- Library Binding
- Publisher: San Val (Feb 2004)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0613972740
- ISBN-13: 978-0613972741
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Philip Pullman is in fine fettle in this cracking little book--a rip-roaring, quick-witted adventure story of the very best kind, told in words and pictures. Here we have the stirring tale of three defenceless little orphans as they attempt to escape from the Alderman Cawn-Plaster Memorial Orphanage one dark and stormy London night . Closely watched by Mack the Knife and other such villainous villains, they weave their way across the dark and dangerous streets of the city in constant fear of being caught and returned to the care of the rancid Mr Killjoy and his horribly horrid assistant.
Enter Spring Heeled Jack, the hooded superhero to beat all hooded superheroes, dressed like the devil and ready for action against the evil-doers and scallywags of the city's dark streets.
A boisterous, daredevil tale that proves that the award-winning Pullman has certainly lost none of his magic touch. Great stuff. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
Product Description
Deep in the murkiest back streets of old London town, three children are escaping from an orphanage. But lurking in the fog, watching Rose, Lily and Ned, is a king among villains - Mack the Knife!
A dreadful fate looks certain until, from out of nowhere, a figure with glowing, red eyes appears. He leaps through the air like a firework - it's Spring-Heeled Jack, scourge of evil-doers!
--This text refers to the Paperback edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
114 of 114 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
As a 14-year-old, some may think that this book is a bit too young for me, but that is not so. We chose to review this book in my Philip Pullman fan club, and I found it fantastic beyond my expectations. Philip Pullman merges fantastic plots with mesmerising writing skill, in a book that will have 3 year olds to 103 year olds on the edge of their seats. The story tells of children, eager to escape their cruel orphanage in victorian London to travel to America. But evil Mack the Knife captures their locket which is their only method of paying for this trip, and all hope is lost..... but then, Spring heeled jack comes along - a super-hero who closely resembles the devil, and "if he wasn't the devil, then who the devil was he?" as Philip Pullman says. This is a stunning book, funny, scary, even tearful in places - and it deserves to be put on the list of the best childrens' books ever. Philip Pullman has written amazing books for older children, most notably the "His Dark Materials" trilogy, but this is the perfect book for younger, and older readers alike. I only wish I had read this when I was 8.... I would have worshipped it :-)
9 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Set in Victorian London, the book is an interesting and positive spin on `Spring-Heeled Jack', a mysterious character which caused widespread panic throughout the south of England in the 1800's. Documented as being a sinister and superhuman being with the ability to jump buildings in a single bound, Philip Pullman draws upon previous documentation that describe Spring-Heeled Jack as the precursor to Batman.
The story's main characters are three young children that escape the clutches of a poorly run orphanage, in search of a new life. With each danger that the streets bring, Spring-Heeled Jack is there to protect them.
This novel combines the use of comic book strips throughout, which could serve as a vehicle to help the low-level reader through the novel. These fabulous illustrations also help the young reader in understanding the standard of living for people in Victorian London.
Could be used as further reading for Year 5, possibly tied in with a project on historical London, or relatively recent mythology. In regards to literacy, the book could be used to discuss themes that occur in writer's work, and the comparisons that could be made between this and Philip Pullman's later novels, and the difference in language used by Victorian characters.
The story's main characters are three young children that escape the clutches of a poorly run orphanage, in search of a new life. With each danger that the streets bring, Spring-Heeled Jack is there to protect them.
This novel combines the use of comic book strips throughout, which could serve as a vehicle to help the low-level reader through the novel. These fabulous illustrations also help the young reader in understanding the standard of living for people in Victorian London.
Could be used as further reading for Year 5, possibly tied in with a project on historical London, or relatively recent mythology. In regards to literacy, the book could be used to discuss themes that occur in writer's work, and the comparisons that could be made between this and Philip Pullman's later novels, and the difference in language used by Victorian characters.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
9 reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
All's well that ends well.
14 May 2002
Format:Hardcover
I've just finished reading it to my 6 and 8 year olds. "Read, read," they roared when I threatened to stop and put them to bed. With some of the narrative drive of Raold Dahl, Pullman leavens his darkness with a brilliant combination of cheeky humor, self-satire, post modern machinations all set in a Dickensian London. My only complaint: the kids were so excited they couldn't fall asleep. Me too.
10 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Doesn't "Spring" high enough
30 Oct 2002
Format:Hardcover
It's a Dickensian Batman, a Victorian Superman. Up on the roof: It's a bird! It's a cat! It's Spring-Heeled Jack, the devil-costumed defender of truth and justice. Unfortunately, while Jack has some intriguing possibilities, they're never used enough in this lackluster little novel.
Rose, Lily and Ned have escaped from the rotten orphanage (their mom is dead and their father is missing), with plans to sell a valuable locket and travel to America. But they are attacked by Mack the Knife, "the most evil villain in London," who kidnaps Ned. Lily and Rose are rescued by a mysterious figure who resembles the devil. But it's not a devil, it's Spring-Heeled Jack, who perkily informs them, "I'm good. I catch villains. I avenge wrongs. I do all kinds of stuff." (But does he slice, dice, and freshen your breath while you sleep?)
Jack takes Lily and Rose to his friend Polly, unaware that the sinister boss and amoral old maid from the orphanage are after the three children, intending to steal the locket as well. Will Spring-Heeled Jack rescue the incredibly outspoken Ned from a gang of thugs? Will he rescue the girls from Mr. Killjoy and Miss Gimlet?
One of the problems with "Spring-Heeled Jack" is the narrative. It's split between comic-strip-style cartoons and regular text -- and unfortunately neither the text or the cartoons can stand alone in telling the story. This jarring transition might be exciting for very young children, especially if a parent is reading the story out loud, but older kids will probably find it jarring. And unfortunately while corny dialogue can be stomached in the cartoon format, the regular narrative just makes it sound trite.
This cutesy arrangement also harms the characters, as every one of them is essentially a stereotype except Spring-Heeled Jack himself. There are the kindly young lovers, the evil orphanage owners, the unusually patient murdering robbers, the loyal pooch and the plucky preteens. With the exception of a very witty cartoon kitchen cat, Jack himself is the only interesting character in the bunch. He's also the most underexposed, since he is present perhaps a fourth of the time that the bland Polly is.
Fans of Philip Pullman's charming "I Was A Rat!" and "Firework-Maker's Daughter" will be disappointed in this calculatedly cutesy tale. One to pass by.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Fun story for kids and adults alike.
25 Jun 2009
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book is a fun, Victorian sort of superhero tale. It's not a long book at all, but that seems like it would be perfect for young readers. I like that some parts of the dialogue are done in comic form, and that there are little funny illustrations on a lot of the pages. I thought that was a great idea, and well-executed. The story is simple, three orphans trying to escape from their dodgy wardens and get on a ship to America. I like that you never find out very much about Spring-Heeled Jack, even at the end of the book, which means that the character still has a lot of mystery to him. I feel like this character could easily become part of a series, and I hope that Pullman will consider writing more adventures for Spring-Heeled Jack.
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