Overview
Jackson, a bona fide numbers freak, has never lived outside the city before. But his mother whisked them away to the suburbs after witnessing some after hours "dealing" at the casino she performed in, hoping they could just disappear. Soon, strange phone calls start making his mother nervous, a mysterious car keeps driving by their house, and a crazy driver almost runs him down. His new friend Asim recognizes these threatening tactics from his childhood as an enemy of Sadaam in Iraq. Still, Jackson is hoping to keep the growing danger a secret from his new girlfriend, Esmerelda. Until one night she disappears raising the stakes in a dangerous game where all bets are off.
Prepared to be glued to your seat by this character-driven mystery novel filled with math, gangsters, and a just a touch of OCD.
Synopsis
Jackson, a bona fide numbers freak, has never lived outside the city before. But his mother whisked them away to the suburbs after witnessing some after hours "dealing" at the casino she performed in, hoping they could just disappear. Soon, strange phone calls start making his mother nervous, a mysterious car keeps driving by their house, and a crazy driver almost runs him down. His new friend Asim recognizes these threatening tactics from his childhood as an enemy of Sadaam in Iraq. Still, Jackson is hoping to keep the growing danger a secret from his new girlfriend, Esmerelda. Until one night she disappears raising the stakes in a dangerous game where all bets are off.
Prepared to be glued to your seat by this character-driven mystery novel filled with math, gangsters, and a just a touch of OCD.
VOYA
Jackson-who is obsessed with numbers and slightly obsessive-compulsive-and his mother have just moved from the city to the suburbs. On the run from his mother's previous employer, a mob boss, he begins to adjust to a new way of life. He is helped by friendships with Esmerelda, the girl who lives across the street, and Asim, a Kurdish refugee. Asim and Esmerelda help Jackson begin to negotiate life in the suburbs, including avoiding the local bully. Jackson begins to settle into his new life and a deeper relationship with Esmerelda when his mother begins to get phone calls in the middle of the night and a strange car is seen prowling the neighborhood. Told in the alternating first-person narratives of Jackson and Esmerelda, the novel does a great job of establishing these two characters. It hits the standard points in any coming-of-age novel (fitting in, first love, body image, etc.), but the alternating viewpoints give it a kind of freshness. Unfortunately the novel tends to wander at times, forgetting the mystery altogether in order to concentrate on the day-to-day lives of the protagonists. Although it helps to make the book a largely satisfying coming-of-age novel, the mystery aspect suffers. Ultimately the solution and the climax of the mystery seem tacked on and artificial.
Editorials
VOYA -
Jackson-who is obsessed with numbers and slightly obsessive-compulsive-and his mother have just moved from the city to the suburbs. On the run from his mother's previous employer, a mob boss, he begins to adjust to a new way of life. He is helped by friendships with Esmerelda, the girl who lives across the street, and Asim, a Kurdish refugee. Asim and Esmerelda help Jackson begin to negotiate life in the suburbs, including avoiding the local bully. Jackson begins to settle into his new life and a deeper relationship with Esmerelda when his mother begins to get phone calls in the middle of the night and a strange car is seen prowling the neighborhood. Told in the alternating first-person narratives of Jackson and Esmerelda, the novel does a great job of establishing these two characters. It hits the standard points in any coming-of-age novel (fitting in, first love, body image, etc.), but the alternating viewpoints give it a kind of freshness. Unfortunately the novel tends to wander at times, forgetting the mystery altogether in order to concentrate on the day-to-day lives of the protagonists. Although it helps to make the book a largely satisfying coming-of-age novel, the mystery aspect suffers. Ultimately the solution and the climax of the mystery seem tacked on and artificial.School Library Journal
Gr 6-9
A fast-paced, character-driven mystery from Australia. Jackson Ford, 13, is obsessed with numbers, especially even numbers, and most especially the number 8. When his mother, a casino lounge singer, unintentionally witnesses a drug deal involving the manager, they flee from the city to the suburbs. Jackson begins to like his new surroundings when he meets Esmerelda, the beautiful girl across the street, and Asim, a Kurdish immigrant. But strange phone calls and a mysterious Mustang with the ominous license plate "777" signal that he and Mum are still in danger. Badman, the class bully, is mistaken for Jackson and, along with Ez, kidnapped and taken to the casino. Jackson and Asim confront the gangsters, rescuing Ez and Badman (who turns out to be not so bad). The four friends form a garage band with Ez as lead singer. Fienberg uses humor and appealing figurative language to handle numerous themes, including immigration, bullies, and absent parents. Alternating between Jackson's and Esmerelda's voices, the narrative relates Ez's changing relationship with her parents, her difficulties with math, her struggle to get free of her bossy friend's influence, and her growth as a singer. Jackson's developing self-confidence and acceptance of his obsessive-compulsive behavior, with his need to do everything in sets of fours, are handled realistically. A great choice for music devotees and self-professed number freaks, this novel will also have wide appeal for readers who enjoy action or romance.
—Connie Tyrrell BurnsCopyright 2006 Reed Business Information.