Knowing Jack [Kindle Edition]

This was a dark and twisting read as you followed Jack and his cousin through he snowy landscape of the English Lake District. Jack has a talent for knowing things that he shouldn't like where a neighbors missing keys can be found. Sadly for him it doesn't work as well when it comes to himself. Instead he only has a vague idea that something is going to happen followed by a blinding headache. Not much good when you're running for your life. The only thing that I felt a little disappointed about was how quickly this tale came to an end. After building you up for this great end it flashed past leaving me wishing for more drama. Still this was a great story with much to keep your eyes glued to the page.

12 year old Jack is gifted with a sixth sense. When his parents tell him they're all going to the Lake District for a winter holiday, young Jack is beside himself with worry. He has no idea why, he just knows they shouldn't be going!
Their destination is a remote cabin high in the woods. After the long drive they stop in a village, so that Jack's mother can buy provisions. While waiting for her, Jack notices a white van, the driver a large unpleasant, shifty looking character, glares at him. Jack is panic stricken, and it turns out with good reason!
His mother returns to the car and they continue their journey to the cabin. Jack's initial delight with the place is dampened by the arrival of his obnoxious, spoilt cousin, Rosie.
Jack's continued unease, along with Rosie's annoying presence compound his sense of doom, and it's not long before disaster strikes and Jack and Rosie are thrown together, and forced to survive the freezing weather as they try to elude the horrible man, Jack saw in the village.

Knowing Jack by Julie Elizabeth Powell is an exciting read...an adventure to be enjoyed by all ages. I loved the character of Jack. For one so young, he's strong and brave.
At first I found Rosie extremely annoying, which is down to the good writing of the author. However as I got immersed in the story, I began to like Rosie more and more.
Apart from the horrid man with the white van and his equally awful wife, the remaining characters in the story are pretty light weight.
There were some miner grammar issues. Also there were times, when the author called Rosie the girl and Jack the boy, which I found jarring...it broke the intimacy and connection I had with them. However, the story is so good, it didn't detract too much.
The author's descriptive skills are excellent. She wove a tale that drew you in and held you right the end.
I'm looking forward to reading more books by Julie Elisabeth Powell.

Knowing Jack is an exciting adventure book for preteens but also entertaining for adults. Twelve-year-old Jack has a sixth sense about the dangers surrounding a family vacation to spend Christmas in a cabin in the woods. On top of that, he is unhappy to spend time with his complaining cousin Rosie. When Jack's father is injured, the two children find themselves in a precarious situation. The action-packed scenes move at a fast pace and the conflict runs high as Jack and Rosie fend for themselves, ultimately fighting for their lives.

Because of Powell's well-told, vivid, engaging scenes, I felt the emotions of the characters and was immersed in the action.

Thematically, this is a story of survival, bravery, and determination as Jack risks his life for others.

Sandra Yuen MacKay, author