Jack: The True Story of Jack & the Beanstalk
Common Sense says
- Liesl Shurtliff
- Fantasy
- 2015
Parents say
Kids say
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A lot or a little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Liesl Shurtliff's Jack: The True Story of Jack & the Beanstalk is another fractured fairy tale from the author of Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin. It follows the traditional story with a few alterations, most notably that Jack is 12 years old. Some characters from Rump appear, but it's a stand-alone story. Expect fantasy violence from being in frequent peril from giant humans and animals as well as magical pixies; a few fights include punches and hits. Jack learns empathy and changes his behavior. Kids can be encouraged to think about the value of growing things and being content with having enough instead of being obsessed with wanting more.
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User Reviews
What's the story?
Giants descend from the sky, destroying everything in their wake and taking the village's food, crops, and animals back up into the sky with them. Worst of all, they take Jack's father. Hoping to find a way up through the clouds before his father gets eaten, Jack plants some magic beans. When the beanstalk grows up into the Blue and dirt starts falling from the sky, Jack starts climbing. Up above the clouds, he finds a whole kingdom of giants. If he can avoid being eaten himself, either by the giants or by any one of the many giant toads, spiders, mice, cats, and dogs that inhabit the giant world, can he find his father and a way back down the beanstalk?
Is it any good?
JACK: THE TRUE STORY OF JACK & THE BEANSTALK will keep kids on the edges of their seats as they follow the adventures of the relatable hero through the scary world of giants. There are plenty of laughs along the way, but Jack's more action-oriented style will keep the pages turning. Some favorite, and not-so-favorite, characters from Rump make return appearances, and kids will enjoy looking at them from a new perspective.
Many favorite fairy tales also are referenced, and kids will stay engaged recognizing Tom Thumb, the old woman who lived in a shoe, and the shoemaker and the elves, among others. The modern, easygoing language and fast-moving action make it an entertaining choice either to read aloud or to keep kids engrossed and reading on their own.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about why fairy tales are always popular. Why do we love them so much?
What other versions of Jack and the Beanstalk have you read or seen? What's different about this one? Do you have a favorite?
Did you read Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstltskin? How is Jack different or the same? Which story do you like better?
Book details
- Author: Liesl Shurtliff
- Genre: Fantasy
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Adventures, Book Characters, Brothers and Sisters, Cats, Dogs, and Mice, Fairy Tales, Wild Animals
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
- Publication date: April 21, 2015
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 8 - 12
- Number of pages: 304
- Available on: Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
Themes & Topics
For kids who love fairy tales and fantasy
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Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.