Susanne Gervay wrote I Am Jack when her son was bullied at school. A warm, funny, moving story that engages young people and old, inviting kids, family, friends and community to be all that they can be.
Why would grandparents want to buy the book for their grandchildren?
Grandparents are integral to I Am Jack. The important roles of grandparents are told with humor and love. Grandparents are part of Jack’s family. Nanna is a confidante to Jack, his sister and their mother, part of family outings and there for Jack when he faces school bullying.
Nanna is real with all the joys and quirkiness and issues of real grandparents. She has arthritis and is a bit slow as she walks, but she gives the children hugs and love.
Even though Grandad has passed away, the gifts Grandad gave Jack, reverberate through I Am Jack. It was Grandad who told Jack that he was a ‘great fixer’ and could do anything. Grandad will always be part of Jack’s life.
School can be wonderful with friends, learning, sports and community. But when bullying occurs, it becomes a scary place, one where parents and grandparents are outside the school gates. I Am Jack enables parents and grandparents through story journey share, talk and discover pathways to counter bullying.
Review excerpts:
“I Am Jack is a wonderful book recognizing the importance of kids, reading and literacy.” – John Wood, founder of Room to Read
“I Am Jack is a rare treasure. This endearing and realistic book presents the authentic voice of a young person who is bullied; bystanders, friends, and family members who help him; and educators who protect and support him. Every person in this story has a positive role in stopping bullying behavior. I recommend this book highly.” – Stan Davis, anti-school bullying advocate, author of Schools Where Everyone Belongs and Empowering Bystanders in Bullying Prevention
“Susanne Gervay’s I am Jack is a significant resource for parents, students and teachers. School bullying can have a devastating effect on a child and the school community. It can happen to anyone. Through story journey, I am Jack emotionally engages the bullied,
bully, other children, teachers, parents exploring important ways to create a safer place.” – The Alannah and Madeleine Foundation, Keeping children safe from violence
Bio: Award-winning children’s author Susanne Gervay’s much loved books include I Am Jack on school bullying adapted into a play by Australia’s premier youth theatre Monkey Baa. Her young adult literature includes Butterflies, which was awarded Outstanding Youth Literature on Disability by IBBY under the auspices of the United Nations.
Ambassador for Room to Read(www.roomtoread.org), Director of the Kids and Young Adult Literature Festival Sydney, co-head Society of Children’s Book Illustrators and Writers Australia & New Zealand at The Hughenden, recipient of the Lady Cutler Award for Distinguished Services to Children’s Literature, Susanne Gervay is committed to youth literature. Her books are endorsed by many organisations including Room to Read bringing literacy to the children of developing nations, the Alannah & Madeline Foundation keeping children safe from violence, Children’s Hospital Sydney, Life Education Australia, NSW Cancer Council, schools and family associations.
Her other books include Butterflies (awarded Outstanding Youth Literature on Disability by IBBY under auspices of the United Nations) and Super Jack
I Am Jack
Tricycle Press, an imprint of Crown Publishing, Random House
October 13, 2009
Realistic fiction
128 pp.
8 to 12 years
$14.99
For more information, please see www.sgervay.com