Jacky Ha-Ha: My Life is a Joke (A Graphic Novel)

Jacky Ha-Ha Graphic Novels #2

by Adam Rau (Adapted by), James Patterson, Chris Grabenstein

Class clown Jacky Hart is back and ready for the best summer ever in James Patterson's bestselling graphic novel series! But can she juggle family, friends, and work and still find time to act and sing?
 Living on the shore is all about fun, fun, FUN! With my starring role in the boardwalk's biggest blockbuster performance, a life of fame and fortune is finally within reach.
 
Until I accidentally lose my job, embarrass myself in front of a crush, AND ruin a friendship, all at the same time.
 
My problems can't always be laughed away—but I sure am going to try. After all, they didn't nickname me Jacky Ha-Ha for nothing!

Genres: Graphic Novels, Mystery, Historical Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Shakespeare, Middle Grade, Comics

248 pages, Paperback

Published August 30, 2021

Reviews

[Anaum Ali]

I actually read the book not the graphic novel but for some reason it’s not on here sooooooo… yea.

[D.T. Henderson]

Pros
The artwork is super cute. I love the coloring style and the overall cartoony look.

Jackie’s family has financial issues while they’re waiting to be hired as full-time police officers, so they need all the children to work to contribute income. This will be relatable to kids who have a lot of responsibility on their shoulders and/or have to help out financially already at a young age.

Jackie fails a lot, but she also gets back up every time! Very resilient!

A boy gains character growth and stops bullying others (tho mostly because he gets a crush on the MC) and becomes a decent person.

When a character is being bigoted, they get called out rightfully so and face consequences.

Neutral
A lot of preteen drama (crushes, first loves, jealousy, miscommunication, etc).

Like the first book, Older Jackie is recounting this story to her daughters. It’s still set in the 90’s, so the slang is goofy-sounding by today’s standards.

Cons
During play auditions, one of the actors (butthole extraordinaire) makes racial remarks to Meredith (she's Black) and mocks Jackie’s stuttering. I believe this is to show kids “microaggressions,” but it comes off so heavy-handed. Only the boldest racist/bigot comes out plainly with what they’re saying.

The parents tell the kids if they don’t work, they can’t afford groceries, which I understand... Some families don’t have the luxury of maintaining on one salary… But it’s a doggone shame to be depended on the kiddies to help out. Y’all couldn’t downsize or take on a second job? It’s different to teach kids the value of money or responsibility, then to forcefully need it. That part was not cute.
Um, y’all are supposed to provide!

How did y’all arrest someone off of hearsay???

[Kylie]

EPIC LOVE IT BOUGHT IT

[Laia :)]

I JUST LOVE THIS BOOK SM OMG

[=☆Silver-Lining☆= (Huge Reading Slump)]

Eh. Not as good as the first one.

[Regina Bienstock]

My daughters favorite book

[Becky B]

Grown up Jacky is preparing for her first performance at The Globe in London, and she shares with her girls via video chat about her first time performing Shakespeare and the summer she blew it big time.

I love how these Jacky Ha-Ha books expose readers to some classic drama productions, a likable heroine facing timeless issues in a 1980s setting, and learning lessons that current readers can take to heart but also laugh while reading about. The graphic novel format just ups the appeal factor. A Midsummer Night's Dream is a more kid-friendly Shakespeare, so it was a great pick for this story, and it is believable a company would hire a 12 year old to play Puck. (The role also fits Jacky's character so well.) There's a little mystery in the background for Jacky to solve with her friends. And I love how Jacky's family comes together to make ends meet during a time of financial pinch. Hand this to fans of realistic and historical middle grade graphic novels.

Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content beyond a little kiss. There's a bully who threatens some characters, but no physical violence, and there's good resolution to the bullying. One character makes racial comments to one of Jacky's friends, but the adults around them deal with the situation admirably.

[Natalie]

Grown up Jacky is in London, getting ready to perform in a Shakespeare play at the recreation of the Globe theatre. While on a video call, she tells her daughters about the summer when she was the girls' age and she had "messed up" and was "a failure". It's the summer of 1991, with Arnold Schwarzenegger at his height and Super Nintendo was all the rage. Jacky's family was struggling financially and all the older kids had to get family jobs to help support the family. With her part-time game booth job, Jacky also lands a role in the Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream production. With stories of playing cupid for her sisters, her own teen awkwardness, boys, and dates mixed in with money getting stolen from the cash box of her booth and getting one of her new friends arrested, Jacky's summer is pretty full.

There were so many elements to like to this story-family, friendship, teen romance, overcoming stuttering, doing what's right...and the list goes on.

[Mara K.]

really good! i was'nt sure at first, but it was pretty good!
i did'nt like how it was a story being told, which was confusing, but it was cool that we got to see her future self. i would read again!
something is always happening and i liked it.
but the cover is kinda deciaving.
i thought it was VERY strange and wrong that they arrested a kid just because ONE person says they think that they did soem things.
and that the parents MADE the kids work.
like...WHAT NOW?!

but really deliful overall

[Sky]

This book was absolutely amazing I loved the art and the story line I wish there was a second book that talks a bit more about the romances but that’s mainly because I’m a romantic and no amount of romance is to much for me lols the ending was great as well I wish I had found this book as a kid because if I did I feel like I would have gotten into reading a lot faster then I originally did💕

[i_luv_booksss 💕📖🫧]

I actually read this book before I read the first one, and I loved it so so much. For a very long time I didn’t even know that it wasn’t the first one in the series, and I thought it was a stand-alone book. I found the first one and read it, and I honestly don’t remember it. I do remember how much joy reading this as a child was though. Overall, this book is still very dear to me.

[Joe]

My daughter and I really enjoyed this graphic novel! Shakespeare, a teenage comedian-turned-actor, and a mystery all in one. There were a lot of deeper themes in this story that made it fun for the both of us. We also ended up reading this as our first interaction with Jacky Ha-ha despite it being the second in the series and a graphic novel adaptation, but I am glad we read this one first.

[Thomas Brussig]

Jacky is just like kids at my school funny, awkward, and always in trouble. I liked how she tries to make everything better with jokes, even when it doesn’t work. This book made me laugh out loud but also feel for her when things went wrong

[Cerise Heartfilia]

Funny, cute and very entertaining🤩😍. I liked the story and the art😊

[Magnolia]

3.5 stars

Very cheesy and not an amazing plot, but good for an easy late night read. Nice artwork.

[Nathaniel M. Foust]

This is one of my favorite books and I really enjoy it.

[Marci Medley]

Very funny a good sequel to a already funny series! Had me LOL😆

[Natalia HW]

Love the graphics. The story is fine, I did not love all of the elements, but it is entertaining enough and worked to read with my boys.

[stormy johnson]

I loved it it was great I read both in 7 nights bc of how good it was

[isaacdoesthings]

Pog book. It was way better than I anticipated, so good times.

[Aluah]

i am on a middle grade rampage and im not mad about it. theyre just so much more entertaining dude. 3.75 stars 😌

[AhVhey Venson]

Jacky is very funny!

[Ray boycott Reading Challenges until they fix app]

My favorite part was when in the literal middle of it all it decided it didn't want to be Jacky Ha-Ha anymore and instead started being Kaichō wa Maid-Sama!

[Hicks]

❤

I loved it just amazing the first was great as well but I think this one was my favorite so thank you for putting it on kindle

[Hector Santos]

Slice of life but it drags on

[Dou]

leggero e carino

[Sasha Bredenhof]

This isn't even the one I read but Goodreads didn't have it?
Anyway, kinda lame book but a nice Sunday read.

[Rachel]

darling graphic novel... legitimate teen concerns, addressed in an absorbingly charming story paired with lovely illustrations... grateful for clean books appropriate for children.