laurahonest's review against another edition
5.0
Jack is destined for greatness. His papa knew it from the day he was born. That is why he is named Jack, he is named for his great great great great great great great grandpa Jack the Giant Killer who killed nine giants. Jack has never seen a giant. No one he knows has ever seen a giant. Giants are things in tales, or so Jack's mama is always telling him. They live in a small village in the middle of no where and they have a small farm. Jack loves tales of giants, he knows them all by heart and he is sure he is going to do something great just like his seven greats grandpa.
One day it rains dirt and Jack's whole village is taken away by giants. Only his mama, his sister and him are left behind. Mama doesn't believe him but Jack saw the giants take his papa and the rest of the village up into the sky. Jack trades the families last cow to a traveling tinker for three beans and they grow into a beanstalk that reaches the sky. Jack climbs up the beanstalk to rescue his papa. He knows that he is going to on a grand adventure like his seven greats grandpa. But what adventurer has his little sister tagging along? And what can Jack do against giants big enough to carry him around in their pockets?
I loved this book! Jack is a very naughty boy but his heart is in the right place. This story addresses many of the questions I had about Jack and the Beanstalk as a child. Why do the giants come to our land? Are there other giant things up there besides the giants? Can a human really defeat a giant? Jack has to find the answers to all of these questions and more. He also wrestles with the morality of harming other people, even if they are giants.
This book also deals with an issue that I think a lot of kids struggle with; living up to your parents expectations. Jack has been told from a young age that he is destined for greatness. Jack's sister is the "good girl." But are they really what they have been told all their lives? They struggle with this and learn that it is ok to not be exactly what others expect you to be. That standing up and making your own decisions is what makes you your own person.
This is definitely a great book for kids who are struggling with self confidence or to find their own place in the world. Even if they aren't struggling to figure out who they are this is a good adventure story for kids. It may also help stop some sibling squabbles and get them to work together!
I received this book from netgalley and Random House Kids in exchange for an honest review.
One day it rains dirt and Jack's whole village is taken away by giants. Only his mama, his sister and him are left behind. Mama doesn't believe him but Jack saw the giants take his papa and the rest of the village up into the sky. Jack trades the families last cow to a traveling tinker for three beans and they grow into a beanstalk that reaches the sky. Jack climbs up the beanstalk to rescue his papa. He knows that he is going to on a grand adventure like his seven greats grandpa. But what adventurer has his little sister tagging along? And what can Jack do against giants big enough to carry him around in their pockets?
I loved this book! Jack is a very naughty boy but his heart is in the right place. This story addresses many of the questions I had about Jack and the Beanstalk as a child. Why do the giants come to our land? Are there other giant things up there besides the giants? Can a human really defeat a giant? Jack has to find the answers to all of these questions and more. He also wrestles with the morality of harming other people, even if they are giants.
This book also deals with an issue that I think a lot of kids struggle with; living up to your parents expectations. Jack has been told from a young age that he is destined for greatness. Jack's sister is the "good girl." But are they really what they have been told all their lives? They struggle with this and learn that it is ok to not be exactly what others expect you to be. That standing up and making your own decisions is what makes you your own person.
This is definitely a great book for kids who are struggling with self confidence or to find their own place in the world. Even if they aren't struggling to figure out who they are this is a good adventure story for kids. It may also help stop some sibling squabbles and get them to work together!
I received this book from netgalley and Random House Kids in exchange for an honest review.
deepfreezebatman's review against another edition
3.0
Not my favorite "true story" of a fairy tale (wish there was more of a twist on the original story) but entertaining and fun for kids.
cupcakegirly's review against another edition
4.0
Very well done! I loved the characters, the setting, the subtle changes (ex. not all giants are evil), and how it ties into the original story while still having it's own unique vibe.
The audiobook is also a fun time!
The audiobook is also a fun time!
agatha_hopkins's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
froggylibrarian1's review against another edition
4.0
Liesl Shurtliff is at it again. I read Rump when it came out and loved it. I am also a big fan of retold, twisted fairy tales. So, what did I think of this?
Jack and the Beanstalk is not my favorite folktale so it did have one strike against it. I did like it well enough though. Jack was a mischievous lad, always getting into trouble. He has grown up hearing tales of a great, great, many times great grandfather Jack the Giant Killer and wants to be like him. The problem is no one really believes in giants anymore. That is until giants start coming down and stealing crops, people, animals, and whole buildings. Jack attempts to find out what is going on. yes, he does trade the cow for magic beans but this version is a bit different. Yes, he does climb the beanstalk but things are radically different at that point. Jack meets good giants, a bad giant king, tries to find his dad, and eventually discovers the truth behind the giant's famine.
Overall I liked it. I thought it got a bit long but it really picked up at the end. I liked the tie in with Rump and some other clever twists. Will I buy it for my library? I need to look at how Rump is circulating before I decide...
ellemiche00's review against another edition
3.0
Kids love these books. Aside from the fact that the size issue between giants and “elves” didn’t make any sense at all, and was often inconsistent (at one point mosquitos noses are like swords to them but we’re supposed to believe the giants are eating their food???) , it wasn’t bad.
readingthroughtheages's review against another edition
5.0
I love the way Liesl Shurtliff takes us into the fairy tale worlds. She developed another great character for us in Jack. While the story is moved forward through a quick plot, it's the character development I liked the most. I loved Jack's spunk and determination and the internal conflict he constantly battles when trying to decide what's expected of him and what's right.
This is a book that I will happily reread!
This is a book that I will happily reread!