Jack

Homes, A. M. (1989). Jack. New York: Macmillan.

Plot Summary

                      Jack is completely happy and carefree, until the day his dad moves out of his mother’s bedroom, and then out of the house completely.  Jack’s mother refuses to speak with her estranged husband and, even worse, for a while refuses to let him see his son.  Caught in the middle and clueless as to why any of this is happening, Jack struggles to adjust to this new life and the absence of his father.  Then comes the day when his father rows him out to the middle of a lake where he can’t escape and drops the bomb that will change their lives forever: he left because he is gay, and he is living with a man – a friend of the family, no less, that Jack has known for years.  Jack is stunned, angry, and more than anything, confused.  There are so many questions and no good answers.  As he fights to come to terms with this, he discovers that it isn’t only his family who appeared perfect on the outside but was riddled with secrets on the inside.  This is the story of Jack as he grows up and learns hard lessons about the world around him, and a close examination of love, family, and the ties that bind people even through extreme hardship.

Critical Analysis

                          One of the true strengths of A.M. Homes is her ability to create characters that are selfish, flawed, and truly likable all at once.  Jack reacts horribly to the news that his father is gay, but his is saved from the role of spoiled brat because the reader knows his heart is good and his anger and venom come from a shock and a lack of understanding.  Jack’s mother can be equally mercurial and selfish, and his father is unreasonable in his expectations.  Jack’s best friend is boorish and dense, and no help at all throughout the difficult situations they both experience.  That having been said, all of these characters are real and relatable; their reactions are realistic, not orchestrated for dramatic effect.  This reads almost like a nonfiction book in its honesty.  The dialog is true to teenagers without being too dated or corny, and the bullying pointed at Jack once the secret comes out is on par with the ignorance and cruelty everyone experienced in one way or another at this age.  Every character in this story evolves and comes to terms at least somewhat, but not in an orchestrated, unrealistic way.  Following a very upsetting incident with a family friend and domestic violence, Jack sees his parents pull together and reconnect as they haven’t been able to do since the divorce.  This does not happen overnight, but years after the split – a very realistic timeline for a family experiencing this kind of rift.  Alongside this story is a more normal one: that of Jack’s first real relationship.  He experiences sexual tension and bumbling inability to act normal around the girl he is dating.  These scenes are endearing and true to life and show the contrast between the normal pressures of adolescence and the difficult family issues Jack is dealing with as well.  On the whole, this is a well-executed coming of age story with an important message about understanding diversity.

Reader’s Annotation

                                 Jack’s family is perfect – or so it seems until his father is suddenly gone from the house and his parents can’t hold a conversation without fighting.  When Jack’s father tells him the real reason behind the split, that he is gay, Jack must deal with his own complicated feelings about this as well as the backlash when everyone else finds out.

About the Author

                            A.M. Homes was born in Washington D.C. and currently lives in New York City.  In addition to many novels and collections of short stories, she has also written a memoir detailing the true story of her birth and adoption and her quest for identity.  Among many other distinguished activities, she has been active on the board of Yaddo and The Writers’ Room, was writer and producer for the 2004 season of television hit The L Word, and is a regular contributor to such magazines as Zoetrope, McSweeney’s, and The New Yorker.

                            Several of her novels and short stories have been made into award-winning major motion pictures and made-for-television movies.  She has received many honors, including Fellowships from the John Simon Guggenheim Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Benjamin Franklin Award.  Her books have been translated into eighteen languages.

Genre

        Issues - GLBTQ parents

Challenge Issues

                          Possible challenge issues in this book include profanity, homosexuality, domestic violence, and sexual tension.  In the event of a challenge, I would consult the challenge defense file prepared for this book.  The challenge defense file would include: positive reviews from credible sources for the purpose of proving merit to the challenger; negative reviews in order to inform me on what might be challenged; a written explanation of my own rationale for including the book in the collection as well as a summary of the plot; the American Library Association Bill of Rights; a review of my branch’s selection policy; and, as a last resort, an explanation of the reconsideration policy for my library and an official reconsideration form.

Curriculum Ties

                         English and Writing: voice, character development, and story arc. 

Booktalk

              How would you feel if you found out your family had a huge secret that had been right under your nose for years?  That's what happens to Jack, meaning he has to deal not only with his parents' divorce, but with his sudden understanding that his father has been living a lie.  How he deals with this news is not always pretty, but it is always real.

Reading Level and Interest Age

                                                   Grades 8-12. 

                                                  

Why I Included This Book

                                          A.M. Homes is one of my very favorite authors.  Her young adult book is just as edgy and honest as her writing for adults, but true to the voice and feelings of a younger character.  She does not pull any punches or dumb anything down.  This reads exactly like A.M. Homes, just for a different audience.  Her truthful exploration of a difficult issue is important for teens to read and the realism will resonate with them.  This book would do well in a collection, both as a novel that addresses important issues, and a good coming of age story for anyone.

References

Homes, A.M. (n.d.). Biography. Retrieved from http://www.amhomesbooks.com/index.php?mode=text&section_id=111