Calamity Jack

 

 Bibliography

Hale, Shannon, and Dean Hale. 2010. Ill. by Nathan Hale. Calamity Jack. New York: Bloomsbury. ISBN 9781599900766

Plot Summary

Calamity Jack is the exciting and fantastical story of Jack, a criminal mastermind.  When Jack discovers that his mother is being forced to make free bread for the giant, Blunderboar, he decides to teach the giant a lesson by stealing some of his valuables.  Jack uses a magic beanstalk to reach Blunderboar’s floating fortress, but when the beanstalk grows too big, Jack must make a quick getaway. Jack later returns to Shyport and realizes that Blunderboar has taken over the whole town and is holding his mother captive.  Jack, aided by a quirky band of friends, quickly formulates a plan to save his mother and get rid of Blunderboar forever. Calamity Jack is a unique take on the classic Jack and the Beanstalk tale.

Critical analysis

Shannon and Dean Hale have created a unique and exciting story in the graphic novel, Calamity Jack. Readers follow along as Jack, Rapunzel, and a couple of other loyal friends embark on an exciting journey to save Jack’s mother and their town. The story is full of fantasy and action with just a touch of romance.

Readers will root for Jack and Rapunzel as they struggle to defeat the giant, Blunderboar, and his league of minions. Jack admits that he is not perfect, but his desire to change makes him a likeable character. Jack's longing for approval and acceptance from his mother and Rapunzel will resonate with anyone that has ever sought forgiveness for poor choices. Rapunzel is a refreshing depiction of a strong female heroin. The Hales present Rapunzel as Jack’s equal and avoid the stereotypical “damsel in distress” scenario, thus creating an appealing story for both boys and girls alike.

The Hales’ combination of larger-than-life characters with the urban, old west creates a thrilling fantasy world. The authors’ use of onomatopoeia brings the text to life and adds excitement to the story. Calamity Jack contains minimal text, so most teens will have little trouble reading the story. Terms and phrases associated with the time period pepper the dialogue, adding authenticity to the story.

Nathan Hale does a brilliant job bringing the fantasy world of Shyport to life. He combines images associated with the old west, like period clothing, buildings, trains, and dirt roads with fantasy elements, like floating skyscrapers and giant creatures. Hale’s illustrations are vivid and detailed and are critical to the story.

Calamity Jack is based on the classic theme of good triumphing over evil. Although Jack was at once a thief, he attempts to mend his ways and save his mother and city from the giant. Despite Jack’s flaws, he is still the “good guy,” so readers can’t help but cheer for him as he defeats the evil Blunderboar in this exciting twist on Jack and the Beanstalk.

Awards

*YALSA’s Great Graphic Novels for Teens, 2011

Reviews

Booklist, 2009: “Shannon and Dean Hale have done an excellent job stretching the bones of the traditional fable into a high-action coming-of-age story that will keep young teen readers excited and engaged.”

Kirkus Reviews, 2009: “Readers will relish this gleeful mix of fairy tale, adventure and romance.’”

VOYA, 2009: “Nathan Hale (no relation) continues to draw in a clear and energetic style equally suited to the steampunk city as to the Wild West. Fans of the previous book will be happy to see this new installment, which should handily garner new fans as well.”

Connections

* Share Rapunzel’s Revenge by Shannon and Dean Hale.

*Ask students to write a short essay about what they think happens to Jack and Rapunzel after they return to Shyport.

*Ask students to share some ideas for other modern or unique versions of classic stories.