The Several Lives of Orphan Jack

by Sarah Ellis, Bruno St-Aubin (Illustrations)

When twelve-year-old Jack finds out that his apprentice job working for a bookkeeper does not involve keeping books safe, he leaves for the market city of Aberbog, where he peddles ideas, notions, and concepts, and wins the heart of the town.

Genres: Canada, Middle Grade, Adventure, Humor

84 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2003

About the author

Writer, columnist, and librarian Sarah Ellis has become one of the best-known authors for young adults in her native Canada with titles such as The Baby Project, Pick-Up Sticks, and Back of Beyond: Stories of the Supernatural. In addition to young adult novels, Ellis has also written for younger children and has authored several books about the craft of writing. Praised by Booklist contributor Hazel Rochman as "one of the best children's literature critics," Ellis "writes without condescension or pedantry. . . . Her prose is a delight: plain, witty, practical, wise."

Ellis was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, in 1952, the youngest of three children in her family. As she once noted, "[My] joy in embroidering the truth probably comes from my own childhood. My father was a rich mine of anecdotes and jokes. He knew more variations on the 'once there were three men in a rowboat' joke than anyone I've encountered since.

Reviews

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprises abound. As I thumbed through the meager offerings at the Negril Library, I stumbled on this gem, but then I had to make a choice: could I take it out? The contrast between my Brookline library and Negril’s is enormous. In Brookline there’s no limit to the number of books I can borrow nor is there a limit to the number of books I WANT to borrow. In Negril I needed to establish a perfect track record of taking out and returning a maximum of three books for several months before I was given the privilege of checking out six books. Six is the limit! The day I spotted Sarah Ellis’s name I was particularly focused on books for my two tutoring students so I replaced The Several Lives of Orphan Jack on the shelf - longingly.

Years ago Barbara Scotto introduced me to Sarah Ellis at CLNE (Children’s Literature New England). From the first page of this slim novel, I felt Sarah’s intelligent, thoughtful presence and her delightful sense of humor:

Schoolmaster Bane of the Opportunities School for Orphans and Foundlings asks, “What is the purpose of snow?” and admonishes a student for his incorrect answer, “No, you booby-brained mutton head.” (pp. 13-14)

This book is charming from start to finish. Jack (known as OtherJack because there was already another orphan named Jack when he arrived at the school) has one precious possession:

At Christmas each student at the Opportunities School was given a pair of socks and a present. The Christmas Otherjack was ten, the Benevolents had given him a dictionary. It was grubby and missing the first part so that it didn’t have any A or B words, but from C to Z it had given Otherjack some of his happiest moments. The words were always there ready to be taken out and used or just examined. A sunrise was better when you knew the word sublime. Oatmeal for dinner was somehow not so sad when you knew the word mangy. A bashing from Edwin was not so horrible when you could secretly call him a vandal.
Best of all, the other boys could not steal or spoil Otherjack’s words. They were his secret hoard. (p. 22)

This slim treasure is about the magical power of words and ideas. Recommended for third grade and up.

Sarah Ellis is a Canadian author who deserves much more of our attention.

[Virginia Henderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A wordy adventure

I haven't read this since my middle school days. Possibly elementary. I found it buried in a stack of books in the family bookcase. That sounds fancy but really, it's just all the books no one lays claim to. College textbooks, kids' books we "grew out of", and completed Bible studies. It's quite a random assortment. Anywho...I saw this and thought a walk down memory lane would be fun. I thought I remembered most of the plot and Jack's adventures, but it turns out there were a lot of details I'd forgotten.

If you like words and the whimsical way they flow, dance, and leap off the pages, you'll enjoy this. A lot. Each chapter is another step away from bookkeeping and orphanages and a step closer to freedom and a life of leisure. The pacing was always moving. I felt there were a lot of elements that could have been further explored. The world had an old-timey fantasy/fairytale feel to it. Contemporary compared to Grimms, and vintage compared to now.

My one major dislike...the ending. I thought it was rude of Jack to just up and leave without saying goodbye to the very people who helped him. I wish that had been handled differently.

Not a bad read and great for young readers. I recommend this for a bad weather day. 3 stars.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the language. This is an easy reader but in no way dumbed down.

[Heep · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reminds me a bit of Candide but for kids and with (in the end) a very happy message. The book is really a gem - not too long and not too short but just the right length. The story builds beautifully with compact and satisfying chapters. My 8-year old loved it, and didn't want it to stop, but even so he appreciated the ending. This is a book I can imagine rereading many times - with grandchildren, friends and by myself.

[Stephie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

This was a charming story that was very reminiscent of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn.

I greatly enjoyed the creativity and the character. It's quick and delightful and not at all formulaic. Refreshing.

Enjoy.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charming!!!! Great vocabulary. Would be a perfect 2nd grade read-aloud for the teacher who wants her kids to love good writing.

[Orinoco Womble (tidy bag and all) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nice, quick evening time read. Odd to shelve such a short book as "couldn't put it down" perhaps, but it describes my eagerness to keep turning pages. Ellis writes engaging prose that is poetic without cloying. I liked the fact that Jack considered staying with the miller family; he appreciated the rooted, steady affection of the people who took him in without question and knew he could be happy there--but he had a dream and wanted to pursue it.

I really enjoyed this book and will read it again.

[🌻شهد · Rating 4 out of 5]

*مو هذه الرواية الي قريتها بس عشان تحدي القراءة باحط هذه 🙄*
الرواية: رينكو والكنز
٤.٥*
مررررررة اسمتعت فيها، خفيفة ولطيفة ومسلية ومن جد شدتني. رواية تندمج مع تصنيف احب اسميه روايات اجواء سبايستون وهو من اجوائي المفضلة، حبيت الحبكة والترجمة والاحداث مرة والنهاية كانت مرة جميلة 🥹

[Leslie Burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I am not sure if my 5 year old will understand what makes it so awesome but I can’t wait to read it with her!

[Sherry · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it, but don't think it has the widest type of appeal (across the board approachable for all abilities and modern kids' tastes). That said, Jack's interest in words was amusing for those of us who really get into symantics and clever or new ways of saying the same old thing. Orphan Jack makes the most of every spoken opportunity in order to change his fortune, one well-chosen word at a time. Thinking on his feet, literally and figuratively speaking, gets him away from the orphanage and on to his next meal, lodging and new life. Takes you back a couple hundred years in time, reminiscent of the east coast. Canadian author and award. Booklegger, grades 3/4.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

There’s a lot we don’t know in this book—the time period, the country of origin, the backstory of Jack—but that somehow gives it a fairytale feel. When I went back and look at the original Grimm’s fairytales a few years ago, I was amazed by how much detail those stories lack. A lot of my memories have been filled in by Disney or books my mother read to me or watching Into the Woods every day the summer after third grade, but those stories have survived for generations because they allow the reader to fill in the details. It’s hard to put trust in the reader and let them make your characters their own.

[Patrice Sartor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute story about an orphan boy that strikes out on his own with not much more than a dictionary for company. Jack tries out several trades before he realizes that his charm and way with words is what he is meant to be using. Thus, he becomes a boy who sells and trades notions, ideas, opinions and the like. The word-play and tones of independence and being true to yourself made this book for me.

[Neill Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jack, known as Otherjack, has reached the age of twelve at the Opportunities School for Orphans and Foundlings and is to be sent off to learn a trade. Armed with a dictionary with words from C to Z and an eternal sense of optimism, Jack sets out on the adventures of his life and summarizes each experience with an alliterative sobriquet.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was pretty good, but I never like open endings. Jack runs away from the perfectly safe home that he was so kindly let into by a poor man and gives no explanation. You may say , "Ohh, but he is going to see the cost!" Personally, I won't settle for that answer.

[Ginger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book! Highly recommended.

[Sylvia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice story of spunky little orphanage kid who set out on his own and lives by his wits.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the premise and the use of language here--it's very playful and fun.

[Rhea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is highly inspiring and motivating. The character - Jack - gives an outstanding perspective on how to deal with the realities of life.

[Nikki Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. Read it with one of my kids... Back to the adult books!

[Jennifer Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute wonderful story to share with your child or to read by your self. Read the storyline right because it maybe be a bit mature for them, but other than that the story is wonderful.

[Lindi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific recommendation from Jane. Would be a perfect read-aloud for a teacher or parent and their kids who love words.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 4 out of 5]

As he travels he discovers that ideas can be dangerous.

[Heidi Landry Phelps · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful read with a rich voice and poetic language. I fun read aloud for anyone to enjoy!

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A beautiful and poetic novel.