake just got into the Music and Art Academy for the gifted and talented, and his parents are overjoyed.

Now he's afraid that everyone will figure out his secret (that the amazing piano song he auditioned with is actually the only song he knows).

His older sister also goes to the school...though she isn't as much help as he had hoped.

The problem is, I can never tell if she's serious or messing with me.

At any rate, Jake is already in too deep. He'll just have to go to the school anyway and fake it until he makes it!

This one ended up being a cute, quick story.

I liked it more than I thought I would!

I quite liked all the craziness associated with the artsy school - it was one wild antic after another and I was thoroughly entertained throughout!

Jake was a delightful main character and his take on the world was really funny. It was a really short book but Jake developed really well over those pages.

The illustrations really lifted this book to another level. They were super cute and really made it a lot of fun!

I quite enjoyed the overall book

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[Dena McMurdie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dena’s Thoughts:

The minute this book showed up on my doorstep, my nine-year-old daughter snatch it up and disappeared. She read the entire thing in just a couple of days.

I read the book after she finished with it and was happily surprised by how funny it was. With its goofy style and humor filled pages, this book adds a slice of fun to a young kid’s reading diet. The illustrations added to the humor. There are enough of them scattered through the pages that even younger and reluctant readers will be pulled into the story.

I liked it. But the real test came when I asked my daughter what she thought about it.


Miss K’s Thoughts:

Jake the Fake Keeps it Real is about this boy that fakes his way into a music and art academy middle school. Then he starts wanting to be the weirdest kid in the school because he didn’t want people finding out that he was a fake. So he started doing really weird things and making up ideas to stay in the school.

I thought it was really funny. I thought Jake was crazy and funny. I thought he might get caught, but I also thought maybe he would make it. He is sort of talented, but not in music and art. He is talented in humor and craziness.

I think his teacher, Mr. Allen, was probably part genius and part nuts. I don’t really think art schools are that crazy. They’re probably more calm, less crazy, and probably have more painting.

I didn’t like the end of the play Jake wrote for school because I couldn’t really understand what happened in that part.

Kids that like humor will like this book. The pictures remind me of Captain Underpants, so if you like Captain Underpants, you will probably like Jake the Fake Keeps it Real.

Content: I consider this book clean, but some of the humor can be morbid/crude. Puke jokes, a foot falling off, stuff like that.

Source: The publisher sent us an ARC of this book.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, this book was adorable! I admit I was kind of wondering how Craig Robinson was going to tackle a Middle Grade book, since his humor is usually more on the adult side, but I shouldn't have worried at all. Jake the Fake Keeps it Real manages to fit some real life middle school hardships and lesson in, while still being utterly hilarious. Impressive sirs. Thoroughly impressive.

See, Jake feels like a fake in his new magnet music and art school. Kids who excel at everything from peanut stacking (yes, I cracked up at that too) to singing opera are all around him, and he has no idea where he really fits in. Sound like a normal middle school experience? Yup, I thought so too. What sets Jake apart is that he's lucky enough to have a best friend who tells him like it is. Lo and behold, when Jake starts listening and stops trying so hard, he actually starts having a lot of fun!

It would be totally unfair not to mention Keith Knight's illustrations in this book. They are on practically every page and they really bring the humor home. Sure, hearing about an eccentric teacher is a lot of fun. Seeing him illustrated in a hilarious manner though? Way more fun! Plus the thoughts in Jake's head are illustrated in all their glory (and randomness), making this so much more amusing than I expected. If your young reader loves the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, they'll love this!

Funny, heartfelt, and with a great message, Jake the Fake Keeps it Real stole my heart! I'm now eagerly waiting for more, and I know that your young reader will be too.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book because jake is a really funny character, and it is about how jake fakes his way into music and art academy. Jakes soon has to start thinking of ideas to perform in a talent show that decides if you can stay in the school or not. He decides to play the same song that he auditioned for to get into the school. When Jake gets on stage he gets nervous, and stands up and switches to something else to perform. Read the book to find out if jake gets to stay in the school, and what he performed in the talent show.

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jake is about to start his first day of sixth grade at the prestigious Music and Art Academy, although he feels it's because he faked his way in. You see, his sister Lisa also attends the Academy and she's the one that convinced him to play "Song For My Father" on the piano, which ended up landing him his admission, but what everyone doesn't know is he can only play that one song and he hates playing the piano. Worse than all that is his best friend will be going to Dobbler Middle School, so he won't even know anybody at the new school, which doesn't really seem to matter since everyone is going to find out he cheated his way in any way. So, Jake ends up in Mr. Allen's homeroom where he meets a bunch of kids with quirky talents, plus his teacher assigns what Jake thinks are impossible tasks. Like who can possibly write a book report on a book that doesn't even exist? Jake then enlists the help of his sister and best friend Evan who basically tell him that the way he can fit in is to be "artistic" or do whatever he want's as long as he calls it "art." Jake tries out his new plan, and at first, things are going well, but when his teacher announces the end of school talent show, Jake is really in a bind since he's just been faking his way through most of the school year.

Jake the Fake features over 160 illustrations by Keith Knight and reminded me of The Diary of the Wimpy Kid or maybe even The Captain Underpants series, they were funny and give you the feel of the quirky characters in the story. I also liked the many lists that Jake made, especially his list of ideas for Outwierdoing the Weirdos. From the About the Author's page, Mr. Knight relates how he was concerned about the lack of representation for African American boys in publishing, so together with Chris Robinson's own experiences going to a Magnet School, they decided to write this story. This is only the first book in the series and with its positive messaging of exploring what your hidden talents are and finding something that you're passionate about, I'd say they're off to a wonderful start.

*Review copy provided by the publisher as a part of a giveaway hosted by Word Spelunking blog*

[Kid Lit Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Story--
Despite having little talent, Jake auditions for a spot at the prestigious Music and Art Academy, by playing the only song he can play: “Song for My Father.” It works, and now Jake attends the school with his sister Lisa, who is perfect at everything she does and therefore difficult to follow in her shadow.

Waiting for his class assignment, Jake meets Azure and immediately falls for her. Azure will be in the mysterious Mr. Allen’s class. Mr. Allen, according to Lisa and her offbeat boyfriend Pierre, is either a genius or a nut. Jake asks for this same Mr. Allen, and, because . . .

Review--
Kids will love, and laugh nonstop at, Jake the Fake Keeps it Real. Many will relate to Jake, especially when it comes to standing in a seemingly perfect sister’s shadow. This new middle grade series is about finding your authentic self and being true to that self. Kids who like Wimpy Kid’s Diary, and others like it, will enjoy Jake the Fake because it delivers . . .

Keith Knight‘s black and white illustrations enhance the story, giving it added humor and a depth middle grade kids will love. Many of these images look like Jake could have made them as quick doodles to express his feelings . . .

Originally reviewed on Kid Lit Reviews. To read the complete review and see illustrations, go to: http://bit.ly/JakeFakeKeepsItReal

[AMY · Rating 3 out of 5]

136 pages. This book features a 6th grader named Jake, a gifted kid. He cheats on the first math test. The illustrations are hilarious! It has very long chapters (15 pages approx.) He faked his way into a program. Fifth graders may like it - probably best for boys. I recommend it for 5-6th grades but would not probably buy it for my elementary library. It is a very funny book.

[Michael Kott · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I previously mentioned, I got this book for my grandson, Jake, a big fan of Timothy Failure books. I'm a big fan of Craig Robinson, so I figured, Why not? I think Jake the Fake is funnier than Timothy Bottom books which I found boring. This is a Middle School book! If you have a middle schooler, I recommend it for the comedy.

[Margo Tanenbaum · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good read-alike for fans of Wimpy Kid and the like. Lots of cartoon illustrations. Features an African-American main character who gets into a music & art magnet school on the basis of the one piano piece he can play well. Will he be able to fake his way through this prestigious school where he doesn't belong? Laugh-out-loud humor.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

An amusing book -- the little cartoon drawings were very cute. I really enjoyed the fact that Jake and his sister get along. In so many chapter books, kids fight with their siblings and/or have a bad relationship with them

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started this book because it was on our book fair, not expecting much. Turns out it was laugh-out-loud funny. Not deep by any means, but definitely amusing.

[Beverly Zearley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness!! This book was hilarious, the author’s voice was incredible. I really lived it and laughed out loud several times. The author is one of the actors in The Office.

[Mari · Rating 1 out of 5]

Well, drat. As I read most of the book, I was cheering inside. Until chapter 12.

I'm currently searching for #ownvoices and diverse books for kiddos who loved the Diary of a Wimpy kid books. I had very high hopes for this, and enjoyed quite a few giggles as I read.

So, here's the complication. Another goodreads reviewer pointed to chapter 12, and was upset with the humor that pokes fun at a Native American tradition. I saw that review as I started the book, and held my breath. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad?

I have to say, I see her point. The main character's teacher takes them on a 'Vision Quest' to the mall to find their 'heart-song consumer items.' Really? I guess I understand the search for humor, but I don't understand how making fun of any culture's important spiritual tradition is OK. Oh, editors at Crown Books/Random House! How I wish you had caught this! There are so many good things about this book, but this one insensitive bit makes me so very unhappy. If not for this chapter, I would have been displaying this book often, and recommending it to tons of kids who love this kind of humor.

I know a number of publishing houses use sensitivity readers to try help their authors create books that readers from many backgrounds can enjoy without feeling belittled, attacked, misrepresented, etc. I would like to suggest that publishers please include Native American readers in their ranks to avoid situations like this.

[Mary · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ummm....no. Tried too hard to be funny and failed. Stupid and pointless

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sixth-grader Jake is starting to get nervous that he will be found out as a "fake" - since the piano piece he performed at the audition that got him admitted to the very free-form Music & Art Academy was the only song he knew, and he actually hates playing piano.

As school starts and he begins to make friends and get used to his teachers, he relies frequently on the fresh perspective of his close buddy, best friend Evan, who goes to the ordinary middle school in their neighborhood, as well as occasional misleading advice from his older sister Lisa, who attends the M&AA, and is not only a star pupil but is so stellar as so many things that he calls her a "unicorn."

On the surface, Jake seems to be a neurotic silly-pants, but as the story develops, his coping mechanisms - to fling himself wholeheartedly into whatever he's doing, and to give free rein to his wild word-association humor - actually provide him with a path to self-acceptance and transformation.

I appreciated the conversation at the end, which helped sum up what had happened, in case you missed it; Enjoy yourself, experiment, and see what happens. I think this message will be welcomed by many kids who are nervous about middle school, who compare themselves to others and believe they fall short, who aren't sure yet what they're good at, and who don't know who they should listen to.

There were a couple of jokes that seemed aimed at parents or teachers rather than kids, but not many - most of it was clearly aimed at 9- to 12-year-olds, and especially the goofy ones. Many aspects of the school are unbelievably goofy and strain credulity - but that is the point, that this story happens WAY out in left field.

The main character & his family are depicted as African American, and other characters are described by skin or hair color reflecting a mix of ethnicities, although each character's uniqueness is based on their particular art/talent or their personality.

[寿理 宮本 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a bizarre book for a number of reasons:
- It's about a school in the vein of Wayside School where the kids don't actually seem to learn practical skills but basically get to do *absolutely whatever* with almost no consequence (although the food is infinitely better in Jake's school),
- a lot of Keith Knight's illustrations are tenuously related to the text (despite being hilarious), and
- I apparently read this before! but somehow at the time thought it was book 3 and so wanted to "come back" to book 1—yet I only recognised it as the one I read before by the twist at the end. Huh. I don't know what that says about myself, particularly as a fan of Knight's work.

Anyway, this book is fun—if concerning, as far as potentially making younger readers want to do the same thing at THEIR schools. I mean, sure, "finding your goal(s) in life" is a good thing, but the process in THIS school is a bit removed from the norm. Unfortunately, as much fun as they might have, I can't see the students being able to adjust well once they get released into the Real World!

Maybe if they become streamers... I guess it could work.

[K.L. Bernard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jake is a fake. This is true. Unfortunately for him, most things he does include stretching the truth. His parents want him to attend Music and Art Academy. His sister is a senior there and makes straight A’s. She is also a fashionista. Jake’s biggest fear is once he auditions and plays, the one and only song he knows on the piano, is that people will find out he is a fake. He doesn’t even really like playing the piano. He does have one friend named Evan, but will he make any new friends at M&AA?

During a pizza and horse around day, Evan and Jake come up with a plan to refer to everything Jake does as art that way he could fit in and have some sense of normalcy. They created a list to out-weird the weirdos. Once school started Jake began to execute items on his list. After a while Jake thought it didn’t feel right. Inspiration hit him over chickpea burgers and turkey stroganoff. What will he do now? Should he continue to go with his list or go with the flow?

Authors Craig Robinson and Adam Mansbach along with art by Keith Knight have turned this quick read into a hilariously orchestrated story that’s interactive and geared for boys but girls will love it too. Readers will find interesting characters, fun lists and puzzles. With all of the art work, kids will think they are reading a comic book or graphic novel. Parents and teachers will approve and can even use this novel as a way of opening conversations so kids can discuss why it’s best to just be yourself.

[Aeicha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jokester Jake has just faked his way into a place at the Music and Art Academy for the musically and artistically gifted...neither of which he is. Surrounded by talented and sometimes endearingly oddball peers and even odder teachers, Jake must quickly learn to fake it. But with the big end of semester showcase coming up, can Jake really fake it or will he earn his place at the Academy for real?

Comedian Craig Robinson, author Adam Mansbach, and renowned cartoonist Keith Knight, have teamed up to create the gigglesnort inducing, surprisingly heartfelt, and irresistibly charming Jake the Fake Keeps It Real.

With age appropriate, yet completely clever, zany, and fun humor, Jake the Fake Keeps It Real brings the laughs by the bucketful. This quick read, aimed at the younger middle-grade crowd, seriously and literally had me laughing out loud from start to finish. Told from Jake’s earnest and delightful POV, Jake the Fake Keeps It Real has a pitch-perfect and unforgettable voice. Along with lovable Jake, readers will meet an eclectic and likable cast of wacky, cool, bizarre, adorkable, and awesomely weird characters. Keith Knight’s expressive and silly cartoons bring Jake’s story to life brilliantly.

And underneath all that perfect humor and fun, the authors send a wonderful and relevant message about being true to one’s self and finding beauty in differences.

I just couldn’t put Jake the Fake Keeps It Real down and eagerly await more from this dream team of funny men!

[Melinda Brasher · Rating 4 out of 5]

In my search for Diary of a Wimpy Kid read-alikes, I found this book. So many books I see on Wimpy Kid read-alike lists seem to be similar in approximately three ways: they're all written in English, they all have a young male main character, and they are all at a roughly similar reading level. If you have a reluctant reader who has only ever read and enjoyed Wimpy Kids books, you need to find a better match.

This one's a decent read-alike and a very good book in its own right.

The pictures are more sophisticated, less journal-like than Wimpy Kid, but they're still fun and tie in well with the story.

The main character is quite different than Wimpy Kid's Greg. Jake makes real friends and treats them well. Jake is much more responsible and much, MUCH more thoughtful, kind, and aware of the consequences of his actions—but don't worry—he's not annoyingly perfect either. And both Jake and Greg are creative and funny.

The writing is smooth and humorous. The plot is good. The music and art school setting is at once relatable and zany. The characters are fun. I love the teacher and his crazy assignments.

Overall, a very entertaining book, and one I'm going to start recommending to my library kids. Maybe closer to: 4.5 stars.

[Read Ribbet · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm usually not a fan of Hollywood children's book authors. I'd rather promote those authors whose primary focus is writing for kids. Jake the Fake is co-written by Craig Robinson (of The Office fame) but it is a new entry into the accessible and acceptable transitional chapter book genre. It is one of the few in this genre that features an African American protagonist -- a sixth grader named Jake. Jake spends most of his time trying to find his place in his new middle school which s a magnet school focused on performing arts. He struggles with finding his niche since he is surrounded by so many talented classmates and a perfect older sister. This book will be great for the Wimpy Kid and Big Nate fans. Lots of graphic support for a very accessible narrative text. Many graphic asides that readers will find funny and help keep the reader engaged. This is the first in a promise series of titles about Jake and his friends. It might be just what some kids need to get and keep the habit flowing.

[Michelle Garcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jake the Fake turns out to not be fake. He says he faked his way into a music and arts school, but he's pretty artistic and just doesn't know it yet. This is a good read for young readers who might be having an identity crisis and will understand it's ok to just be yourself. Art can come in many forms, music, painting, sculpting, comedy, etc.

Jake and his best friend come up with plans for him to be "weird" at school because he needs to out-weird the weird. My favorite part of these silly ideas was having everyone call him "The Dentist" and before the end of the day, even the principal calls him by his new persona. I enjoyed the teachers at this school because they let these kids, be kids, and everything wasn't a big test, noted by the kid who always asked, "will this be on the test?"

It took me a little while to get into the book when I tried to read it, so I eventually switched to the audio book and the narrator brought the book alive for me and made it enjoyable. I hope my Homeschool Book Club kids enjoy it for our monthly discussion.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I found this to be kind of surprising, but I can't really pinpoint why. Probably, though, it's because the cover and title look and sound kind of hokey?

But this turned out to be a pretty great story. Keith Knight's illustrations were pretty fantastic and the story was really good and written with humor. I don't think I ever laughed out loud, but I could tell it was a humorous story. This would be a great book for kids who are stressing over what they want to be when they grow up.

Jake is a new student at the Music and Art Academy and he feels like a Fake because he got in by playing the ONE song he knows on the piano (he does not much like playing the piano). For the talent show exam that ends the school year at M&AA, Jake planned to play that same song. But when his mind went completely blank as he sat at the computer, he stood up and started cracking jokes and telling stories that were very comedic.

So the moral of this story? Don't stress, let "it" come, and do what makes you happy! :-)

[Tracie · Rating 2 out of 5]

After faking his way into a magnet school that specials in music and art, sixth grader Jake tries to blend in.

This was a funny, quick read and a great pick for Wimpy Kid fans. Spot illustrations and puzzles add to the fun factor. But while I found the story entertaining and enjoyed the voice, the story didn't set well with me post-read. Jake admits to cheating on the math portion of the entrance exam, which is never brought up in the novel's cheerful conclusion; he gets away with it, and the cheating appears to be written off as "ok" because he eventually proves that he has a talent worthy of the school. More concerning is the chapter devoted to the "vision quest" and the ableist humor about a piano piece so easy "a guy with two fingers" could play it.

So I laughed, and then I felt guilty about laughing. Robinson is a talented comedian, like Jake--but it's a shame that the jokes have to rely on ideas that cause hurt.

[Abby D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Jake the Fake Keeps It Real
Author: Craig Robinson
Copyright: 2017
Format: Award-winning Chapter book (Nominated for the 2020 Nutmeg Award)

Summary: Jake is not the most musically talented. Actually, Jake can not play a single instrument. Jake is, however, a good “faker”. So good that he has faked his way into a pristine academy for gifted musicians and artists. Now just what in the world will he do…?!

Reasoning: This hilarious book that is highly enjoyed by readers of all ages will resonate and appeal to elementary readers. This book was nominated for the Nutmeg Award in 2020 and when you read it you will understand why! The main character will appeal to young children that may be frustrated or discouraged with school. I chose this book because it is a comical way to help children understand the importance of "keeping it real" and being who you truly are.

[Jim B · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish I liked the book better. I've enjoyed Keith Knight's comics for years and had him autograph my copy when he came to town to promote the book (he's the illustrator).

The book was written to entertain middle school boys and has a lot of coarse (poop, puke) humor. I wonder if it's vocabulary will be over the heads of its intended audience.

Mr Knight is concerned that African American boys don't see themselves in many books. Jake and some of his friends are black, but race plays no role in the book. Jake learns in an adventurous middle school year that he has a talent and can be himself. The book has a strong ending.

I intend to give my book to a very bright middle school son of an African American friend and I'll see what he thinks and maybe include his thoughts here!

[Laurel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Message learned: Find your quirk and own it.

The premise was great. I loved the predicament placed on Jake. But it went off the rails really fast.

The music and arts school isn't really a music and arts school. It's an "anything goes" school. Find your artistic side, which means if you want to start grabbing garbage and claiming it's art, go for it! Yet everything wrapped at the end with a "Here's a real traditional talent show and everyone is expected to do something normal."

Huh? Why the switch? It was a bit jarring to go from complete goofball-ery to a serious tone. Even the characters commented on how jarring it was. That's not a good plot twist, that's something that you can't explain, so you just move on.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This early chapter book has a similar format to Diary of a Wimpy Kid with lots of drawings accompanying the text. It's a sweet, funny story about a kid who doesn't think he has any talents and worries that he's faking it all the time and people are going to find out. At his magnet school for the arts, he is surrounded by kids whose talent is obvious and teachers whose teaching style is VERY out-of-the-box.

This is a super quick read (took me about 35 minutes) that made me laugh. I definitely recommend it for fans of graphic novels, humor, DoAWK, and kids who like funny books who are transitioning from early readers to chapter books. A solid story with a good message that will make you laugh.

[Serenity · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not a big fan of illustrated novels (I don't actively dislike them, they just aren't usually at the top of my TBR pile). However, I got this book to review and I thought it was pretty funny. I think my students, especially the fans of illustrated novels like Wimpy Kid, will enjoy it. Some of the jokes were pretty clever, and in many ways our narrator is pretty relatable. As an adult, I appreciate that Jake grew to understand his own gifts and felt more comfortable being himself.

*I received a free review copy of this book from the publisher through my district library services*

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A worthy entry into the Diary of a Wimpy kid genre, where goofy Jake has finagled his way into an Arts and Music magnet school, and now he has to actually make his way there even though he doesn't have the talent everybody else does. The pics make clear he is African American, but the fact has zero impact or mention in the story. Kids in the target age will relate to the struggle to find one's place in school, and the struggle to find out what you're good at when it seems everybody else around you has it all figured out.

[Mrs. Hassig · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave "Jake the Fake Keeps It Real" a 4 but my middle school boys would give it a "7!" It was a great break from the depressing and disturbing books I normally read so for that I'm thankful! Jake goes to a school for the artistically gifted. He plays the piano to get in but he only knows 1 song! He walks around school scared to death someone will figure him out! But there are lots of talents that don't take an instrument! Can Jake figure out that there's more to being gifted than meets the eye! Great illustration by Keith Knight too!