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Gator Jack
Ten year old Doodle is in charge of his little brother and baby sister for the summer while his mother, Nina, is awaiting the arrival of her fourth baby. Nina claims that her husband's bossman's wife "gave" her a Mercedes, which Noodle knows will either have to go back or be paid for. They have no money so Doodle tries to keep the car clean, but his sister and brother make a playhouse of it.
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64 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2009
20 people want to read
About the author
Janice Daugharty
92 books40 followersBack on Goodreads and back to writing, and hopefully publishing.
I need my fans, old and new, to boost my confidence, as I start over again.
The reason for my long absence can be chalked up to...well, life!
I have a large family and most live on our property, in South Georgia, Cow Creek Farm. No, we don't farm, and no, we no longer have cows. The name is derived from a creek called "Cow" that flows through our property.
OK, enough about me. I want to hear about you--what you're reading, maybe writing. Or just what you are doing nowadays.
Love, Janice
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 29, 2018
Read a few pages of “Gator Jack,” and it’s hard not to evoke comparisons to “Tobacco Road,” Erskine Caldwell’s ode to an impoverished family of sharecroppers during the Depression in rural Georgia. The poverty literally drips off the prose of Janice Daugharty, who flare for realistic fictions exceeds virtually every present-day writer and then some. From the very beginning—when nine-year-old Doodle Westmore’s mother acquires a used Mercedes-Benz from the wife of her husband’s boss—you can literally feel a sense of impending doom. By the next morning when a wad of bubblegum is already stuck on the carpet of the pristine car, you know the Mercedes—which the poor Westmore’s have literally no chance of paying for—is geared up for a rough ride.
The smell of hard times reeks in this novel, almost as bad as Doodle and his younger brother Mikey who haven’t had a bath in more than a week, as well as their four-year-old sister Peepie, who still isn’t potty-trained. It takes a deft touch to bring heart to this story and Daugharty is equal to the task and then some.
While it may be hard to warm to the Westmore children’s mother, Nina, it’s impossible to feel anything but empathy for Doodle, who wants to do the right thing, even if it means robbing a restaurant to help his family pay for the Mercedes. Doodle is a hero, and you don’t have to look far to find his role model, in this case, his father, Will. Will may not be the sharpest tool in the shed but he’s a hard worker who loves his family and his honesty resonates strongest in Doodle.
The title character in this book is Gator Jack, Doodle’s grandfather and Nina’s daddy. Gator Jack is flawed, physically and emotionally, but he certainly tries to do the right thing and succeeds on a basic level. While emotional blackmail may be one of his weapons, Gator Jack can be counted on to come through when it really matters.
Still, this story belongs to Doodle. He’s just a downright likeable little boy and it’s hard not to root for him, even as you feel for him. No doubt, he’s trapped in tough circumstances, but Doodle’s sense of loyalty and responsibility to his family helps “Gator Jack” soar far above its poverty-stricken beginnings. I would like to think that Doodle Westmore would eventually find a way to overcome his hard-luck beginnings when all is said and done, but realistically speaking, that probably would not happen. Nevertheless, this young man has character and he’s bound to grow into an honorable man, regardless of the circumstances.
To me, that’s the mark of a good book, when you find yourself wondering what will happen to your heroes when the story ends. With “Gator Jack,” Janice Daugharty delves deeply into the gritty side of life for poor people, but she ultimately delivers an impressive tale of honor and, if not grace, well then old-fashioned toughness under fire. This is a fast read, and you’ll find it hard to put down without wondering what’s coming next.
The smell of hard times reeks in this novel, almost as bad as Doodle and his younger brother Mikey who haven’t had a bath in more than a week, as well as their four-year-old sister Peepie, who still isn’t potty-trained. It takes a deft touch to bring heart to this story and Daugharty is equal to the task and then some.
While it may be hard to warm to the Westmore children’s mother, Nina, it’s impossible to feel anything but empathy for Doodle, who wants to do the right thing, even if it means robbing a restaurant to help his family pay for the Mercedes. Doodle is a hero, and you don’t have to look far to find his role model, in this case, his father, Will. Will may not be the sharpest tool in the shed but he’s a hard worker who loves his family and his honesty resonates strongest in Doodle.
The title character in this book is Gator Jack, Doodle’s grandfather and Nina’s daddy. Gator Jack is flawed, physically and emotionally, but he certainly tries to do the right thing and succeeds on a basic level. While emotional blackmail may be one of his weapons, Gator Jack can be counted on to come through when it really matters.
Still, this story belongs to Doodle. He’s just a downright likeable little boy and it’s hard not to root for him, even as you feel for him. No doubt, he’s trapped in tough circumstances, but Doodle’s sense of loyalty and responsibility to his family helps “Gator Jack” soar far above its poverty-stricken beginnings. I would like to think that Doodle Westmore would eventually find a way to overcome his hard-luck beginnings when all is said and done, but realistically speaking, that probably would not happen. Nevertheless, this young man has character and he’s bound to grow into an honorable man, regardless of the circumstances.
To me, that’s the mark of a good book, when you find yourself wondering what will happen to your heroes when the story ends. With “Gator Jack,” Janice Daugharty delves deeply into the gritty side of life for poor people, but she ultimately delivers an impressive tale of honor and, if not grace, well then old-fashioned toughness under fire. This is a fast read, and you’ll find it hard to put down without wondering what’s coming next.
January 3, 2012
This was an okay book. The premise is told by the oldest boy and revolves around a new car his parents were "given". Very different from anything I've read, not saying it's bad, but just different.
May 25, 2012
Eh...glad I got this one for free from Kindle. Not one of my fav's...
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews