Chat with us, powered by LiveChat

The Decomposition of Jack



by
Kristin O'Donnell Tubb

Edition
Hardcover edition
Publisher
HarperCollins
Imprint
Katherine Tegen
ISBN
9780063212268
POTENTIALLY SENSITIVE AREAS
None
$22.25   $18.54
SEE MEMBER PRICE
QTY

JLG Category

PG Middle Plus

Award-winning author Kristin O’Donnell Tubb delivers a funny and poignant middle grade contemporary novel about a boy known as the Roadkill Kid who is dealing with his parents’ divorce while he searches for a mysterious cougar in the Tennessee hills.

Middle school is always hard, but when you’re known as the Roadkill Kid, well, it’s even harder. Jack’s mom collects roadkill—it’s her job and she’s very good at it. Ever since Jack’s mom and dad got divorced, Jack has become Mom’s assistant. He feels like it’s his responsibility to keep her spirits up and step into the role of co-scientist. Except Jack just wants to play video games with his friend André and finally talk to Zoe, his conservationist classmate with bright green eyes.

Author’s note.

POTENTIALLY SENSITIVE AREAS
None

Details

Format

Print

Page Count

208

Trim Size

8 1/2" x 5 1/2"

Dewey

F

AR

4.1: points 5

Genre

Fic

Scholastic Reading Counts

0

JLG Release

Jan 2023

Book Genres

Realistic Fiction

Topics

Divorce. Mothers and sons. Roadkill. Decomposition. Wildlife conservation. Science. Friendship. Cougars. Animal habitats.

Standard MARC Records

Download Standard MARC Records

Cover Art

Download Cover Art

Praise & Reviews

School Library Journal

School Library Journal

Library Journal

Gr 5 Up-Tubbs's latest middle grade novel (following A Dog Like Daisy and Zeus, Dog of Chaos) departs from dog narration and introduces readers to seventh grader Jack Acosta, also known as "Jack Splat." Jack is learning to live with his parents' divorce while helping his mom with her career studying roadkill and its decomposition (hence the nicknames, which also include "Roadkill Kid"). He is also providing feedback on his best friend's comics and figuring out how to get the attention of his crush, "Algebra Green Eyes," who happens to head the school's conservation club. Although he's a scientist, Jack finds himself in danger of failing earth science; but he may be able to turn things around if he can prove that cougars are not extinct, because there's one living in the woods behind his house. Heavy themes of divorce and extinction loom large, but Tubb offers humorous moments and a caring mother-son relationship to balance them. Animal lovers and budding conservationists will be especially drawn to the ongoing mystery of whether cougars still live in Tennessee. An author's note provides further information about roadkill collectors and cougars. VERDICT An engaging coming-of-age tale for the environmentally minded tween.-Carrie Voliva?(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Praise & Reviews

School Library Journal

School Library Journal

Library Journal

Gr 5 Up-Tubbs's latest middle grade novel (following A Dog Like Daisy and Zeus, Dog of Chaos) departs from dog narration and introduces readers to seventh grader Jack Acosta, also known as "Jack Splat." Jack is learning to live with his parents' divorce while helping his mom with her career studying roadkill and its decomposition (hence the nicknames, which also include "Roadkill Kid"). He is also providing feedback on his best friend's comics and figuring out how to get the attention of his crush, "Algebra Green Eyes," who happens to head the school's conservation club. Although he's a scientist, Jack finds himself in danger of failing earth science; but he may be able to turn things around if he can prove that cougars are not extinct, because there's one living in the woods behind his house. Heavy themes of divorce and extinction loom large, but Tubb offers humorous moments and a caring mother-son relationship to balance them. Animal lovers and budding conservationists will be especially drawn to the ongoing mystery of whether cougars still live in Tennessee. An author's note provides further information about roadkill collectors and cougars. VERDICT An engaging coming-of-age tale for the environmentally minded tween.-Carrie Voliva?(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Grades 5-8
PG Middle Plus
For Grades 5-8

For middle school readers who enjoy fascinating stories but want less edgy content, PGM is the perfect choice. Be assured that the 12 books offered in this category will be inoffensive to readers, teachers and parents.

14 books per Year
$285.46 per Year
Interests
Clean Books,Chapter Books/Novels,Diversity,Fiction,Funny/Humorous,Reluctant Readers
Like this book?
Get more like this every month.
LEARN MORE
Grades 5-8
PG Middle Plus
14 books per Year
$285.46 per Year

Other Recommended Titles From PG Middle Plus

Shannon in the Spotlight

by Kalena Miller

PG Middle Plus

August 2023

PG Middle Plus

July 2023

Good Different

by Meg Eden Kuyatt

PG Middle Plus

June 2023

No Matter the Distance

by Cindy Baldwin

PG Middle Plus

May 2023
Copyright © 2017 Magento, Inc. All rights reserved.11