The Mostly True Story of Jack, by Kelly Barnhill
When Jack's parents decide to get divorced, they send him to Hazelwood, Iowa for the summer to live with his eccentric aunt and uncle. All of a sudden Jack, who has always felt invisible, realizes everyone is watching him. Even the creaky house where his aunt and uncle live seems to respond to his touch. He makes friends for the first time, attracts the attention of the richest man in town and his assistant, who seem to have it out for him, as well as the town bully.
But Hazelwood is not your regular town. There is a history of children mysteriously disappearing, and once they're gone, no one seems to remember they ever existed. The only child ever to be found was Frankie, who never talks and has mysterious scars. The ground seems to know him. Jack's uncle keeps trying to make him read a book that gets more and more bizarre about the history of Hazelwood. And unbenownst to Jack, everyone has been anticipating his return to a town he doesn't remember.
The story unfolds at a perfectly timed pace, as questions build and answers gradually tumble forth. Why can't Jack's parents seem to remember him the second he is out of their sight? Why does everyone in Hazelwood seem to know him? Why does the richest man in town want him dead? What is happening to the children of Hazelwood? And who is Jack, really?
This rich, literary tale is a perfect blend of mystery, magic and adventure. Barnhill sets the stage for intrigue from the get-go, using the perspectives of different characters to build the anticipation to Jack's arrival. Jack himself undergoes dramatic character development during the course of the story, from starting out as an ignored, disgruntled boy who is frustrated at being sent to live with relatives in the middle of nowhere, to fitting in and making friends, to an eventual conclusion as the pieces of his life fall gradually fall into place, along with his path for the future. Exciting, intriguing, and at times, downright creepy (think aspects of Neil Gaiman's Coraline), this tale is sure to please all types of readers!
Rating: 4.5 out of 5.0
To recommend other titles to the committee, please email newberysuggestions@kcls.org.
Amy @ Bellevue:
There are no princesses or castles in this darkly original tale. Deb's comparison to Coraline is apt, for both Gaiman's and Barnhill's creepy storylines stay with a reader long after the book is finished. In Hazelwood, missing children are forgotten, just as photographs & records of them are erased. As the Lady who guards the magic awakens, the town becomes an increasingly dangerous place to live. One mom attempts to flee with her child to safety; the forces behind dark magic in Hazelwood simply direct her back to her own driveway, over and over again. There is no escape. Jack and the other children--Wendy, Frankie, Anders, and Clayton--are stuck and must cope with the consequences of their ancestors' decisions.
An unsettling but fitting ending to the story leaves the door open for more. Sequel? Yes, please!
Rating: 4.5/5
Bekka @ Des Moines
Hazelwood, Iowa, is a town where you would not want to visit or live. Barnhill creates a world that will send shivers down your spine during certain parts of the book. Some of the details are not creepy when they stand alone but the general concept and character development make it more disturbing. For instance, Jack is not in any family photos and his entire family tends to ignore him. At first, I thought it was tragic that no one cares for Jack but I soon became scared about how the protagonist fits into Hazelwood. The action picks up the pace in the middle and does not settle down until the end. It would make an excellent movie. The adventure, mystery, and eeriness make it a true crowd pleaser.
Rating: 3.5 out 5.0
Angela @ Redmond
I thought the plot and character development was phenomenal. Jack's puzzling through events was thought out and well executed, and supported the slow reveal of the plot.
My one nitpick is that children may find the Lady and the Lady's Other to be confusing, but otherwise I couldn't put it down!
Score: 4.5 out of 5