BEYOND JACK SQUAT
by Pat Frank
Llumina Press
PO Box 772246, Coral Springs, FL
www.llumina.com
Genre: Fiction
Rating: Good
ISBN: 9781595267108, $11.95, 205 pp.

Beyond Jack Squat is a historical novel about a young boy, Jack, born into poverty, left by his parents to be raised by his Uncle Clive who has to leave after breaking the law. Jack must choose between the orphanage or going on the road with his hobo friends. The road and Jack’s adventures with the people he meets are the heart of this novel.

In some ways, the telling of this story reminds me of Mark Twain’s tales of Tom Sawyer’s and Huck Finn’s adventures, but with a contemporary twist. Pat Frank’s writing style is straight forward and fast paced with a touch of colloquial dialogue . . . never a dull moment and thoroughly entertaining. Her chapters are short, and her characters are simple people with strong feelings, beliefs and real problems.

It is my opinion that Beyond Jack Squat could appeal to just about any reader for its storyline and Pat Frank’s quality of writing.

Reviewed by Kaye Trout - July 10, 2007