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Can the Real JR Stand Up, Please?
When Jake Rollins isn't worrying about his dad going ape-shit, he's busy creating out-of- this-world manga and hanging out with his best mate. Jake and his mum spend their lives dodging Jake's dad's fists, but it's the last year of high school and Jake has the perfect plan to escape home. All he has to do is nab a scholarship to Tokyo where he'll learn how to be a professional manga artist! But before then, Jake has to navigate his final year of high school, and keep himself, his mum and their dog alive.
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This is a story of survival, resurgence, and what it means to be bigger than where you come from. With themes of friendship, coming-of-age, family and domestic violence, survival, creativity, courage and diversity, Can the Real JR Stand Up, Please? is a warm-hearted, hopeful novel about being true to yourself and learning to be brave.
Show Less
This is a story of survival, resurgence, and what it means to be bigger than where you come from. With themes of friendship, coming-of-age, family and domestic violence, survival, creativity, courage and diversity, Can the Real JR Stand Up, Please? is a warm-hearted, hopeful novel about being true to yourself and learning to be brave.
163 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2021
13 people want to read
About the author
Nadia L. King
13 books78 followersNadia L King is an Australian author of Indian and Irish descent. Nadia is a children’s author and award-winning short story writer who believes passionately in the power of stories to make the world a better place.
Her books for children include “Claire Malone Changes the World” (an empowering and inspiring picture book for young children), "The Lost Smile" (a picture book with themes of cultural diversity and emotional intelligence), and “Jenna’s Truth” (a young adult novella telling a raw and real tale of cyberbullying). Nadia has an exciting second young adult novel due for publication in 2021. Her books are published by London-based Dixi Books.
Nadia’s short stories have been published in Australia and internationally. She is the winner of the 2020 Inaugural Maureen Freer Literary Competition for the short story category, and in 2019 she was awarded the Stuart Hadow Short Story Prize.
Nadia is currently undertaking postgraduate studies in English and creative writing. She lives in Western Australia with her family and ever-expanding collection of books.
Her books for children include “Claire Malone Changes the World” (an empowering and inspiring picture book for young children), "The Lost Smile" (a picture book with themes of cultural diversity and emotional intelligence), and “Jenna’s Truth” (a young adult novella telling a raw and real tale of cyberbullying). Nadia has an exciting second young adult novel due for publication in 2021. Her books are published by London-based Dixi Books.
Nadia’s short stories have been published in Australia and internationally. She is the winner of the 2020 Inaugural Maureen Freer Literary Competition for the short story category, and in 2019 she was awarded the Stuart Hadow Short Story Prize.
Nadia is currently undertaking postgraduate studies in English and creative writing. She lives in Western Australia with her family and ever-expanding collection of books.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 7, 2021
Despite being an emotional person and an avid reader, it’s rare that I’m moved to tears by a book. But this book… oh my god this book! It had me in tears by the end and I was so emotionally attached to JR and his story. He’s an incredibly sweet and talented kid with a horrible home life, but his bravery - one of the big themes of this novel - is astounding and I can’t believe how proud of him I am. At only 150 pages, it’s not a huge read but it does pack a huge punch and I would have gladly read on for hundreds more pages. The content is very heavy at times but I think it’s handled very well.
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November 11, 2021This story is really beautifully put together. I was worried the subject matter might be too heavy, as it deals with domestic violence, but King has cleverly balanced that darkness with light, without detracting from the importance of it.
There's the talking dog, Baba Ami, who is by far my favourite character.
There's Phee's wonderful family (and their fabulous garden, I love gardens and I could imagine it so well) and her friendship with Jake. Her parents, as well, I really loved their relationship with Jake.
There's the manga characters, popping out of nowhere.
I like how Jake isn't perfect, makes a whole heap of mistakes. Because who doesn't? I had to pause reading this book early on, and Jake and Phee and Baba Ami were in my mind until I could pick it up again. A really important book for teens.
There's the talking dog, Baba Ami, who is by far my favourite character.
There's Phee's wonderful family (and their fabulous garden, I love gardens and I could imagine it so well) and her friendship with Jake. Her parents, as well, I really loved their relationship with Jake.
There's the manga characters, popping out of nowhere.
I like how Jake isn't perfect, makes a whole heap of mistakes. Because who doesn't? I had to pause reading this book early on, and Jake and Phee and Baba Ami were in my mind until I could pick it up again. A really important book for teens.
January 10, 2022
A strange little book dealing extensively with domestic violence, trauma, and grief, while also exploring graffiti, manga, and film as creative outlets and sources of strength. It also uses elements of magic realism in a way which I read as more like trauma coping than true magical realism, but was nonetheless an interesting overlay, adding to the complexity of the story. There is a friendship/romance side plot which felt exactly how I imagine it would feel to the main character. We have little to no insight to other characters' perspectives, except for sections of vlog by the romantic interest. It's definitely an oddly crafted little book, and not for everyone, but I thought it was definitely interesting. It will stick with me.
October 9, 2025
This is one of those books where I felt I should like it and it did not come together for me.
I liked the idea of a gritty urban book and magical realism so I picked it up. It got off to a confusing start. Baba Ami felt like she could have come alive more, given her role in the book but it seemed to be more like a ... strange hallucination rather than magical realism.
The content of the book is gritty with domestic violence as a main theme, as well as juvenile crime. The problem I had with this in the story is that while the topic was gritty it never really socked me in the guts. I felt it should have and felt awfully untouched. Was it because I never really got into the characters? Or was it more because it felt that despite the gritty content, there was little tension built and no real stakes in the descriptions of the violence or crime? I think this contributed. Violence and crime simply happened rather than became issues where the protagonist sought a resolution and you felt compelled by his journey. At least that's how I felt about it.
It may also be the format of the story. I wasn't overly taken by the vlogs punctuating the story - I felt that instead of being an innovative structure that added to the story, they didn't really do anything for me but interrupt the flow. The style of the writing felt strangely detached and a little jerky at times, though it wasn't hard to read and the style does capture the teenage voice.
I liked the idea of a gritty urban book and magical realism so I picked it up. It got off to a confusing start. Baba Ami felt like she could have come alive more, given her role in the book but it seemed to be more like a ... strange hallucination rather than magical realism.
The content of the book is gritty with domestic violence as a main theme, as well as juvenile crime. The problem I had with this in the story is that while the topic was gritty it never really socked me in the guts. I felt it should have and felt awfully untouched. Was it because I never really got into the characters? Or was it more because it felt that despite the gritty content, there was little tension built and no real stakes in the descriptions of the violence or crime? I think this contributed. Violence and crime simply happened rather than became issues where the protagonist sought a resolution and you felt compelled by his journey. At least that's how I felt about it.
It may also be the format of the story. I wasn't overly taken by the vlogs punctuating the story - I felt that instead of being an innovative structure that added to the story, they didn't really do anything for me but interrupt the flow. The style of the writing felt strangely detached and a little jerky at times, though it wasn't hard to read and the style does capture the teenage voice.
April 18, 2023
Gripping, intense and an absolutle emotional rollercoaster. Can the Real JR Stand up Please written by the fantastic Nadia is a powerful book about domestic violence and finding the rainbow after the storm. It had me crying, laughing and smiling with Baba Ami and Jake.
Despite being about such a tough subject, this book is compelling and enjoyable to read. Within its pages, there is never a dull scene which makes it impossible to put down. Nadia has perfectly conveyed this story of pain and abuse but the hints of magical realism brightened it up and left me feeling uplifted and hopeful for Jake.
Despite being about such a tough subject, this book is compelling and enjoyable to read. Within its pages, there is never a dull scene which makes it impossible to put down. Nadia has perfectly conveyed this story of pain and abuse but the hints of magical realism brightened it up and left me feeling uplifted and hopeful for Jake.
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March 23, 2022YA
CBCA notables 2022
Domestic violence
Grief
Trauma
Magical realism
Manga/art
Coming of age
End of high school
Limited perspective
CBCA notables 2022
Domestic violence
Grief
Trauma
Magical realism
Manga/art
Coming of age
End of high school
Limited perspective
April 28, 2022
Domestic violence
May 6, 2023
4.5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
Review to come
Review to come
September 7, 2025
This is so good. Interesting and realistic
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews