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Title: Jackaroo: A Novel of the Kingdom by Cynthia Voigt ISBN: 0-689-86435-3 Publisher: Simon Pulse Pub. Date: 01 July, 2003 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $5.99 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.2 (35 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Excellent, thought-provoking read
Comment: I read this book many, many years ago for the first time and was so enchanted by it, I had to have my own copy. To this day, JACKAROO and the "sequel" ON FORTUNE'S WHEEL bring to the forefront what it was like to live in a period where, depending on what station you were born into, you stayed in that station. People who expect action out of two dimensional characters should try reading the "Pick your own adventure" books, because the plotline in JACKAROO is obviously too advanced. Let the book do what it's supposed to do: take you to a different place and time, regardless of whether or not there's action on every page.
Rating: 2
Summary: A Disappointment
Comment: After reading the reviews on this page, I had high expectations for this young adult fantasy novel. While Gwyn is an admirable heroine and the "Jackaroo" legend at the core of the book is a great plot idea, the overall story has many flaws. The two young boys, Tad and the young Lord Gaderian, have no personality and they don't act or talk realistically for children. Except for Gwyn, all of the characters are stereotypical and boring. Even characters who figure significantly in the story, like Burl and Cam, are totally forgettable, with no distinguishing personality features.
The fictional world is also lacking in creativity. Called simply the "Kingdom," it contains the "Inn," the "Village" and the "King's City." Come on, we could think of better place names than that! The common people are oppressed by the wealthy Lords, but no explanation is offered for the root causes of this situation, what the Lords are really up to, and why even they can't leave the "Kingdom."
There is a certain gritty realism here in that the novel depicts a bleak upbringing without material comforts and security. In this I'm reminded of Margaret J. Anderson's "Searching for Shona" and "To Nowhere and Back," which I recommend reading instead of Jackaroo. They also feature strong heroines in bleak fictional landscapes, but they are more convincingly written.
Rating: 5
Summary: Interesting start for a great saga
Comment: I've now read all the books in the Kingdom saga, and I must say I enjoyed it very much. The great thing is, all the books are connected, and you can see character traits from previous books in the new characters! Jackaroo is an interestingly deep look at the life of the Innkeeper's daughter, and how her voyage to help people becomes very dangerous. She is a strong and good character, and the supporting characters have depth. I especially liked her relationship with her brother, who seems bratty at first but becomes better, and their servant, who turns out to be more than he appears to be.
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Title: On Fortune's Wheel by Cynthia Voigt ISBN: 0689829574 Publisher: Simon Pulse Pub. Date: 01 October, 1999 List Price(USD): $5.50 |
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Title: The Wings of a Falcon by Cynthia Voigt ISBN: 0590467131 Publisher: Scholastic Pub. Date: 01 June, 1995 List Price(USD): $4.99 |
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Title: Elske by Cynthia Voigt ISBN: 0689844441 Publisher: Simon Pulse Pub. Date: 12 June, 2001 List Price(USD): $10.00 |
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Title: Orfe by Cynthia Voigt ISBN: 0689848684 Publisher: Simon Pulse Pub. Date: 01 February, 2002 List Price(USD): $4.99 |
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Title: Tree By Leaf by Cynthia Voigt ISBN: 0689835272 Publisher: Aladdin Paperbacks Pub. Date: 01 May, 2000 List Price(USD): $4.99 |
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