Mighty Jack and the Goblin King
Series
Mighty Jack
written and illustrated by
Ben Hatke
Edition
Hardcover edition
Publisher
Macmillan
Imprint
First Second
ISBN
9781626722675
Awards and Honors
YALSA 2018 Best Graphic Novels for Teens
Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2017, Middle Grade
POTENTIALLY SENSITIVE AREAS
Language: Mild Language, Discrimination: Disability
The garden behind Jack’s house has gone wild with creatures set loose by the magic beans Jack and his kid sister, Maddy, planted. Full-color illustrations.
POTENTIALLY SENSITIVE AREAS
Language: Mild Language, Discrimination: Disability
Details
Format
Page Count
208
Trim Size
8 1/2" x 6"
AR
2.2: points 0.5
Lexile
GN460L
Genre
Fiction
Scholastic Reading Counts
3
JLG Release
Oct 2017
Book Genres
Topics
Goblins. Siblings. Friendship. Adventure. Fairy-tale retellings. Quests. Graphic novels.
Standard MARC Records
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Cover Art
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Praise & Reviews
Starred or favorable reviews have been received from these periodicals:
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, Booklist, The Horn Book Magazine, Kirkus Reviews*, School Library Journal
Praise & Reviews
School Library Journal
In this follow-up to Mighty Jack, the titular character and his friend Lilly travel through a portal in search of Jack’s sister, Maddy, who has been kidnapped by an ogre. The duo are separated and must battle their own monsters, helped along the way by even more winsome and fantastical creatures than in the first volume. The strong character development gives this swashbuckling, imaginative tale an air of authenticity. With each page-turn, Jack and Lilly become more well-rounded and complex, and the villains become ever more daunting. The artwork is bright but never garish. Panels are incredibly action-packed but have fairly simple backgrounds, moving the plot along deftly and keeping the focus on the protagonists. Charming, spot-on dialogue personalizes the various creatures. VERDICT An exciting conclusion to a modern-day take on “Jack and the Beanstalk,” this title is even stronger than the previous book. Highly recommended for libraries where the first installment is popular.—Kelley Gile, Cheshire Public Library, CT
Horn Book
This sequel picks up right where Mighty Jack (rev. 9/16) left off—and what follows is all action. In pursuit of the ogre who kidnapped his sister Maddy, Jack and his sword-wielding neighbor Lilly pass through a vegetative wormhole into a bizarre fantasy world of floating castles, giant rats, and babbling goblins. Fortified by superpower-boosting smoothies and armed with magic beans, Jack and Lilly nevertheless find themselves separated after a sneak attack. Jack discovers that Maddy’s life is in grave danger. Lilly ends up in an arranged marriage to the oppressive Goblin King. Several furious, blood-splattered brawls ensue, shown in dynamic panel layouts that regularly burst into double-page spreads and with ever-present sound effects (“CH-CHUNK!” “SPLORT!” “FOOM”). Jack’s bravado and macho rhetoric (“I’m going to catch up to that ogre, smash its head, and bring my sister home”) is tempered by Lilly’s moving display of self-sacrifice and Maddy’s surprising show of swordsmanship. Numerous references to and cameos from Hatke’s Zita the Spacegirl universe are peppered throughout the story, culminating in a call to arms from the space heroine herself and suggesting a future crossover adventure. patrick gall
Grades 5-8
Graphic Novels Middle Plus
For Grades 5-8
Book-length narratives presented in comic book style, graphic novels foster both visual and verbal comprehension skills while exposing readers to interesting dialogue and satire, as well as affirming diversity.
JLG's selection of these unique books, some of them only published in softcover, are ideal for attracting reluctant readers and introducing them to literature they might not encounter otherwise. You may find that the 12 books in this category will turn your reluctant readers into eager readers.
14 books per Year
$293.02 per Year
Interests
Diversity,ESL,Fiction,Graphic Novels,Reluctant Readers,Transitional Readers,Funny/Humorous
Grades 5-8
Graphic Novels Middle Plus
14 books per Year
$293.02 per Year
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