家出の日

by Keith Gray; Akie Maezawa; Junji Koyose, 前沢 明枝 (翻訳), コヨセ ジュンジ (イラスト)

Jason has had enough of his parents’ arguments, so he’s running away. On the train to Liverpool he meets a “runner” called Jam who lives on the trains and at stations. His carefree life sounds so exciting that Jason thinks he might join him. Then Jason discovers Jam’s secret.

110 pages, Tankobon Hardcover

First published January 6, 2005

Reviews

[Liliann]

Loved it! I picked it up for the illustrations, stayed for the wonderful story.

[Mathumitha]

gtfghgghhb

[Christopher Trend]

A short book about a boy who runs away on a train. It’s a good descriptive work with a nice twist to it.

[Michaela]

Will be adding to guided reading rotation... some interesting themes for older readers.

[Rose]

This short story tells the tale of Jason, an 11 year old tired of his parents arguments, who has decided to run away to Liverpool to stay with his brother. On the train there he meets Jam, the 'Runner', another young boy who fills Jason's head with stories of life on the run, abandoned as a child, and a runaway from care homes and foster families. He tells Jason that it's not good to rely on anyone, as people just let you down. Just as Jason is considering a life alone and on the run, there's a surprising twist to the tale and and Jam's story ends there, he's not quite who he's made himself out to be. Jason's brother meets him at the station, and he reassures him that he understands why he ran away, and that his parents are going to come and get him and they'll all talk about what's happening.

This book is simply written and nicely illustrated. It would be a great discussion starter for upper KS2 students, for PSHE, or English. You could talk lots about Jason's feelings and his situation at home, something that can be easily related to.

[David Slattery]

An odd little tale.

Jason escapes his arguing parents, skipping school, in order to seek the safe haven of his student brother in Liverpool. To travel from London by train is an adventure and challenge for an 11-year old boy who throughout the journey is scared of being discovered, but also experiences the thrill of being out of school. On the train he meets an enigmatic boy, Jam, who reveals his life as a homeless boy who travels across Britain by train, avoiding ticket inspectors. This life doesn't appear particularly appealing to Jason but he is fascinated by Jam nonetheless.

The denouement, that Jam is a fantasist, and has been making all his stories up, is arresting, but left me a little cold. The author has been playing with us...but I will remember Jam's character, so we can say perhaps Keith Gray has done well here to create such a memorable character.

[Jess]

I didn't think I would enjoy this but is an fun caper of two young boys that points out of one of the problems children have with their parents. Gray is a excellent writing and I really liked the illustrations it felt like a good story cross a comic strip.

[Mikanchin]

たまに逃げ出したい、と思うのは当たり前。

[Yuzuki]

家出は、だれかに会いにいく。オススメ。

[Bettie]