Jackie

by Seth A. Feldman

Sam Sherman is a thirteen-year-old misfit struggling to survive the trials of eighth grade. Bullied and overwhelmed, he believes reached the end of his rope, until the arrival of a dynamic young woman challenges his perception of the world. But even as Sam learns to embrace life, he begins to understand that some hells are worse than his own.What secrets does Jackie Howell hide? And why does Sam feel compelled to tell her story?In this Coming-of-Age novella set in 1990, Seth A. Feldman tells the story of a beleaguered teen and the girl who changed his life by opening his eyes to the pleasures of being human... as well as the pain. "Jackie" is a passionate search for both solace and purpose in an abusive world.

168 pages, Paperback

First published May 22, 2015

About the author

The life-giving forces in my life are literature and music.

Regarding literature, I’ve always had a deep passion for classical mythology, especially Greek, Nordic, and Egyptian. I’m also fascinated by aspects of Hindu mysticism, Western theology, and Far Eastern philosophy.

Musically, I’m very eclectic. I appreciate many forms of rock, classical, jazz, and world music, even if much of my attention is usually focused on exploring all the bizarre and creative forms of metal.

Human psychology is another interest I’ve long had, and it plays a big role in everything I write. Most of my stories are character-driven.
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I’m fascinated by nature and animals. On the rare occasions when I write poetry, it’s usually either about nature or some emotional turmoil that I’ve witnessed in myself or someone else.

I also enjoy hiking, baseball, and computer games.

Reviews

[Karen Prive · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up because it was written by a local author, reviewed well, and I thought it would be fun to read with my middle-school-aged neice. I thought she had abandoned it, but she actually lost it and was excited when it was found. I didn't rush through it, though. Through the first third of the book it was clear that the author was struggling to find his voice. The story was written about a 13-year-old boy, but described his experience with language and insight a 13-year-old would not have used. It wasn't clear whether the story was being told from the boy's view or the view of his adult self looking back, and accordingly, didn't ring true nor draw me in. Had I not promised my neice I'd read it with her, I likely would have given up entirely.

Instead I slogged through, and was rewarded for my persistence. Soon after the Sam met Jackie, it was clear where the book would go, but not how it would do so. Once the pair had their first adventure together, the writing became much smoother and compelling. The story gently unfolded, without focusing too much on the violence inherent in the story. Rather, the focus was on the fact that Sam couldn't find the perfect solution to his dilemma, and had to choose what was right for Jackie or what was right for him, and the inner turmoil this caused. Feldman also used Jackie's situation to provide the basis for an expanded consideration of the motivation behind people's poor behavior.

All in all, Jackie's behavior around her situation, and Sam's experience contemplating his own actions, were both on the mark and written convincingly, while encouraging the reader to explore his or her own biases and judgments. If Feldman had been able to begin his novel with similar strength in his writing style, I suspect this book would have become a regular part of many middle-school or junior high curricula. All in all, a decent first novel, but with a powerful message.