What do you think?
Rate this book
Jake, Reinvented
There is a mysterious new student at F. Scott Fitzgerald High. Jake Garrett looks like he's stepped out of a J. Crew ad, he's the best long-snapper the football team has ever had, and he hosts the party every Friday night.
All the guys want to be like him, and all the girls want to date him, but Jake only has eyes for Didi, the girlfriend of quarterback Todd Buckley.
Rick Paradis, kicker and back-up QB, tries to stay out of the drama, but that's easier said than done at Fitzgerald High, especially once he gets to know Jake. But it turns out none of them know the real Jake, and when his secret comes out, his perfectly crafted world might come tumbling down.
In this modernization of The Great Gatsby, beloved author Gordon Korman provides a new look at age-old truths about the desire for popularity and acceptance, and the darker side of human nature.
"A compelling investigation of the transience of charisma and the flimsy underpinnings of popularity."
-Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"Korman's reworking of The Great Gatsby places theaction in a modern framework, which makes it more recognizable for today'sreaders and may lead them to the classic. Teens will find deeper issues toconsider about popularity, being true to one's self, and taking responsibilityfor one's actions as they relate to the setting and characters."
-Booklist
All the guys want to be like him, and all the girls want to date him, but Jake only has eyes for Didi, the girlfriend of quarterback Todd Buckley.
Rick Paradis, kicker and back-up QB, tries to stay out of the drama, but that's easier said than done at Fitzgerald High, especially once he gets to know Jake. But it turns out none of them know the real Jake, and when his secret comes out, his perfectly crafted world might come tumbling down.
In this modernization of The Great Gatsby, beloved author Gordon Korman provides a new look at age-old truths about the desire for popularity and acceptance, and the darker side of human nature.
"A compelling investigation of the transience of charisma and the flimsy underpinnings of popularity."
-Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"Korman's reworking of The Great Gatsby places theaction in a modern framework, which makes it more recognizable for today'sreaders and may lead them to the classic. Teens will find deeper issues toconsider about popularity, being true to one's self, and taking responsibilityfor one's actions as they relate to the setting and characters."
-Booklist
192 pages, Paperback
First published September 28, 2003
83 people are currently reading
861 people want to read
About the author
Gordon Korman
249 books4,409 followersGordon Korman is a Canadian author of children's and young adult fiction books. Korman's books have sold more than 30 million copies worldwide over a career spanning four decades and have appeared at number one on The New York Times Best Seller list.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 225 reviews
February 27, 2012
I'll be honest- I read this book because I will be teaching it in the fall in my English 11 class. It is a modern retelling of The Great Gatsby and we thought it might be a bit more accessible to the kids than the classic. We will probably offer the classic as some sort of extra credit project, unfortunately, but as much as I would like to teach it, there is only so much time in the trimester. So anyway, I didn't want to read this, I had to.
I'm glad I did! It was a good, quick read. I read Gatsby in high school and it turned out to be one of my favorite books, so it was easy for me to pick out the similarities with Jake. It is narrated like Gatsby: the main character is Rick (Nick) and he becomes friends with the popular new student Jake who throws great parties and always looks impeccable. I liked that this version took place in high school and the characters did things that today's high schoolers do: go to school, go to parties, some drink alcohol, etc. I think the students are going to like it and that it will bring up some great conversations about popularity, the importance of high school, peer pressure, jealousy, and all that good stuff.
I would recommend this for anyone who likes Gatsby and YA. Some parts of it seemed unbelievable, like the huge parties happening without the cops coming, but that stuff is easy to look past when you are thinking about the overall message of the novel. I am looking forward to teaching it!
I'm glad I did! It was a good, quick read. I read Gatsby in high school and it turned out to be one of my favorite books, so it was easy for me to pick out the similarities with Jake. It is narrated like Gatsby: the main character is Rick (Nick) and he becomes friends with the popular new student Jake who throws great parties and always looks impeccable. I liked that this version took place in high school and the characters did things that today's high schoolers do: go to school, go to parties, some drink alcohol, etc. I think the students are going to like it and that it will bring up some great conversations about popularity, the importance of high school, peer pressure, jealousy, and all that good stuff.
I would recommend this for anyone who likes Gatsby and YA. Some parts of it seemed unbelievable, like the huge parties happening without the cops coming, but that stuff is easy to look past when you are thinking about the overall message of the novel. I am looking forward to teaching it!
April 19, 2022
This is probably the best book I have ever read. It talked a lot about football and parties.
August 12, 2018
I stumbled upon this book when I was looking for something else at the library (yes, this can still happen even with ebooks). It's a "modern" version of The Great Gatsby, which I have never read. It's narrated by a guy in high school on the football team who isn't exactly popular himself but knows all the most popular people. Right at the beginning of the school year, Jake Gatsby (I mean Garrett) moves to town and immediately gets a spot on the football team. He is only good at long snapping, and usually you can't specialize in one thing but the coach really needed a long snapper. Immediately he becomes super popular, even though he calls everyone "hey baby" because he starts throwing a bunch of huge parties, the likes of which I have never experienced in high school, college, or beyond, but they are just like what TV says high schoolers do so it must be true.
But there is a problem. Jake wants Didi as his girlfriend, but she is already going out with the most popular guy in the whole school. She decides to date both of them at the same time, while telling each boy that she is really in love with him and the other guy is nothing. Even our narrator can tell this is full of crap but Jake only wants Didi. He starts inviting more and more people to his big parties and the new guests are less and less respectful of the house. Meanwhile, Jake has a Big Secret and the other guys on the football team get jealous and want to find out what it is. Our Narrator discovers it: when Jake was in middle school he was in the gifted program, chess club, math club, etc. and he wanted to go out with Didi but she turned him down because being smart is not cool. So in the summer between middle and high school he got contact lenses, bought all the "right" clothes, and taught himself how to long snap so he could get on the football team, all to be cool enough for Didi. He paid for the clothes, parties, etc. by writing papers for local college students.
When the former most popular guy finds out about this, he is furious and gets the whole school to turn against him because it's social commentary about how you're not supposed to rise above your station in life. This all cones to a head at his final party, where he has invited so many random strangers that they trash his house in new and exciting ways, like crashing a motorcycle into the living room. It is extremely entertaining to read. In the confusion, Didi commits assault and almost kills a guy (accidentally). Finally, the cops show up and Jake takes the blame for the assault in one last attempt to impress Didi. It doesn't work and he has to go to court. Our Narrator tries to round up character witnesses for Jake but nobody comes except him and one uncool guy, which is probably also social commentary or reflecting The Great Gatsby. Fortunately they get a plea bargain and Jake doesn't go to jail but has to leave town, which is probably also reflecting the original book. The whole thing had a slow start but was interesting enough that I may actually read The Great Gatsby someday, which must be a success for the author.
But there is a problem. Jake wants Didi as his girlfriend, but she is already going out with the most popular guy in the whole school. She decides to date both of them at the same time, while telling each boy that she is really in love with him and the other guy is nothing. Even our narrator can tell this is full of crap but Jake only wants Didi. He starts inviting more and more people to his big parties and the new guests are less and less respectful of the house. Meanwhile, Jake has a Big Secret and the other guys on the football team get jealous and want to find out what it is. Our Narrator discovers it: when Jake was in middle school he was in the gifted program, chess club, math club, etc. and he wanted to go out with Didi but she turned him down because being smart is not cool. So in the summer between middle and high school he got contact lenses, bought all the "right" clothes, and taught himself how to long snap so he could get on the football team, all to be cool enough for Didi. He paid for the clothes, parties, etc. by writing papers for local college students.
When the former most popular guy finds out about this, he is furious and gets the whole school to turn against him because it's social commentary about how you're not supposed to rise above your station in life. This all cones to a head at his final party, where he has invited so many random strangers that they trash his house in new and exciting ways, like crashing a motorcycle into the living room. It is extremely entertaining to read. In the confusion, Didi commits assault and almost kills a guy (accidentally). Finally, the cops show up and Jake takes the blame for the assault in one last attempt to impress Didi. It doesn't work and he has to go to court. Our Narrator tries to round up character witnesses for Jake but nobody comes except him and one uncool guy, which is probably also social commentary or reflecting The Great Gatsby. Fortunately they get a plea bargain and Jake doesn't go to jail but has to leave town, which is probably also reflecting the original book. The whole thing had a slow start but was interesting enough that I may actually read The Great Gatsby someday, which must be a success for the author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 6, 2025
YA social drama, which is a blatant homage to The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
As is the case in TGG, the titular character, Jake, does not have a POV. To make the TGG comparison completely obvious, the high school that all the characters attend is called, F. Scott Fitzgerald High, the novel is dedicated to "Jay and Daisy," and just before the first chapter, there is a quote from TGG.
The narrator, Rick Paradis, and Jake Garrett are juniors in high school and are on the football team. Jake is from a wealthy family, and his parents are almost never home. The opening scene takes place during a bacchanalian revel at Jake's father's mansion. We are informed that this is a regular event, every Friday night.
Unlike most novels by this author, this book is young adult (YA) rather than middle grade (MG). I would rate it PG-13, rather than the author's typical G-rated novels, mainly because of frequent, underage drinking, violence, and the mention of offstage sex. Unlike TGG, there are no dead people in this homage, so it is not an outright tragedy. However, there is no viable way to create a meaningful homage to TGG and not make it at least extremely depressing, which is the case for this book.
I personally have really enjoyed GK's MG comedies, but I am not a fan of melodrama, so take my review with a grain of salt, because I am definitely not the proper audience for this book. I did not enjoy it at all.
I made a list for myself of the main TGG characters and their counterparts in this novel, and I am including it here, in case other readers might find it useful:
Nick Carraway (the narrator): Rick Paradis
Jay Gatsby: Jake Garrett
Daisy Buchanan (Nick's cousin): Didi Ray
Tom Buchanan (Daisy's immensely wealthy husband): Todd Buckley (quarterback, BMOC, Didi's boyfriend)
Myrtle Wilson (Tom's working class lover): Melissa Fantino (cheerleader, who cheats on her boyfriend, Nelson Jaworski, with Jake)
George Wilson (Myrtle's husband): Nelson Jaworski (musclebound, violent football player, Melissa's boyfriend)
As is the case in TGG, the titular character, Jake, does not have a POV. To make the TGG comparison completely obvious, the high school that all the characters attend is called, F. Scott Fitzgerald High, the novel is dedicated to "Jay and Daisy," and just before the first chapter, there is a quote from TGG.
The narrator, Rick Paradis, and Jake Garrett are juniors in high school and are on the football team. Jake is from a wealthy family, and his parents are almost never home. The opening scene takes place during a bacchanalian revel at Jake's father's mansion. We are informed that this is a regular event, every Friday night.
Unlike most novels by this author, this book is young adult (YA) rather than middle grade (MG). I would rate it PG-13, rather than the author's typical G-rated novels, mainly because of frequent, underage drinking, violence, and the mention of offstage sex. Unlike TGG, there are no dead people in this homage, so it is not an outright tragedy. However, there is no viable way to create a meaningful homage to TGG and not make it at least extremely depressing, which is the case for this book.
I personally have really enjoyed GK's MG comedies, but I am not a fan of melodrama, so take my review with a grain of salt, because I am definitely not the proper audience for this book. I did not enjoy it at all.
I made a list for myself of the main TGG characters and their counterparts in this novel, and I am including it here, in case other readers might find it useful:
Nick Carraway (the narrator): Rick Paradis
Jay Gatsby: Jake Garrett
Daisy Buchanan (Nick's cousin): Didi Ray
Tom Buchanan (Daisy's immensely wealthy husband): Todd Buckley (quarterback, BMOC, Didi's boyfriend)
Myrtle Wilson (Tom's working class lover): Melissa Fantino (cheerleader, who cheats on her boyfriend, Nelson Jaworski, with Jake)
George Wilson (Myrtle's husband): Nelson Jaworski (musclebound, violent football player, Melissa's boyfriend)
May 29, 2012
How have I not read a book by Gordon Korman before? This one was a lot of fun -- Gatsby retold in a high school setting. An alum recommended using this as pre-read for Gatsby and I can totally see why. Particularly for struggling readers, the book quickly establishes all of the main characters, conflicts, and themes. Yes, many of the characters are shallow stereotypes; yes, it's doubtful that Jake could really make that much money doing what he's doing; and yes, the final party scene is pretty preposterous, but it's still fun, and Korman's reworking of the story is darn clever. Even students who have read Gastby first will find the book entertaining and enjoy, as I did, thinking about Korman's narrative choices. Is it particularly literary? Nah. Would it be interesting to talk about in class? Absolutely.
November 3, 2012
Rating 1.5
Before Reading: I didn't like the Great Gatsby but I love a good retelling! Hopefully this will be good.
After Reading: Here's a tip that's probably pretty obvious to everyone don't read a retelling of a book you didn't even like to begin with. It just doesn't make sense since you most likely won't like the retelling either. At least that's what happened with me with this book. The characters were irritating (the character who is supposed to be Gatsby just calls everyone baby each second :P), the plot was dull and the book overall is very forgettable. The only reason why I'm rating this a 1.5 is because in the end there was some action and it became a bit better. Would I recommend you this book? No unless you LOVE the Great Gatsby and LOVE retelling. Otherwise just forget about this book.
Before Reading: I didn't like the Great Gatsby but I love a good retelling! Hopefully this will be good.
After Reading: Here's a tip that's probably pretty obvious to everyone don't read a retelling of a book you didn't even like to begin with. It just doesn't make sense since you most likely won't like the retelling either. At least that's what happened with me with this book. The characters were irritating (the character who is supposed to be Gatsby just calls everyone baby each second :P), the plot was dull and the book overall is very forgettable. The only reason why I'm rating this a 1.5 is because in the end there was some action and it became a bit better. Would I recommend you this book? No unless you LOVE the Great Gatsby and LOVE retelling. Otherwise just forget about this book.
October 25, 2017
What secrets is the new kid, Jake, at Fitzgerald High hiding? Jake appears to have it all; he throws all the best parties. He has a perfect wardrobe. But as Rick gets to know him, he realizes things are not what they seem. The parties are becoming more and more dangerous, what happens when things spiral out of control? A modern day retelling of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby.
July 6, 2013
Gordan Korman's Jake, Reinvented is a modern-day retelling of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. It was recommended to me by some other teachers at my school. Some of them teach Jake in its entirety, paired with excepts from Gatsby, to increase student understanding.
Now, I have admit that I was skeptical at first. I don't think that I'm an English snob--I love young adult novels and firmly believe in introducing students to books they will actually enjoy. If I'm being completely honest, I have to confess that I don't even like a lot of the so-called "classics." But Gatsby--that's different. I love and adore Gatsby. So the idea of teaching a YA novel about high school football players and keg parties in place of this cornerstone of American literature seemed pretty ludicrous to me.
But in spite of my misgivings, I decided to give Jake a try. I teach a lab class for students who are weaker in English, so I decided to read Jake with them in order to complement the Gatsby they were reading in their regular English classes. As I read, the English nerd in me rejoiced over the clever ties to Gatsby. And my students--kids who hate reading--actually got excited about Jake. I have one girl who was so curious about what would happen next that she read several chapters ahead--and this from a girl who generally doesn't do homework. And I have another student, a boy who is a native Spanish-speaker who somewhat struggles with reading in English, who tells me daily that he really loves this book. So I'm sold. Jake, Reinvented is good stuff. Maybe not a replacement for Gatsby, but definitely worth a read in its own right.
The story centers around high school student Jake Garrett. He's the new kid in town. he shows up at the cleverly-named Fitzgerald High and takes the place by storm. He's well-dressed, smooth, and confident--and he throws amazing parties every Friday night. Every kid in school is begging for an invitation.
The story is narrated by Rick Paradis, who lives in the same neighborhood as his classmate Jake. Rick is the only one who takes the time to get to know Jake on a more personal level, and thus eventually discovers some of his secrets. It seems that Jake used to know the gorgeous Didi Ray, who is now dating star quarterback Todd Buckley. Todd is cheating on Didi with cheerleader Melissa Fantino, who is dating big, strong, stupid lineman Nelson Jaworski. Jake is determined to win Didi for himself, no matter what the cost.
Sound confusing? For Gatsby fans, you can tie these characters back to Jay Gatsby, Nick Carroway, Daisy Fay, Tom Buchanan, Myrtle, and George Wilson, it all becomes a little more clear. But Jake, Reinvented can also stand on its own. Rick has a history of his own with best friend/love interest Jennifer Belanger, and their storyline here is far more interesting that the Nick/Jordan relationship in Gatsby. And while Gatsby is rich with the history of the 1920s, Jake meets high school students right where they are. Gatsby's treatment of new vs. old money may be lost on modern students, but Jake's navigation of the high school caste system rings true to them.
Jake, Reinvented is a quick and enjoyable read. I'd recommend it to fans of young adult literature, or to anyone who needs an assist in translating the ideas of Gatsby to the modern world. I still don't see it as a substitute for Gatsby, but as a supplement or a stand-alone, it's a good read.
http://blatantbibliophilia.blogspot.c...
Now, I have admit that I was skeptical at first. I don't think that I'm an English snob--I love young adult novels and firmly believe in introducing students to books they will actually enjoy. If I'm being completely honest, I have to confess that I don't even like a lot of the so-called "classics." But Gatsby--that's different. I love and adore Gatsby. So the idea of teaching a YA novel about high school football players and keg parties in place of this cornerstone of American literature seemed pretty ludicrous to me.
But in spite of my misgivings, I decided to give Jake a try. I teach a lab class for students who are weaker in English, so I decided to read Jake with them in order to complement the Gatsby they were reading in their regular English classes. As I read, the English nerd in me rejoiced over the clever ties to Gatsby. And my students--kids who hate reading--actually got excited about Jake. I have one girl who was so curious about what would happen next that she read several chapters ahead--and this from a girl who generally doesn't do homework. And I have another student, a boy who is a native Spanish-speaker who somewhat struggles with reading in English, who tells me daily that he really loves this book. So I'm sold. Jake, Reinvented is good stuff. Maybe not a replacement for Gatsby, but definitely worth a read in its own right.
The story centers around high school student Jake Garrett. He's the new kid in town. he shows up at the cleverly-named Fitzgerald High and takes the place by storm. He's well-dressed, smooth, and confident--and he throws amazing parties every Friday night. Every kid in school is begging for an invitation.
The story is narrated by Rick Paradis, who lives in the same neighborhood as his classmate Jake. Rick is the only one who takes the time to get to know Jake on a more personal level, and thus eventually discovers some of his secrets. It seems that Jake used to know the gorgeous Didi Ray, who is now dating star quarterback Todd Buckley. Todd is cheating on Didi with cheerleader Melissa Fantino, who is dating big, strong, stupid lineman Nelson Jaworski. Jake is determined to win Didi for himself, no matter what the cost.
Sound confusing? For Gatsby fans, you can tie these characters back to Jay Gatsby, Nick Carroway, Daisy Fay, Tom Buchanan, Myrtle, and George Wilson, it all becomes a little more clear. But Jake, Reinvented can also stand on its own. Rick has a history of his own with best friend/love interest Jennifer Belanger, and their storyline here is far more interesting that the Nick/Jordan relationship in Gatsby. And while Gatsby is rich with the history of the 1920s, Jake meets high school students right where they are. Gatsby's treatment of new vs. old money may be lost on modern students, but Jake's navigation of the high school caste system rings true to them.
Jake, Reinvented is a quick and enjoyable read. I'd recommend it to fans of young adult literature, or to anyone who needs an assist in translating the ideas of Gatsby to the modern world. I still don't see it as a substitute for Gatsby, but as a supplement or a stand-alone, it's a good read.
http://blatantbibliophilia.blogspot.c...
November 9, 2010
jake,reinvented
by,Gordon Korman
review by breanna stiff
I once thought that high school drama was so over rated and and uninteresting that's until I read this book.it had me so interested keep wanting to read more.Gordon Korman is a legend for this book,it feels as though thir is really happening i mean,it made me feel as though i was there like in the party when nelson was finna kill jake all all of this drama and craziness over a girl.
jake is the reason I love this book how he endured all this,the hot summers he spent learning football,the hours he spent writting term papers for college students he just to have money for the parties.He must have been a soft cookie becacse I would've been snaped from all the pressure,jake is a strong and determined kid that that really wants something and going for it.Jake doesn't realize what this is doing to his life how much chaos is comming out of this. like they say never mess with the quarterback's girlfriend that was the main thing that jake wanted didi, the reason made this big change cause he was in love with her.
this story is mainly told by jakes friend rick who tries to talk some sence into him but can't through to him rick is also on the football team he become the center of this whole thing. While tring to build him a relationship with his best friend.
this book is great i highly recomend it,it will have you wanting more please read this book
by,Gordon Korman
review by breanna stiff
I once thought that high school drama was so over rated and and uninteresting that's until I read this book.it had me so interested keep wanting to read more.Gordon Korman is a legend for this book,it feels as though thir is really happening i mean,it made me feel as though i was there like in the party when nelson was finna kill jake all all of this drama and craziness over a girl.
jake is the reason I love this book how he endured all this,the hot summers he spent learning football,the hours he spent writting term papers for college students he just to have money for the parties.He must have been a soft cookie becacse I would've been snaped from all the pressure,jake is a strong and determined kid that that really wants something and going for it.Jake doesn't realize what this is doing to his life how much chaos is comming out of this. like they say never mess with the quarterback's girlfriend that was the main thing that jake wanted didi, the reason made this big change cause he was in love with her.
this story is mainly told by jakes friend rick who tries to talk some sence into him but can't through to him rick is also on the football team he become the center of this whole thing. While tring to build him a relationship with his best friend.
this book is great i highly recomend it,it will have you wanting more please read this book
April 13, 2017
I'm not sure trying to re-make The Great Gatsby in a modern high school setting is such a great idea, but Korman did a decent job of it. I could definitely feel the echoes of all the characters in their parallel counterparts, and it was a quick one night read...just the kind of somewhat shallow book fling I was looking for after some other books that took more of a commitment to complete.
March 11, 2020
Another winner from Gordon Korman. Romance, football, friendships and underage drinking. Great combo and a fun read.
December 20, 2014
Jake, Reinvented was a unique and interesting look at the life of a "reinvented" high school boy. The plot was very realistic, and included detailed information about the main pieces of the book (high school, football, relationships). It was obvious that the writer knew what he was talking about and had done some prior research. The setting of the book is a typical town, not quite a small-town but not a city either. The book takes place in the recent past, around the mid 2000s. The time period fits well with the story that Korman is attempting to tell. The setting also enhances the story by making the events much more believable and realistic. The characters in this book were also used well by Korman. The protagonist, Jake Garret, is a typical high school boy (or so it seems). He is the perfect example of what the youth generation defines as "cool"; a star athlete with great looks, great fashion, and throws the best parties around. Supporting characters include quarterback Todd Buckley and his girlfriend, Didi, along with one of Jake's best friends, Rick. Although these characters are believable and are executed well, I think they are a bit too cliche. I think Korman could have done a better job putting his own original twist on the classic "quarterback with the hot girlfriend" and the "fight for top dog" ideas. My favorite part of this book has to be Korman's tone/style. He wrote the book so perfectly to set up the climax of the book. The ending was made so predictable because of this. Korman used a calm, relaxed, and determined tone to help deter the readers away from where the story was ultimately going, which set up for one the most shocking climaxes of a book I have ever read. Overall, this book was a hit for me. This book is suited for high school kids in general, but more specifically those who are struggling to fit in or struggling to figure out who they are. The book teaches a lot of valuable lessons to high school kids. I would recommend this book due to these reasons.
July 12, 2013
Gordon Korman has rewritten The Great Gatsby changing the setting to F. Scott Fitzgerald High School and Jake to a brilliant, nerdy former chess champion who plots to win the heart of Didi, a beautiful girl he tutors in math and is obsessed with. Korman's version works well. Having just read the Gatsby and seen the movie, I was familiar enough with the original to mentally overlay the two stories. The theme of a social misfit making it big and then being rejected by those who once flocked around him is carried out believably.
I think that Middle and High School students will appreciate the familiar setting and emotional angst that they experience more than the adult version of the original. This is a great book to use to pave the way for the classic. I think boys will be drawn in by the strong male characters and all of the football references. Girls will appreciate the love interests and power that they have over the boys in the book. I would use this as an introduction to the classic and then compare and contrast, perhaps encourage students to write their own chapters with different settings or casts of characters.
This was an audio book on four discs. I found the narrators voice a bit irritating but it is a convenient way to take in the book and drive.
I think that Middle and High School students will appreciate the familiar setting and emotional angst that they experience more than the adult version of the original. This is a great book to use to pave the way for the classic. I think boys will be drawn in by the strong male characters and all of the football references. Girls will appreciate the love interests and power that they have over the boys in the book. I would use this as an introduction to the classic and then compare and contrast, perhaps encourage students to write their own chapters with different settings or casts of characters.
This was an audio book on four discs. I found the narrators voice a bit irritating but it is a convenient way to take in the book and drive.
July 1, 2015
I really didn't like this book. When I read the back of the book, I thought, ok, this book sounds interesting and it's by Gordon Korman, so it has to be good. Wrong! The book leads up to a suspenceful peak, and just drops. The story is about a football player who befriends the "new guy". This new guy seems really cool and fun to hang around, but he has a dark secret that will change everything. Trust me, the book is not as interesting as it sounds.
2015 update: Just reread the synopsis and thought about the plot of this book...now I understand that it's a retelling of the Great Gatsby... *smacks forehead*
2015 update: Just reread the synopsis and thought about the plot of this book...now I understand that it's a retelling of the Great Gatsby... *smacks forehead*
February 26, 2019
30 June 2003 JAKE, REINVENTED by Gordon Korman, Hyperion, September 2003, ISBN 0-7868-1957-X
"I believe that on the first night I went to Gatsby's house I was one of the few guests who had actually been invited. People were not invited--they went there. They got into automobiles which bore them out to Long Island, and somehow they ended up at Gatsby's door. Once there they were introduced by somebody who knew Gatsby, and after that they conducted themselves according to the rules of behavior associated with amusement parks. Sometimes they came and went without having met Gatsby at all, came for the party with a simplicity of heart that was its own ticket of admission."
--F. Scott Fitzgerald, 1925
"Everybody was there--most of the football team, their girlfriends, the cheerleaders, and a bunch of their boyfriends and friends, the cooler people from student council, and a collection of athletes from basketball and track. I noticed some sophomore girls whose names I didn't know--they'd really filled out over the summer; and a few guys who played in their own rock band. It was the guest list that really made this bash what it was. If I could put together the party of my dreams--not that my parents ever left me alone in the house for more than five minutes--this was exactly the kind of crowd I'd want. I marveled at how a newcomer like Jake Garrett could waltz into town and instantly know all the right people to invite.
"I turned to Todd. 'Do you see him?'
"Todd shook his head. 'Must be upstairs.'
" 'Don't his parents notice there are fifty kids going nuts in their house?' I asked.
"Jake's dad's out of town five days a week,' Todd explained. 'His mother lives in Texas somewhere. He picked up a slice of pizza from the table that was loaded with the stuff, folded it expertly, and took a bite."
--Gordon Korman, 2003
In the same way that Will Shakespeare's immortal work has long benefited from West Side Story, Francis Scott Fitzgerald's masterpiece, THE GREAT GATSBY, will undoubtedly profit from the publication of JAKE, REINVENTED, an extremely well-crafted contemporary retelling by Gordon Korman. Korman, a master of smart-mouthed characters whose own twist on the Bard's star-crossed lovers--last year's SON OF THE MOB--was one of 2002's funniest YA books, has taken a slightly more serious turn with his latest story.
"Jake gave a nervous laugh, 'I guess you've figured out my little side job.' "
Frankly, it takes a little imagination to visualize swarms of teens of my grandfather's generation (no less this generation) taking GATSBY to heart as a cautionary tale. But transformed into a contemporary YA, it is quite easy to see how Rick's (think Nick's) narration of this story of obsession, acceptance, and popularity will have many teens thinking hard about the consequences of these characters' actions. It is said that teenagers reinvent themselves on a daily basis. This believable tale of metamorphosis will surely serve them well.
"I began to push my way through the clammy bodies.
"Marty Rapaport grabbed me and held back my progress. 'Hey, cross-bite, what's going on? What is this, the O.K. Corral?'
"I heard Jake's greeting to Todd. 'Glad you could make it, baby. What's up?'
"For a second there, I toyed with the possibility that he could brazen it through, that his sheer faith in who he'd become might do the job for him. This wasn't the old Jacob Garrett. This was Jake, reinvented. But as soon as Todd started talking, I knew the battle was lost."
In Korman's version, you still have the Gatsby figure creating everything for that girl from his past. You have the corresponding infidelities at the center of things. And while the ultimate outcome is toned down from car crashes and gunshots to cracked skulls and exiles, it feels no less tragic. Think about West Side Story. If anything, Maria's being left alive and alone at the end of the story, with her rage at the prejudice that caused Tony's death, is MORE powerful than Juliette's self-absorbed suicide.
"They began to close the distance between them, moving in that trancelike state that is so dramatic and all phony. It would have been a real romantic moment except for the three guys standing on their heads against the wall trying to chug upside down while a cheering section bellowed encouragement. I think they were betting on the outcome."
Hey, this is Gordon Korman after all. I didn't claim there was NO humor in the book!
Just as viewers of West Side Story or readers of SON OF THE MOB lose little of the entertainment value by not being familiar with the inspiration for those stories, readers of JAKE may lose many interesting contrasts, but don't lose the relevance of the story by never having heard of GATSBY. (Having myself read GATSBY during my first semester comp class, I can just hear some college freshman in a few years, complaining that GATSBY is a rip-off of that Korman story about the kid who made all that money in order to win the beautiful girl.) Sophisticated readers will move from JAKE to the original and benefit from getting the whole enchilada. (Less ambitious readers will at least rent the video, like I did last night, and still get a taste.)
" 'You were right the first time,' I told her. 'It's all about you.'
"I walked out, slamming the bathroom door behind me."
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
richiepartington@gmail.com
"I believe that on the first night I went to Gatsby's house I was one of the few guests who had actually been invited. People were not invited--they went there. They got into automobiles which bore them out to Long Island, and somehow they ended up at Gatsby's door. Once there they were introduced by somebody who knew Gatsby, and after that they conducted themselves according to the rules of behavior associated with amusement parks. Sometimes they came and went without having met Gatsby at all, came for the party with a simplicity of heart that was its own ticket of admission."
--F. Scott Fitzgerald, 1925
"Everybody was there--most of the football team, their girlfriends, the cheerleaders, and a bunch of their boyfriends and friends, the cooler people from student council, and a collection of athletes from basketball and track. I noticed some sophomore girls whose names I didn't know--they'd really filled out over the summer; and a few guys who played in their own rock band. It was the guest list that really made this bash what it was. If I could put together the party of my dreams--not that my parents ever left me alone in the house for more than five minutes--this was exactly the kind of crowd I'd want. I marveled at how a newcomer like Jake Garrett could waltz into town and instantly know all the right people to invite.
"I turned to Todd. 'Do you see him?'
"Todd shook his head. 'Must be upstairs.'
" 'Don't his parents notice there are fifty kids going nuts in their house?' I asked.
"Jake's dad's out of town five days a week,' Todd explained. 'His mother lives in Texas somewhere. He picked up a slice of pizza from the table that was loaded with the stuff, folded it expertly, and took a bite."
--Gordon Korman, 2003
In the same way that Will Shakespeare's immortal work has long benefited from West Side Story, Francis Scott Fitzgerald's masterpiece, THE GREAT GATSBY, will undoubtedly profit from the publication of JAKE, REINVENTED, an extremely well-crafted contemporary retelling by Gordon Korman. Korman, a master of smart-mouthed characters whose own twist on the Bard's star-crossed lovers--last year's SON OF THE MOB--was one of 2002's funniest YA books, has taken a slightly more serious turn with his latest story.
"Jake gave a nervous laugh, 'I guess you've figured out my little side job.' "
Frankly, it takes a little imagination to visualize swarms of teens of my grandfather's generation (no less this generation) taking GATSBY to heart as a cautionary tale. But transformed into a contemporary YA, it is quite easy to see how Rick's (think Nick's) narration of this story of obsession, acceptance, and popularity will have many teens thinking hard about the consequences of these characters' actions. It is said that teenagers reinvent themselves on a daily basis. This believable tale of metamorphosis will surely serve them well.
"I began to push my way through the clammy bodies.
"Marty Rapaport grabbed me and held back my progress. 'Hey, cross-bite, what's going on? What is this, the O.K. Corral?'
"I heard Jake's greeting to Todd. 'Glad you could make it, baby. What's up?'
"For a second there, I toyed with the possibility that he could brazen it through, that his sheer faith in who he'd become might do the job for him. This wasn't the old Jacob Garrett. This was Jake, reinvented. But as soon as Todd started talking, I knew the battle was lost."
In Korman's version, you still have the Gatsby figure creating everything for that girl from his past. You have the corresponding infidelities at the center of things. And while the ultimate outcome is toned down from car crashes and gunshots to cracked skulls and exiles, it feels no less tragic. Think about West Side Story. If anything, Maria's being left alive and alone at the end of the story, with her rage at the prejudice that caused Tony's death, is MORE powerful than Juliette's self-absorbed suicide.
"They began to close the distance between them, moving in that trancelike state that is so dramatic and all phony. It would have been a real romantic moment except for the three guys standing on their heads against the wall trying to chug upside down while a cheering section bellowed encouragement. I think they were betting on the outcome."
Hey, this is Gordon Korman after all. I didn't claim there was NO humor in the book!
Just as viewers of West Side Story or readers of SON OF THE MOB lose little of the entertainment value by not being familiar with the inspiration for those stories, readers of JAKE may lose many interesting contrasts, but don't lose the relevance of the story by never having heard of GATSBY. (Having myself read GATSBY during my first semester comp class, I can just hear some college freshman in a few years, complaining that GATSBY is a rip-off of that Korman story about the kid who made all that money in order to win the beautiful girl.) Sophisticated readers will move from JAKE to the original and benefit from getting the whole enchilada. (Less ambitious readers will at least rent the video, like I did last night, and still get a taste.)
" 'You were right the first time,' I told her. 'It's all about you.'
"I walked out, slamming the bathroom door behind me."
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
richiepartington@gmail.com
January 27, 2010
Luke has to read this for a teen book club, so obviously it was important that I read it first... I'm a sucker for YA lit that shows up in my house. Modeled after The Great Gatsby, several of the book's passages brought Gatsby to mind, usually in a pleasant way. The high school party scenes ring true, if frightening.
September 8, 2016
i tink iz guud
January 14, 2020
Jealousy can lead us to do or think about things we don’t want to do. In Jake, reinvented jealousy really shows itself. We see it in characters when they interact with each other, talk about each other, and see each other. In this case the jealousy is over a girl. The jealousy is between the football star quarterback and a boy that just moved here from another town. The characters all hold their own personality traits and do things that make them themselves.
When I think of the title Jake, reinvented it really makes me think about a boy that moves towns makes a new life with what he has. Jake is the newcomer to town and back at his old town he was a nerd but as he moved into this new town, he becomes the one super cool kid that throws awesome parties and joins the football team to impress the quarterback's girlfriend. Jake seems like the person that gets what he wants, and all people are attracted to him. The narrator in this book is Jake’s best friend Rick. Todd is the quarterback and he gets off as a jerk. Didi is the girl the two are trying to win and Nelson is some big angry guy that always drinks the most at parties and ends up passing out al mostly all of them. The theme in this book is jealousy and obsession. The setting of the book is F. Scott Fitzgerald high school and Jake’s house.
In this book there is plenty of peer pressure and high school drama. The major problem in this book is that one of the main characters Jake, tries to do whatever he can to try and get with Didi. After getting in trouble Jake must go to court and when he really needs Didi, she is nowhere to be found. I read parts of The Great Gatsby and it is very related talking about the American dream. I think that the book becomes better as you read it. The beginning was very boring but as we got towards the end it started to get much better and a lot more interesting with Jake’s court session. It also makes it better knowing that I am a teenager reading this book that I can relate to some of the events that happen in the book.
Most quotes help figure out what is happening in books and I think these three helps me understand this book the most. “And if all she cares about is your parties, who needs her, man” This quote really shows who Didi is as a person and Rick is trying to convince Jake that she isn’t the one for him and he needs to find someone new. “I didn’t even try to spare him. If anyone needed a dose of truth, straight up, it was Jake. ‘I begged her to come. She wouldn’t.” When Jake needs Didi the most she is nowhere to be found. She would rather betray her then tell people what happened. I’ll break up with Todd when I want to break up with Todd. I decide who I want to break up with and when. How’d you like it if I broke up with you?” Didi didn’t want to break up with Todd and she only liked Jake because of the carefree person he is.
After reading the book I have come across as to why the name of the book is Jake, reinvented. Jake was a nerdy, smart kid back at his old school but when he moved, he reinvents himself as this cool, cocky, party-throwing guy. This book gets better as you read more and has a good theme.
When I think of the title Jake, reinvented it really makes me think about a boy that moves towns makes a new life with what he has. Jake is the newcomer to town and back at his old town he was a nerd but as he moved into this new town, he becomes the one super cool kid that throws awesome parties and joins the football team to impress the quarterback's girlfriend. Jake seems like the person that gets what he wants, and all people are attracted to him. The narrator in this book is Jake’s best friend Rick. Todd is the quarterback and he gets off as a jerk. Didi is the girl the two are trying to win and Nelson is some big angry guy that always drinks the most at parties and ends up passing out al mostly all of them. The theme in this book is jealousy and obsession. The setting of the book is F. Scott Fitzgerald high school and Jake’s house.
In this book there is plenty of peer pressure and high school drama. The major problem in this book is that one of the main characters Jake, tries to do whatever he can to try and get with Didi. After getting in trouble Jake must go to court and when he really needs Didi, she is nowhere to be found. I read parts of The Great Gatsby and it is very related talking about the American dream. I think that the book becomes better as you read it. The beginning was very boring but as we got towards the end it started to get much better and a lot more interesting with Jake’s court session. It also makes it better knowing that I am a teenager reading this book that I can relate to some of the events that happen in the book.
Most quotes help figure out what is happening in books and I think these three helps me understand this book the most. “And if all she cares about is your parties, who needs her, man” This quote really shows who Didi is as a person and Rick is trying to convince Jake that she isn’t the one for him and he needs to find someone new. “I didn’t even try to spare him. If anyone needed a dose of truth, straight up, it was Jake. ‘I begged her to come. She wouldn’t.” When Jake needs Didi the most she is nowhere to be found. She would rather betray her then tell people what happened. I’ll break up with Todd when I want to break up with Todd. I decide who I want to break up with and when. How’d you like it if I broke up with you?” Didi didn’t want to break up with Todd and she only liked Jake because of the carefree person he is.
After reading the book I have come across as to why the name of the book is Jake, reinvented. Jake was a nerdy, smart kid back at his old school but when he moved, he reinvents himself as this cool, cocky, party-throwing guy. This book gets better as you read more and has a good theme.
December 12, 2018
Gordon Korman’s YA novel Jake, Reinvented takes a page straight out of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic, The Great Gatsby. Like, straight out of it. This is the story of Rick, a high school kid who is only marginally cool because he is the kicker and back-up quarterback for the F. Scott Fitzgerald (yep!) high school football team and hangs out with Todd Buckley, the team’s hyper-masculine starting quarterback.
Rick Paradis is an observer, much in the same as Nick Carraway watched the action in The Great Gatsby. When the story opens, he’s observing a raucous party being held at the un-parented home of new-to-town Jake Garrett, the football team’s new long-snapper. It’s the first of many Friday night parties that Jake hosts, each one getting bigger and more out-of-control.
Jake is an enigma. He watches his house getting trashed with an “unruffled calm.” His speech is peppered with ‘baby’ as in “Good hang time, baby”, I suspect an outdated tag even back in 2003 when the book was published.
He looked like he just waltzed off the pages of the J. Crew catalog, or maybe Banana Republic. I mean, nothing he was wearing was all that special – just a plaid shirt, untucked over a white tee and khakis. But everything went together perfectly, and hung on him with that rumpled casual effect that you can’t get by being casual. This guy worked it.
Jake befriends Rick, pulling him into his orbit. It seems like an odd friendship at first, but Rick does have something that Jake needs: a connection to Didi, Todd’s self-absorbed, but perfect girlfriend.
Like in Fitzgerald’s novel, none of these characters are particularly likeable. Todd aka Tom is a big-feeling womanizer; Didi aka Daisy is vapid and spineless; Rick is an observer who is soon calling himself Jake’s bestie, but I was never really sure how they managed to get to that place beyond acquaintances.
The novel’s plot mirrors Fitzgerald’s too, so for anyone familiar with that book, this book will not require much effort. And love or hate Fitzgerald’s novel, there’s no denying the quality of the writing. Korman’s novel suffers a little by comparison in that department.
On the other hand, Korman’s novel does speak to that crappy period of time when you are no longer a kid, but you are not quite an adult. There aren’t any of those (adults, I mean) in this novel, anyway. These kids are pretty much left to their own devices. Like Gatsby, everything Jake has done, the persona he has manufactured for himself, has been done to attract the attention of Didi. Is she worthy of his love? Probably not. As Rick says to Jake: “They’re crappy people. You’re worth more than the lot of them put together.”
As an homage to its source material, Jake, Reinvented will likely speak to any teen who has desperately wanted to reinvent themselves. And if it encourages students to read The Great Gatsby, then that’s a win in my book.
Rick Paradis is an observer, much in the same as Nick Carraway watched the action in The Great Gatsby. When the story opens, he’s observing a raucous party being held at the un-parented home of new-to-town Jake Garrett, the football team’s new long-snapper. It’s the first of many Friday night parties that Jake hosts, each one getting bigger and more out-of-control.
Jake is an enigma. He watches his house getting trashed with an “unruffled calm.” His speech is peppered with ‘baby’ as in “Good hang time, baby”, I suspect an outdated tag even back in 2003 when the book was published.
He looked like he just waltzed off the pages of the J. Crew catalog, or maybe Banana Republic. I mean, nothing he was wearing was all that special – just a plaid shirt, untucked over a white tee and khakis. But everything went together perfectly, and hung on him with that rumpled casual effect that you can’t get by being casual. This guy worked it.
Jake befriends Rick, pulling him into his orbit. It seems like an odd friendship at first, but Rick does have something that Jake needs: a connection to Didi, Todd’s self-absorbed, but perfect girlfriend.
Like in Fitzgerald’s novel, none of these characters are particularly likeable. Todd aka Tom is a big-feeling womanizer; Didi aka Daisy is vapid and spineless; Rick is an observer who is soon calling himself Jake’s bestie, but I was never really sure how they managed to get to that place beyond acquaintances.
The novel’s plot mirrors Fitzgerald’s too, so for anyone familiar with that book, this book will not require much effort. And love or hate Fitzgerald’s novel, there’s no denying the quality of the writing. Korman’s novel suffers a little by comparison in that department.
On the other hand, Korman’s novel does speak to that crappy period of time when you are no longer a kid, but you are not quite an adult. There aren’t any of those (adults, I mean) in this novel, anyway. These kids are pretty much left to their own devices. Like Gatsby, everything Jake has done, the persona he has manufactured for himself, has been done to attract the attention of Didi. Is she worthy of his love? Probably not. As Rick says to Jake: “They’re crappy people. You’re worth more than the lot of them put together.”
As an homage to its source material, Jake, Reinvented will likely speak to any teen who has desperately wanted to reinvent themselves. And if it encourages students to read The Great Gatsby, then that’s a win in my book.
Read
December 17, 2020This was a book of a boy who “reinvented” himself, Jake, completely changing every constant in his life, except one girl. His main goal was to impress her and find a way to win her over. He spent every spare moment in his life trying to change to recreate himself so that he would fit her standards. He shows up at F. Scott Fitzgerald High, where he seems to know everything about everything, and everyone knew who he was almost instantly. He became super popular and hosted the best parties, and even became one of the best players on the football team. The only thing some people are confused about is how he showed up out of nowhere and seems to own the place now. They don’t know about his past though, although will soon come to find out who the real Jake is. He even won over the girl who he had done all this stuff, but not for long because when he found himself taking the blame for something she had done, she didn’t see any reason, to tell the truth, almost completely forgetting about him.
Within the novel “Jake, Reinvented” by Gordon Korman many literary devices can be found with successful use. One example is his use of allusion, in the book on page 197 it states, “Every time something serious comes up, you disappear into 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea!” This quote from the story alludes to the book 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. The author also used jargon throughout the story, some examples include: “Even Todd, his precious superstar, played nickel back and anchored the onside kick coverage team.” This is an example of football jargon being used. Another including, “In her world, people lived in Colonials and Tudors and split-levels and ranches.” Which is an example of real estate jargon being used. The quote, “As we watched, Nelson Jaworski staggered in from the hall and hit the wading pool face-first in a tidal wave of ice and slush.” This was the author successfully using a metaphor in his book. The author also used similes throughout the book, one example being, “The snap was like a cruise missile, guided by telemetry right into my hands.” Hyperboles were also incorporated into the book, two examples being, “You’ve got a million friends,” and also, “We just can’t find you hiding upstairs in a bag of pretzels.”
The book was a fun read and kept me wondering what Jake’s big secret was and when it would be revealed. The characters were entertaining, and it was nice to see some of them evolve and change the way they see things and their perspectives. But, it was also kind of sad to watch Jake go through all he went through just to change his entire lifestyle for one girl who didn’t even see how great of a person he really was. It was interesting to see how Jake pulled off everything he was pulling off, and also the way he was so determined to keep his old life one hundred percent secret. Overall, it was a good book and I would recommend reading to anyone who enjoys being able to relate to others when reading a book.
Within the novel “Jake, Reinvented” by Gordon Korman many literary devices can be found with successful use. One example is his use of allusion, in the book on page 197 it states, “Every time something serious comes up, you disappear into 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea!” This quote from the story alludes to the book 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. The author also used jargon throughout the story, some examples include: “Even Todd, his precious superstar, played nickel back and anchored the onside kick coverage team.” This is an example of football jargon being used. Another including, “In her world, people lived in Colonials and Tudors and split-levels and ranches.” Which is an example of real estate jargon being used. The quote, “As we watched, Nelson Jaworski staggered in from the hall and hit the wading pool face-first in a tidal wave of ice and slush.” This was the author successfully using a metaphor in his book. The author also used similes throughout the book, one example being, “The snap was like a cruise missile, guided by telemetry right into my hands.” Hyperboles were also incorporated into the book, two examples being, “You’ve got a million friends,” and also, “We just can’t find you hiding upstairs in a bag of pretzels.”
The book was a fun read and kept me wondering what Jake’s big secret was and when it would be revealed. The characters were entertaining, and it was nice to see some of them evolve and change the way they see things and their perspectives. But, it was also kind of sad to watch Jake go through all he went through just to change his entire lifestyle for one girl who didn’t even see how great of a person he really was. It was interesting to see how Jake pulled off everything he was pulling off, and also the way he was so determined to keep his old life one hundred percent secret. Overall, it was a good book and I would recommend reading to anyone who enjoys being able to relate to others when reading a book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 1, 2025
This book was originally published in 2003 by Scholastic, in has been through numerous reprint since then, The currently available editions are from Little, Brown Books. According to Goodreads there are 20 editions and versions of this volume across at least 4 publishers. Unfortunately the eBook edition is not currently available in Canada. My introduction to Korman’s works was the 39 Clues back in 2009. Since then I have read 55 of his books. Just over half way thorough his canon, but with each one I read I am entertained and often challenged. And I do plan on trying to read them all. My son, who is 17 often, reads these books to me or with me, and he still loves them.
A description of this volume states:
“There is a mysterious new student at F. Scott Fitzgerald High. Jake Garrett looks like he's stepped out of a J. Crew ad, he's the best long-snapper the football team has ever had, and he hosts the party every Friday night.
All the guys want to be like him, and all the girls want to date him, but Jake only has eyes for Didi, the girlfriend of quarterback Todd Buckley.
Rick Paradis, kicker and back-up QB, tries to stay out of the drama, but that's easier said than done at Fitzgerald High, especially once he gets to know Jake. But it turns out nobody knows the real Jake, and when his secret comes out, his perfectly crafted world might come tumbling down.
In this modernization of The Great Gatsby, beloved author Gordon Korman provides a new look at age-old truths about the desire for popularity and acceptance, and the darker side of human nature
"A compelling investigation of the transience of charisma and the flimsy underpinnings of popularity."
-Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"Korman's reworking of The Great Gatsby places theaction in a modern framework, which makes it more recognizable for today'sreaders and may lead them to the classic. Teens will find deeper issues toconsider about popularity, being true to one's self, and taking responsibilityfor one's actions as they relate to the setting and characters."
-Booklist.”
This story is an excellent read and one of only a handful Young adult novels published to date by Korman. I can be honest and state I never expected a Kegger party, and massive underage drinking in a Korman novel but he really pulls it off masterfully. From the beginning you know the story would be a train wreck. But the premise of the story and how Korman crafter the story is masterful.
It is another excellent offering from Korman’s masterful pen. I just wish there was an eBook edition available in Canada, I have a dual form of dyslexia and my son has eye tracking issues and we both prefer digital books. A great read I can easily recommend for more mature readers, it is defiantly YA and not MG literature!
A description of this volume states:
“There is a mysterious new student at F. Scott Fitzgerald High. Jake Garrett looks like he's stepped out of a J. Crew ad, he's the best long-snapper the football team has ever had, and he hosts the party every Friday night.
All the guys want to be like him, and all the girls want to date him, but Jake only has eyes for Didi, the girlfriend of quarterback Todd Buckley.
Rick Paradis, kicker and back-up QB, tries to stay out of the drama, but that's easier said than done at Fitzgerald High, especially once he gets to know Jake. But it turns out nobody knows the real Jake, and when his secret comes out, his perfectly crafted world might come tumbling down.
In this modernization of The Great Gatsby, beloved author Gordon Korman provides a new look at age-old truths about the desire for popularity and acceptance, and the darker side of human nature
"A compelling investigation of the transience of charisma and the flimsy underpinnings of popularity."
-Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"Korman's reworking of The Great Gatsby places theaction in a modern framework, which makes it more recognizable for today'sreaders and may lead them to the classic. Teens will find deeper issues toconsider about popularity, being true to one's self, and taking responsibilityfor one's actions as they relate to the setting and characters."
-Booklist.”
This story is an excellent read and one of only a handful Young adult novels published to date by Korman. I can be honest and state I never expected a Kegger party, and massive underage drinking in a Korman novel but he really pulls it off masterfully. From the beginning you know the story would be a train wreck. But the premise of the story and how Korman crafter the story is masterful.
It is another excellent offering from Korman’s masterful pen. I just wish there was an eBook edition available in Canada, I have a dual form of dyslexia and my son has eye tracking issues and we both prefer digital books. A great read I can easily recommend for more mature readers, it is defiantly YA and not MG literature!
March 17, 2021
This fucking book.
Okay, I have had this book for years I'm talking grade 3, years, and I never actually got around to reading it until around March of last year and oh boy was this book a ride I was not expecting.
Overall its alright, like the writing is good, the author does good stuff, this a day read, a few hours at most (thats what it took me)
Now onto the actual review of this book:
It is not that good
Mind you this was written in like 2003 (i think) and it was not written for an 18 year old, this was very clearly written for kids in Elementary school who
- have no clue what high school is
- have never read the great Gatsby
- don't have a solid understanding of classic literature
Which leads me to why this book was comically bad at times, its supposed to be a high school au of Gatsby, which is comical but weirdly enough its decently book accurate in its ideology of class, status, attitude, but rather than be overtly racists and classist, its shifted as a sort of jocks, preps, nerds, etc. all the cliche school stuff
The parties were book accurate in style, but oh my god did they drag so much man, holy shit
Jake (Gatsby) rather than being a bootlegger, does kids homework for money and favours (hes apparently genius level here and was a massive nerd before he became popular, which wow we stan a mary jane but also not because yea thats how it is in the book but it feels weird here)
He doesnt die at the end, but daisy (whatever her name in this book is) does kill someone and he takes the blame, rather then get shot he just gets yoinked by his dad and moves away
This book was meh, cringy as shit, and I would say read it if you wanna love the original work a little more and get a laugh at how bad the high school writing is
Okay, I have had this book for years I'm talking grade 3, years, and I never actually got around to reading it until around March of last year and oh boy was this book a ride I was not expecting.
Overall its alright, like the writing is good, the author does good stuff, this a day read, a few hours at most (thats what it took me)
Now onto the actual review of this book:
It is not that good
Mind you this was written in like 2003 (i think) and it was not written for an 18 year old, this was very clearly written for kids in Elementary school who
- have no clue what high school is
- have never read the great Gatsby
- don't have a solid understanding of classic literature
Which leads me to why this book was comically bad at times, its supposed to be a high school au of Gatsby, which is comical but weirdly enough its decently book accurate in its ideology of class, status, attitude, but rather than be overtly racists and classist, its shifted as a sort of jocks, preps, nerds, etc. all the cliche school stuff
The parties were book accurate in style, but oh my god did they drag so much man, holy shit
Jake (Gatsby) rather than being a bootlegger, does kids homework for money and favours (hes apparently genius level here and was a massive nerd before he became popular, which wow we stan a mary jane but also not because yea thats how it is in the book but it feels weird here)
He doesnt die at the end, but daisy (whatever her name in this book is) does kill someone and he takes the blame, rather then get shot he just gets yoinked by his dad and moves away
This book was meh, cringy as shit, and I would say read it if you wanna love the original work a little more and get a laugh at how bad the high school writing is
June 6, 2024
This is a junior version of The Great Gatsby, and I read it years ago when I subbed for middle school, and thought it was adorable. Having had read Gatsby many times, I thought it was adorable. Then I found it free on Audible, and had to listen to it.
It’s not supposed to take the place of Gatsby, but to help kids understand and relate to it. Jake, Reinvented is set in high school (fittingly named F. Scott Fitzgerald high school) and Gatsby is set on east and west egg, as well as in NYC. It’s told from Rick’s POV just like in Gatsby, Nick tells the story.
It’s about a guy, Jake (obviously Jay) who is in love with a girl Didi (Daisy). They knew each other a few years ago, but Didi thought Jake was a nerd, and didn’t have the same feelings for him. She liked him, but her reputation of being cool was more important to her.
She starts dating Todd (Tom in Gatsby) because he’s popular. He’s on the football team, and is someone everyone blindly follows. But he cheats on her with Melissa (Myrtle) who is dating Nelson (George in Gatsby).
Jake ‘decides’ to become popular and meet up again with Didi. He gets on the football team, and throws huge parties, hoping he’ll see Didi. She doesn’t go to FSF High School. She goes to an all girls school, so Jake has to find a way to get her there. He meets Rick at one of his parties, and finds out he’s close friends with Jennifer (Jordan in Gatsby) whose cousin is Didi. He asks him to bring Jennifer to the party, knowing that’s Didi’s in.
It’s all fun until things go wrong. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone who has, or hasn’t, read The Great Gatsby.
Oh and Owl Eyes from Gatsby is Dipsy.
Also, Jake calls everyone ‘baby’ just like Jay calls everyone ‘old sport’. 😂
It’s not supposed to take the place of Gatsby, but to help kids understand and relate to it. Jake, Reinvented is set in high school (fittingly named F. Scott Fitzgerald high school) and Gatsby is set on east and west egg, as well as in NYC. It’s told from Rick’s POV just like in Gatsby, Nick tells the story.
It’s about a guy, Jake (obviously Jay) who is in love with a girl Didi (Daisy). They knew each other a few years ago, but Didi thought Jake was a nerd, and didn’t have the same feelings for him. She liked him, but her reputation of being cool was more important to her.
She starts dating Todd (Tom in Gatsby) because he’s popular. He’s on the football team, and is someone everyone blindly follows. But he cheats on her with Melissa (Myrtle) who is dating Nelson (George in Gatsby).
Jake ‘decides’ to become popular and meet up again with Didi. He gets on the football team, and throws huge parties, hoping he’ll see Didi. She doesn’t go to FSF High School. She goes to an all girls school, so Jake has to find a way to get her there. He meets Rick at one of his parties, and finds out he’s close friends with Jennifer (Jordan in Gatsby) whose cousin is Didi. He asks him to bring Jennifer to the party, knowing that’s Didi’s in.
It’s all fun until things go wrong. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone who has, or hasn’t, read The Great Gatsby.
Oh and Owl Eyes from Gatsby is Dipsy.
Also, Jake calls everyone ‘baby’ just like Jay calls everyone ‘old sport’. 😂
February 14, 2019
In this re-telling of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Rick, a kicker for Fitzgerald High's football team, seems to care about nothing except for being invited to an awesome party because of his connection to Todd, the popular captain of the football team, and watching the happenings of going ons around him. That is, until he meets Jake Garrett. Seemingly to appear out of nowhere with his hip, fashionable attire, his 'Hey, baby' nickname for people, and a house constantly being used for Friday night Senior parties, Jake becomes the center of attention and leaves people wondering: who is this mysterious, yet alluring boy? Becoming Jake's friend, Rick soon learns that Jake has a purpose to all his actions and he hides a deep secret that if gotten out, could ruin everything Jake has worked for.
I thought it was an interesting twist on The Great Gatsby. Setting it in high school with immature, rambunctious teenagers made the story appear more silly to me than anything. I felt that Jake's character was spot on with Gatsby, but with less class. I also was glad that unlike the tragedy in the original book, no one dies. I was slightly worried they were going to involve that and then the story would have seemed more of a phony to me because it wouldn't have fit in with the time period or setting. However, I kept reading it because I was intrigued to see where things were going to go and see what was different and what was similar compared to the original. This would be a better version to give to high schoolers instead of the original Great Gatsby.
Content Warnings:
-Profanity
-Sexual references
-Alcohol/smoking
-Slang terms
I thought it was an interesting twist on The Great Gatsby. Setting it in high school with immature, rambunctious teenagers made the story appear more silly to me than anything. I felt that Jake's character was spot on with Gatsby, but with less class. I also was glad that unlike the tragedy in the original book, no one dies. I was slightly worried they were going to involve that and then the story would have seemed more of a phony to me because it wouldn't have fit in with the time period or setting. However, I kept reading it because I was intrigued to see where things were going to go and see what was different and what was similar compared to the original. This would be a better version to give to high schoolers instead of the original Great Gatsby.
Content Warnings:
-Profanity
-Sexual references
-Alcohol/smoking
-Slang terms
November 1, 2024
A modern retelling of The Great Gatsby. A new kid named Jake Garrett has started attending F. Scott Fitzgerald High School (yep) and immediately makes a name for himself. He's on the football team, is instantly popular, and throws the biggest parties at his father's mansion every Friday when his father's not around. But there's more hidden beneath Jake's surface. Why is it so important that he become so popular right away? What about Jake is there still left to uncover?
As with any YA novels, this book had its share of pop culture references, but had it not been for them, I wouldn't know what decade we were in. These characters did not sound like teenagers from the early 2000s, and every single time Jake called Rick "baby", I winced. I feel like the author tried so hard to make these characters, especially Jake, seem cool.
I finished this because it was a very short read, and I read The Great Gatsby earlier this year. I figured it'd be fun to read a modern retelling. All of the important characters from the original story were mirrored here. I did appreciate the premise and Jake's secret. I empathized with him at a specific point, but it wasn't enough for me to enjoy this book.
As with any YA novels, this book had its share of pop culture references, but had it not been for them, I wouldn't know what decade we were in. These characters did not sound like teenagers from the early 2000s, and every single time Jake called Rick "baby", I winced. I feel like the author tried so hard to make these characters, especially Jake, seem cool.
I finished this because it was a very short read, and I read The Great Gatsby earlier this year. I figured it'd be fun to read a modern retelling. All of the important characters from the original story were mirrored here. I did appreciate the premise and Jake's secret. I empathized with him at a specific point, but it wasn't enough for me to enjoy this book.
April 5, 2024
Okay, so, no offense Jake, but....
Get a life.
Honestly, this book was so annoying! Rick's friends were assholes, the girl he liked before she slept with another guy is a bitch, and all of them were just such negative personality types! When Jake showed up the college with white envelopes and a bunch of seniors and stuff came to see him, I was like, "Wow, we're getting somewhere here!"
But it was homework.
Jake's great big secret that makes Rick "afraid" of him, according to the summary, is that he does other kids' homework.
*Slow applause.
His obsession with Dee-Dee was so SHALLOW and Dee-Dee herself was so forgettable, I'm honestly not sure if this is even her name, and I'm too lazy to check. He likes her because she looks gorgeous.
Thats it.
I felt bad for him at the end, when his parting scene with Rick was ruined by his utter fixation, but, I hope with some good therapy, Jake might be able to get better.
Not even close to Gordon's best, I wouldn't try this book unless you're a fan determined to read all of Korman's books, because otherwise?
This book had nothing else to offer.
Get a life.
Honestly, this book was so annoying! Rick's friends were assholes, the girl he liked before she slept with another guy is a bitch, and all of them were just such negative personality types! When Jake showed up the college with white envelopes and a bunch of seniors and stuff came to see him, I was like, "Wow, we're getting somewhere here!"
But it was homework.
Jake's great big secret that makes Rick "afraid" of him, according to the summary, is that he does other kids' homework.
*Slow applause.
His obsession with Dee-Dee was so SHALLOW and Dee-Dee herself was so forgettable, I'm honestly not sure if this is even her name, and I'm too lazy to check. He likes her because she looks gorgeous.
Thats it.
I felt bad for him at the end, when his parting scene with Rick was ruined by his utter fixation, but, I hope with some good therapy, Jake might be able to get better.
Not even close to Gordon's best, I wouldn't try this book unless you're a fan determined to read all of Korman's books, because otherwise?
This book had nothing else to offer.
October 28, 2021
Jake, the new guy from a different school, is immediately popular. His Friday night parties are the place to be. Underage drinking and craziness galore. Couples cheating on each other, bullying, trashing the house....it gets crazier with each new week. How does Jake pay for these parties? How does he clean up afterwards? What is his deal? No one knows, not even his supposedly best friend, Rick. Jake used to be Didi's tutor and he has some sort of connection to her that seems secret. He gets "envelopes" from college kids. He's super smart but keeps that fact hidden, why?
I think Jake could have been developed more thoroughly and the goings on at the parties got boring. I wasn't a big fan of this book but I do like Gordon Korman's writing. I've enjoyed other books by him more than this one, just my opinion.
I think Jake could have been developed more thoroughly and the goings on at the parties got boring. I wasn't a big fan of this book but I do like Gordon Korman's writing. I've enjoyed other books by him more than this one, just my opinion.
September 16, 2025
I loved this book but especially how the story was told through Rick's perspective instead of Jake's because it felt like a real friendship between two people and i truly grew to love Jake and to see him as what he was and how he used to be gave me a soft spot for him because as a kid that struggled making friends i used to do anything for people to like me so he reminded me of myself in that way. I cant lie though i did NOT care for Didi because of how shallow she is and how she used Jake for her advantage and didn't even take accountability for what she did to nelson, i also couldn't stand Todd and how he blamed Melissa's infidelity on Jake while being upset that Jake liked Didi even though he was cheating on her. My poor jake deserved better, at least he had Dipsy and Rick. One star deducted because of Didi and Todd.
Read
May 5, 2020I wonder if the teenager characters in this book ever had to read The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. If they did, I wonder if they would recognize themselves in that story from 1925. Would Jake Garrett, main character in this book, see anything of his own desire to become a different person in the same desire of Jake Gatsby? Would Didi recognize her boyfriend Todd's two-timing ways, just as Daisy realizes that her husband Tom is unfaithful?
Jake, reinvented, just as Gatsby, is the story of a self-made man, someone who has it all. The look, the money, the popularity - and it's all focused on getting the girl.
Read p. 35: "We were still 3 blocks away …"
Then read p. 41: "Jennifer, Didi, I'd like you to meet Jake Garrett."
Jake, reinvented, just as Gatsby, is the story of a self-made man, someone who has it all. The look, the money, the popularity - and it's all focused on getting the girl.
Read p. 35: "We were still 3 blocks away …"
Then read p. 41: "Jennifer, Didi, I'd like you to meet Jake Garrett."
November 12, 2021
Jake, Reinvented was about this new kid at Fitz. At first, kids really like him because he threw awesome parties. Even the main character Rick became friends with Jake. The Fitz quarterback Todd blamed Jake for cheating with Melissa. After that things go downhill from there. I rated this book a 3. I thought this was an okay book because the storyline was nice and chill but I hated the transitions. At first, he's new then he's getting choked out by Nelson last he's on trial for almost burning down his house. It was all over the place. If they would have made it a little less all over the place it would have gotten a higher rating. Other than that I liked it. Spoiler alert because of the trial Jake moves to Texas with his mom and the book ends there. Also, Jeniffer and Rick go on a date.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 225 reviews