Age: 12 How many books have you read? 100+
Have you read a book that you just couldn't put down, if so, what was it called?
The Ishmael series, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and the Alex Rider series.
Do you have a favourite series? The Ishmael series
Who are your favourite authors? Jeff Kinney, and Michael Gerard Bauer
Which genre do you like to read the most? Action/Comedy
If you could turn any of your favourite books into a movie, which would it be?
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By: Susanne Gervay,
on 6/28/2011
Blog: Susanne Gervay's Blog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: News, Shaun Tan, CBCA, Literary events, Sarah Davis, Sue Whiting, Christopher Cheng, Cathy Wilcox, Margaret Roc, Donna Rawlings, Nina Rycroft, The Hughenden Hotel Woollahra, author Jill Bruce, J.C. Burke, author Mary Small of Tracey McBean animation, Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir Governor of NSW, Jill Bruce, Lesley MacKay's Bookshop, Margaret Hamilton OAM, Maurice Saxby OAM, Wendy Smith CBCA Book Judge, Add a tag
Wandering through the Reading Room exhibiting children’s illustrations by wonderful artists such as Cathy Wilcox, Sarah Davis, Shaun Tan, Donna Rawlings, Nina Rycroft, the Children’s Book Council gathered in the warm candle-lit sun lounge of The Hughenden.
Everyone was waiting for Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir, Governor of NSW and patron of the Children’s Book Council.
Carol Keeble Pesident of the CBCA (NSW), Maurice Saxby a father of Australian children’s literature and Margaret Hamilton former President of the Children’s Book Council, the CBCA Foundation and a leading literary figure in Australia welcomed the Governor.
It was a wonderful evening of fine food, the company of authors and the children’s literary community.
Some of the authors included J.C. Burke, Christopher Cheng, Sue Whiting, Mary Small, Jill Bruce, Margaret Roc joining the President of the CBCA NSW and supporters to discuss books, listen to an address by Jill Bruce the new judge of the CBCA Awards and Wendy Smith the outgoing judge.
Fabulous night with everyone lingering on to share good company, food and celebrate children’s books.
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By: Susanne Gervay,
on 10/8/2010
Blog: Susanne Gervay's Blog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: I AM JACK, Cathy Wilcox, Boomerang Books, NSW Cancer Council, Always Jack by Susanne Gervay, National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre, Add a tag
FRIDAY BOOK FEATURE – ALWAYS JACK
There were so many things I loved about Susanne Gervay’s new book, Always Jack, just released this month by HarperCollins.
Jack is an irresistible character. He’s kind and funny but with the normal insecurities of a boy who comes from a blended family, wondering if his stepfather Rob loves his own son, Leo more.
But Jack doesn’t dwell on it too much. He has great friends, a family who loves him and a house full of quirky pets.
This all comes crashing down when his mother is diagnosed with breast cancer and Jack realizes that there are more important things to worry about than his stepbrother Leo, who really isn’t such a bad guy.
Mum and Rob’s wedding is postponed while she undergoes treatment for the cancer and it takes Jack’s sense of humour and all his courage to cope with what’s happening. Like everything in his life, Jack deals with the situation with optimism and honesty. He also draws on the support of his good friends, Christopher and Anna.
Susanne Gervay tackles a difficult subject on a level that kids will relate to and without sentimentality. Her honesty and the authenticity of the character’s feelings and reactions are what make this story so poignant.
Always Jack is an extraordinary story about ordinary people. It’s a simply told story, but far from simple, delving into a difficult issue in a way that kids will relate to and will make them think ‘it’s okay to feel this way’.
I hesitate to put an age range on Always Jack because it’s the sort of book that could be read by ten to twelve-year olds, but older kids and even adults will also get a lot out of it.
Cathy Wilcox’s amazing cartoons scattered throughout the book help balance the intensity of the subject matter.
The author draws on her own experiences of surviving cancer and as the Cancer Council NSW says, Susanne Gervay’s Always Jack makes it safe for children, parents and the wider community to talk about cancer.
If you enjoyed reading
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By: Susanne Gervay,
on 11/21/2009
Blog: Susanne Gervay's Blog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: News, Bullying, Writing, Kids Books, I AM JACK, Room to Read, School bullying, Cathy Wilcox, Stan Davis, Add a tag
My eye balls are red, my caffeine intake high, as I dedicate myself to speaking on radio to the USA at 1 and 2 and 3 and … in the morning. I was slapping my face to stay awake and I’m not into self-harm.
What I do for JACK!!!!!!
The USA radio interviewers are friendly and loved my Australian accent. I hope they love I Am Jack too. They are really interested in the anti-school bullying theme that drives I Am Jack.
My next interview is 3 am Sunday 6th December USA time.
By: Susanne Gervay,
on 10/22/2009
Blog: Susanne Gervay's Blog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Cathy Wilcox, Super Jack, Always Jack, National Breast Cancer Foundation Australia, nbcf, pink ribbon, Writing, Kids Books, I AM JACK, The Hughenden, Charities, Add a tag
I Am Jack, Super Jack and now - Always Jack
Kids ALWAYS know when a parent goes out at night for their ‘adult’ functions that they’ll be run-over, have an accident, not come home …. so they ring heaps of times, fall asleep waiting at the window, wait and wait … they are afraid.
When I got breast cancer and my kids were 6 and 9 years old, they were afraid. AlWAYS JACK is the book I’ve ALWAYS wanted to write for my kids and all those other kids waiting for their parents to come home.
It’s about giving kids a voice when your Mum gets sick. Working out what happens with cancer and that the world will be safe.
Just finished the manuscript. Cathy Wilcox will illustrate it. It’ll be published for Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October 2010 and be part of the National Breast Cancer Foundation campaign. www.nbcf.org.au
Remember to Buy a Pink Ribbon for our kids.
- Super Jack
- I Am Jack
By: Susanne Gervay,
on 10/15/2009
Blog: Susanne Gervay's Blog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: I AM JACK, Room to Read, The Hughenden, Charities, Cathy Wilcox, Monkey Baa Theatre for Young People, Tricycle press USA, News, Bullying, Writing, Kids Books, Add a tag
Susanne Gervay’s I am Jack takes the reader into the mind of a likeable 11-year-old kid named Jack who becomes a bullying victim. Based on true events that happened to her own son, Gervay relates via this story the difference between good-natured joshing and mean-spirited teasing, and how easily the teasing morphs into bullying.
Often, children try to talk to us adults about it, but we don’t make time for them. Or, we wonder about unusual behavior or comments, but never follow up. A bullied child may feign sickness, skip classes, or hide out in safe areas of the school, always living in fear. Their schoolwork may suffer, not to mention the victim’s self-esteem. The bully, too, becomes increasingly bold and powerful, completely unconcerned about his aggressive behavior.
The protagonist of I am Jack experiences all the above, yet is hesitant to approach busy parents or teachers. A friend ultimately takes that first step to helping Jack. But, it’s Jack who decides not to run. There are lessons in this book for all to take to heart, whether we are teachers, parents, friends, family, or members of the community.
What I liked especially about I am Jack is that the author not only discusses bullying, but the steps adults – and kids – can take to stop it cold. The book will be a formidable tool for empowering both kids and parents, and is written in a warm, engaging style to boot. I am Jack has been used by Australia’s educators, and produced as a play as well.
By Deb Kincaid for Bookloons USA
By: Aline Pereira,
on 9/6/2009
Blog: PaperTigers (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Uncategorized, I Am Jack, Susanne Gervay, Morris Gleitzman, The Patchwork Path: A Quilt Map to Freedom, Cathy Wilcox, Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen, Meredith Hooper, Lynne Cherry, Mark J. Plotkin, The Shaman's Apprentice, Albert Uderzo, Aaron Boyd, Babu's Song, Ambelin Kwaymullina, Bert Kitchen, Bettye Stroud, Erin Susanne Bennet, Ezekiel Kwaymullina, Not so Fast Songololo, René Goscinny, Super Jack, The Two-Hearted Numbat, Toad Away, Tom Crean's Rabbit, Add a tag
I realise that the last update I gave of our progress in the PaperTigers Reading the World Challenge 2009 was just beyond the half-way point - however, the deadline was over a month ago now, at the end of July, so I thought I’d better round it off!
For our last three books we read together:
Toad Away by Morris Gleitzman (Puffin, 2004). All about a brave cane toad wanting to make friends with the human race and traveling with two cousins to the Amazon to find out the secret of their ancestors as to how to achieve this… My two loved this and laughed uproariously at the rather revolting antics that cane toads are wont to get up to. I have to admit that I would probably have encouraged them to read this one on their own if I’d realised at the outset what it was going to be like - but actually, it was good to be a part of something that so appealed to their typical-boy sense of humor…
Super Jack by Susanne Gervay, illustrated by Cathy Wilcox (Angus & Robertson, 2003). The sequel to I Am Jack, this story focuses on Jack’s relationship with his family, especially the newly-introduced son of Rob, his Mum’s boy-friend. A family holiday intended to help everyone get to know each other is certainly eventful before the desired outcome is achieved… This is to be recommended to older children who may be trying to make sense of complex family relationships in their own lives.
Tom Crean’s Rabbit: A True Story from Scott’s Last Voyage by Meredith Hooper, illustrated by Bert Kitchen (Frances Lincoln, 2005). A very special, true story which is a great way to introduce early Antarctic exploration to young children - you can read a review from Create Readers here. This had the added kudos for my children of being a story which their grandad, who spent a year in the Antarctic quite a long time ago now, did not know…
Older Brother rounded off his Book Challenge with 
The Patchwork Path: A Quilt Map to Freedom by Bettye Stroud and illustrated by Erin Susanne Bennet (Candlewick Press, 2005); Not so Fast Songololo by Niki Daly (Frances Lincoln, 2001); and a launch into the Asterix books by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo.
Little Brother read: The Two-Hearted Numbat by Ambelin & Ezekiel Kwaymullina (Fremantle Press, 2008); The Shaman’s Apprentice by Lynne Cherry (also the illustrator) and Mark J. Plotkin (Voyager Books, Harcourt, 2001) (which Older Brother had also read…); and Babu’s Song by Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen and illustrated by Aaron Boyd (Lee & Low, 2003).
If you took part in this year’s Challenge, it would be great to hear from you - whether you completed it or not.
Next year may or may not follow a similar rubric - we are open to suggestions…
What a great idea for a series. From the horse's mouth, as they say...
Hi Julie,
I love observing and chatting to kids about what they like to read. It gives a fascinating insight to writing for a particular age group/ target audience.