By Julie Elizabeth Powell

Copyright © 2008

$ 9.57 Paperback
148 pages

Knowing Jack is a book written by the Lulu Book Review’s roving reviewer, Julie Elizabeth Powell. I first encountered Julie on the Lulu forum boards and was struck by her enthusiasm and encouragement for other authors work. In addition to this her dedication to writing is evident, and I felt like I had encountered a kindred spirit from across the pond. I was very happy to have been instrumental in bringing Julie onboard at the Lulu Book Review, because she brings an added dimension to the team, allowing us to provide reviews of Lulu authors work who have not necessarily requested a review. My only delay in reviewing Julie’s work has been my own preoccupation with completing the sequel to Misfit McCabe, something I know that Julie understands.

We’ve all had those feelings. You know the ones I’m talking about. Where you feel like something bad is going to happen, but don’t know what or when. It’s just that niggling feeling at the back of your mind that can color how you approach your day. Twelve year old Jack Kane understands exactly what I’m talking about. All of his life, Jack has been plagued by knowing things or prescience. He doesn’t always get specifics, just a general feeling about things, or he’ll just know something without any idea as to why he does. Things like the time Mrs. Hodges couldn’t find her keys in her purse, and Jack told her she’d find them on the front doorstep. Or when Mr. Dixon missed the bus, Jack told him not to worry, that his daughter would be there soon and could give him a ride. Sometimes things come in dream fashion, that he doesn’t always understand. Like the dream that he’d been having for weeks about a hefty figure wielding an axe wearing a big flapping coat. He just knew that the dream gave him a bad feeling.

As Knowing Jack opens, Jack and his folks are getting ready to take a vacation trip to a cabin in the Lake District. Well, vacation for some. Jack’s dad, Frank, has to do a little work, taking some pictures and then doing a write up. The closer it gets to time to leave, the worse Jack feels. His stomach is churning and his head feels like it’s in a vise and someone is turning the screw. He tried to get the family to back out of the trip, but to no avail. In addition to the great feeling of dread that something bad was going to happen, Jack was not looking forward to the trip for another reason. Auntie June, Uncle Alan, and their ten year old daughter, Rosie would be there as well. Rosie was spoiled, the pampered, pink princess, and she always did as much as she could to give Jack grief.

On the way to the cabin, they had to stop to pick up the keys to the cabin at the Post Office. While they were stopped, a couple in a dirty white van came into the Post Office as well, and Jack’s feelings went into overdrive, complete with heart palpitations and sweat trickling down his back. As his father put the car into reverse to back out of the parking space and continue the trip to the cabin, Jack screamed for him to stop. While his parents were still recovering from Jack’s outburst, the van came roaring past and barely missed hitting the back end of Jack’s car.

Things settled down for Jack for the next little bit while they got settled into the cabin, and Rosie, the pain-in-the-side cousin, had not yet arrived. The next day, after helping to bring in all of the luggage brought by his aunt, uncle, and cousin, Jack went into the kitchen and found Rosie tearing up a mound of paper napkins and eating a chocolate bar which she had sneaked out of one of the boxes. The following passage describes the relationship between Jack and the spoiled Rosie in a nutshell.

“You’d better be nice to me tomorrow, or you’ll be in trouble.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yes…,Mummy says you’re getting too big for your boots.”
“And if you keep eating chocolate, you’ll not fit into yours!”
Rosie stuck out her chocolate-coated tongue before quickly putting it away and wiping her mouth when her mother asked, pointing to the shredded paper mountain, “What’s going on here? Who’s made all this mess?”
“It’s Jack, he’s been rummaging around in all the cupboards,” said Rosie, sliding from the stool and racing to her bedroom.
“Well, you can just tidy it right this minute…and have you been in these boxes too?” demanded Auntie June, lifting exhibit one onto the worktop.
“No,” said Jack glaring behind her back at Rosie who stood sneering and waving before disappearing behind her bedroom door.
“Well, clear this mess before you go!”
Jack scooped the litter and dumped it straight into the bin, wishing that whatever was niggling at him would involve something to do with Rosie being taken by aliens.

The next day, Jack and Rosie went with Jack’s dad while he took his pictures, and Uncle Alan went for a climb. While they were waiting for Uncle Alan to return, Jack’s pricklies were working overtime and he knew that they needed to move – NOW! Unfortunately, the car wouldn’t start. The white van appeared and was heading straight toward them. Jack’s dad continued to try and start the car and at long last the car lurched forward. Too late. The van smashed into the side of the car. Then it pulled back and prepared to ram them again, but changed course and instead of ramming them, decided to push them off the cliff. After the car came to a halt, Jack and Rosie, though shaken, were able to get out of the upside-down car. Jack’s dad was not so fortunate. He had been knocked out and his head was bleeding, but at least he was breathing for now.

This begins the adventure of a lifetime for Jack and Rosie as they struggle together to get some help for Jack’s dad, and at the same time trying to stay out of sight of a lunatic who is searching for them to finish them off. They persevere together through many twists, turns, and obstacles to an exciting conclusion.

Julie Elizabeth Powell does an admirable job of hooking the reader from the get-go with this story. Her portrayal of both Jack and Rosie are priceless, sibling rivalry at it’s best. Rosie quickly became my favorite character because while she is an absolute pain, pampered and spoiled, the longing to be accepted by Jack shines through. Ms. Powell handles the shifting relationship between Jack and Rosie with a natural, yet subtle progression as they are forced to rely on one another. Knowing Jack is a quick paced read, eminently suited for the target age group of young adult. I plan on passing this one along to my niece and nephew who are both in that age group, as I know they will also enjoy the exciting tale that Ms. Powell spins. Exciting, a few tugs at the heart-strings, interspersed with humor that can make you laugh out loud – who could ask for more?

I look forward to reading more by Julie Elizabeth Powell and she has several offerings to choose from. Slings and Arrows, which is true life account of the loss of her daughter; Gone, a fictionalized account inspired by Slings and Arrows; and The Star Realm, the first book in the Avalon trilogy fantasy series.

Originally reviewed for the Lulu Book Review.
____________________________________________________________________________
LK Gardner-Griffie
To buy Misfit McCabe, visit my store at Lulu.com or purchase at Amazon.com
To track Misfit McCabe across the country, visit: Where in the World is Misfit McCabe?
Own a Kindle? Download Misfit McCabe in an instant.
For other e-book formats, visit Smashwords.com
To read book reviews by LK Gardner-Griffie, visit: The Lulu Book Review

Packed with action from the start, this well written tale will have readers wanting to turn the pages.

I particularly liked the underlying humour, although mixed with a seriousness that borders the disturbing events, it shines enough to give us a glimpse of the true identity of the heroine…one to like and champion.

Certainly one for those ‘in-between’.

Reviewed by Julie Elizabeth Powell, Author of Gone, Slings and Arrows, The Star Realm and Knowing Jack.