I, Jack - Softcover

JACK is a yellow Labrador, living with PATRICA FINNEY. PATRICA FINNEY won the David Higham Award for her first novel when she was eighteen, and published a second novel a year later. She went to Oxford to read History, became a journalist, married and had children and at her first attempt won the Radio Times Radio Script Award. She is currently devising an original drama series for BBC TV. In addition to the JACK books for young readers, she is the author of a number of adult titles, primarily with historical themes: Firedrake's Eye, Unicorn's Blood and the 'Robert Carey' series. She lives in Cornwall.

Grade 4-6-Jack, a big yellow dog, has fallen head over paws in love with pretty Petra; when her owner finds out, she comments, "But Jack is just a Labrador and Petra is a Samoyed." Then the plot takes a different path with Petra soon becoming pregnant. A subplot involves the environmental conservation of the forest area surrounding the mill where Petra has her puppies as a new highway is soon to be built over it. Jack's overemphasized stupidity in some scenes is inconsistent with his apparent intelligence in others. On the other hand, in scenes in which his real emotions come through, his character rings true. Some readers might find the scene in which Jack chases and kills a cottontail, licks its blood off his teeth, and says, "Yum," and later "licks the inside of the bunny's skin" a bit over the top. In addition, several of the dog-language words he uses are unclear; having to refer often to the glossary slows the story. However, Finney does a good job of weaving realistically believable canine behavior and slapstick humor throughout. Jack's sincere attempts to make sense of what people are telling him are particularly funny, and the ending is upbeat. Small black-and-white drawings break up the text on many of the pages.
James K. Irwin, Nichols Library, Naperville, IL
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