The Decomposition of Jack
by
Kristin O'Donnell Tubb
Edition
Hardcover edition
Publisher
HarperCollins
Imprint
Katherine Tegen
ISBN
9780063212268
POTENTIALLY SENSITIVE AREAS
None
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
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.
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Cover Art
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Praise & Reviews
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
Grades 5-8
PG Middle Plus
14 books per Year
$285.46 per Year
