
Calamity Jack
by Dean Hale and Shannon Hale, illustrated by Nathan Hale
Interest age: 10+
Reading age: 10+
Published by Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2010
About this book
This rip-roaring graphic novel is relentlessly energetic from beginning to end.
The book relocates the classic tale of Jack and the Beanstalk to a Wild West populated by Native Americans, giants, ogres and a devilish creature called the Jabberwock, and turns it into a breathless crime caper full of action and suspense in the process.
Jack sees himself as a bit of a schemer and criminal mastermind, when in reality he's nothing more than a scammer and trickster with varying degrees of success.
One day, Blunderboar, a local rich gangster, wrongs Jack and his mother and he sets out on a caper, one last job, so she never has to work again and to show Blunderboar up.
With help with a cast of eccentric friends including Rapunzel and her deadly long plait and a fairy called Prudence, Jack sets out to out-swindle and outwit the giants and give his city back to its people, sort his mother's problems out and show her once and for all he's a good son.
This graphic novel is full of fun action set pieces, comedic turns and well-drawn out characters and is a much-needed updating of the classic fairy tale.
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