raeanna11's review against another edition
3.0
Thank you Michael Cargill for allowing me to read your book.
I have to admit the first 200 pages were really boring. But I did like the main character. As the book progressed I was happy, sad, and shocked. The author did a good job on the writing and I liked how it ended.
I have to admit the first 200 pages were really boring. But I did like the main character. As the book progressed I was happy, sad, and shocked. The author did a good job on the writing and I liked how it ended.
gabbyreadswithtea's review against another edition
2.0
*WARNING: This review may have spoilers, but big ones will be marked.*
Favourite character: Ben
Actual Rating: Okay, I'm going to be honest by saying my feelings are all over the place about this novel. So I’m leaving it at "It was okay"
Now if you're like me and enjoy happy books with happy endings, then don't read this one. I really expected a happy book for this one, and to be honest, the blurb gives no warning about what it is about or how depressing it would be.And even a "warning" would be nice, because I didn't see one. (And looking on the making connections page, I must face-palm myself because I obviously didn't know what "Tragedy" meant, so I guess, my fault, my bad. But still, it was a tiny warning.)
Now. I absolutely loved Ben and how adorable the (two?) year old was! I can understand it's hard to write a young character, and Michael had that spot on! I also read in someone else’s review that it was hard to find Jakes age...and it was only at the end (Late 80%) that his mother states "Almost sixteen) so we know he's about fifteen, around my age.
I'm sorry, I just didn't think Jakes decisions were right or justified.
So sorry Michael, that I had to give this only a 2 star rating.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review from the "Making Connections YA edition" group on Goodreads.
Favourite character:
Spoiler
Up until 85%Actual Rating: Okay, I'm going to be honest by saying my feelings are all over the place about this novel. So I’m leaving it at "It was okay"
Now if you're like me and enjoy happy books with happy endings, then don't read this one. I really expected a happy book for this one, and to be honest, the blurb gives no warning about what it is about or how depressing it would be.
Now. I absolutely loved Ben and how adorable the (two?) year old was! I can understand it's hard to write a young character, and Michael had that spot on! I also read in someone else’s review that it was hard to find Jakes age...and it was only at the end (Late 80%) that his mother states "Almost sixteen) so we know he's about fifteen, around my age.
Spoiler
I think all the deaths were unnecessary for this book. At Bens death, I was sad, but thought "It kind of had a warning; don't drink alcohol underage." And then he drank again and Kim died and I rolled my eyes and thought, "Okay, this is just stupid." and then on that last page. I put the book down and said "No. no, no, no. That can't happen." And then I realised there was no message. What was the message to the book if there supposedly was one? That it's okay to commit suicide, because of the deaths around you? Or that you can leave your mother depressed and alone?I'm sorry, I just didn't think Jakes decisions were right or justified.
So sorry Michael, that I had to give this only a 2 star rating.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review from the "Making Connections YA edition" group on Goodreads.
khawk89's review against another edition
5.0
I think I'm in shock. I don't know what to say.
The first half of Jake is the normal day to day recount of an average teenage boy. The events are boring and everyday things with no real importance and yet not at all hard or tedious to read. I actually found the conversations between the boys and the natural progression from topic to topic fascinating, it was so realistic and despite me being 24 years old now I felt I might be sitting in my school uniform listening in.
Jake leads you into a false sense of security. I mean, nothing could happen to such a normal boy with a normal average life, right?
It hits you out of no where and suddenly it's like watching a train crash. You can see what's coming and you're powerless to stop it.
Amazing.
The first half of Jake is the normal day to day recount of an average teenage boy. The events are boring and everyday things with no real importance and yet not at all hard or tedious to read. I actually found the conversations between the boys and the natural progression from topic to topic fascinating, it was so realistic and despite me being 24 years old now I felt I might be sitting in my school uniform listening in.
Jake leads you into a false sense of security. I mean, nothing could happen to such a normal boy with a normal average life, right?
It hits you out of no where and suddenly it's like watching a train crash. You can see what's coming and you're powerless to stop it.
Amazing.
hollyberry_1980's review against another edition
2.0
*I was provided a copy of Jake by the author in exchange for an honest review*
I think that this is the first time that I am so unsettled by a book that I don't know what to say, and that is not a good thing. The first hundred or so pages could have been told in less than 30, it was just way too repetitive, and I was 1 chapter away from making it a did-not-finish book. In all those pages we were introduced to Jake, his family, and friends at school. It was all about his regular everyday activity, his train rides to school, his activity at school, his train ride home, and what he does when he gets home, it was just too much for me and I really found it hard to keep going.
Then we get to the second part of the book, and I have to warm you that if you have lost someone close to you, or are someone who suffers with depression, this is not a book that I would recommend at all!
Now I did enjoy Jake's interaction with his younger brother Ben, he is an adorable child, and I found myself laughing out loud at him as I have nephews, and I could picture them doing the same things he did, and it is very funny. I can imagine that it is not very easy to write from the perspective of a 2(ish) year old, and Michael did an excellent job with it.
We did not know for most of the book how old Jake really was, and for the majority of it, I really thought that he was younger, like somewhere between 8-11 just by the wording that the author used, and he seemed so very naive in certain circumstances, that I could not imagine him being any older than that, so when we finally did learn that he was 15, I was kindive shocked to be honest.
The other part of the book that I enjoyed was Jake's relationship with Kim, first loves, and first relationships are always so exciting, the holding hands for the first time and being so nervous if you are doing it right, or going too fast for the other person, all of it was very well written. The way that they would bicker back and forth playfully was really good as well, it shows a comfort in a relationship that is sometimes hard to find.
I am not sure how I feel about Jake's parents, there are a couple things that really bugged me, but then overall, they seemed very open with their children, able to crack jokes and know that Jake and Ben will not take it to heart. Also they are genuinely happy for Jake when he brings Kim home to meet them, a little in shock at first as Jake had told them nothing about her previously, but still happy for him.
Overall I am going to give this book a 2/5, and the 2 stars comes from the actual vivid writing style, not the story at all. I am not sure what I was expecting from this book, but based on the synopsis it was nothing like what I was thinking. I am not sure what genre I would even put this under, is there a young adult/contemporary/tragedy?
I think that this is the first time that I am so unsettled by a book that I don't know what to say, and that is not a good thing. The first hundred or so pages could have been told in less than 30, it was just way too repetitive, and I was 1 chapter away from making it a did-not-finish book. In all those pages we were introduced to Jake, his family, and friends at school. It was all about his regular everyday activity, his train rides to school, his activity at school, his train ride home, and what he does when he gets home, it was just too much for me and I really found it hard to keep going.
Then we get to the second part of the book, and I have to warm you that if you have lost someone close to you, or are someone who suffers with depression, this is not a book that I would recommend at all!
Now I did enjoy Jake's interaction with his younger brother Ben, he is an adorable child, and I found myself laughing out loud at him as I have nephews, and I could picture them doing the same things he did, and it is very funny. I can imagine that it is not very easy to write from the perspective of a 2(ish) year old, and Michael did an excellent job with it.
We did not know for most of the book how old Jake really was, and for the majority of it, I really thought that he was younger, like somewhere between 8-11 just by the wording that the author used, and he seemed so very naive in certain circumstances, that I could not imagine him being any older than that, so when we finally did learn that he was 15, I was kindive shocked to be honest.
The other part of the book that I enjoyed was Jake's relationship with Kim, first loves, and first relationships are always so exciting, the holding hands for the first time and being so nervous if you are doing it right, or going too fast for the other person, all of it was very well written. The way that they would bicker back and forth playfully was really good as well, it shows a comfort in a relationship that is sometimes hard to find.
I am not sure how I feel about Jake's parents, there are a couple things that really bugged me, but then overall, they seemed very open with their children, able to crack jokes and know that Jake and Ben will not take it to heart. Also they are genuinely happy for Jake when he brings Kim home to meet them, a little in shock at first as Jake had told them nothing about her previously, but still happy for him.
Overall I am going to give this book a 2/5, and the 2 stars comes from the actual vivid writing style, not the story at all. I am not sure what I was expecting from this book, but based on the synopsis it was nothing like what I was thinking. I am not sure what genre I would even put this under, is there a young adult/contemporary/tragedy?
jrbee's review against another edition
4.0
I read most of this thinking; here's a nice teenage boy going through life, not much happening, just about a normal kid living his life and fluffing stuff up like any normal kid, but still it's well told.
I didn't get too bored, it was a nice story I could dip in and out of.
3/4 of the way through and things are much the same; life's looking up for Jake and I feel like I've sort of become one of the family in a strange way, but I still wasn't certain if anything was going to happen.
Then Wham.
Right at the end his world is turned flippedy upside down and it's heartbreaking.
I finished this book and couldn't do anything else but sulk for about half an hour because I was so upset.
I had to go for a walk and muck out the rabbits.
bluebeewrites's review against another edition
3.0
Oh my god... That's about the only thing I can come up with right now...
This is the story about Jake. Jake, a normal teenage boy with a normal life. life at home is great, he has parents who love him and a cute little brother called Ben. He has a couple of friends and life is just good for him. And boring. This story was soooo boring in the beginning. I could not focus on it and was constantly distracted. But then he meets Kim. And then I came near the end. And then my heart broke. A couple of times. And I cried. A lot.
Jake is written pretty good. Although it's a struggle to get through the first few pages, this was a pretty good book. The first few chapters are basically Jake's day to day life. And that's boring. But like I said, once he meets Kim, I was on an emotional roller coaster and at the end of it, my heart broke and I cried a lot. So this turned out better then I expected it to be and it touched me more then I thought it would. This would have been a five-star book, but it missed a couple of things. I would have liked it more if all the things that happen in the end, were spread out through out the course of the book. Not all of it in just a few chapters at the end. That was a bit to much for me. A bit overdone. So that's why this book gets 3,5 stars from me.
Honestly, I don't really recommend it to anyone who has lost someone close to them, trust me. But you might as well give it a try. Don't say I didn't warn you.
This is the story about Jake. Jake, a normal teenage boy with a normal life. life at home is great, he has parents who love him and a cute little brother called Ben. He has a couple of friends and life is just good for him. And boring. This story was soooo boring in the beginning. I could not focus on it and was constantly distracted. But then he meets Kim. And then I came near the end. And then my heart broke. A couple of times. And I cried. A lot.
Jake is written pretty good. Although it's a struggle to get through the first few pages, this was a pretty good book. The first few chapters are basically Jake's day to day life. And that's boring. But like I said, once he meets Kim, I was on an emotional roller coaster and at the end of it, my heart broke and I cried a lot. So this turned out better then I expected it to be and it touched me more then I thought it would. This would have been a five-star book, but it missed a couple of things. I would have liked it more if all the things that happen in the end, were spread out through out the course of the book. Not all of it in just a few chapters at the end. That was a bit to much for me. A bit overdone. So that's why this book gets 3,5 stars from me.
Honestly, I don't really recommend it to anyone who has lost someone close to them, trust me. But you might as well give it a try. Don't say I didn't warn you.
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