Grades 3-6. Jack, or Otherjack (as there was already a boy named Jack) spent the first twelve year of his life avoiding trouble and floggings at all costs.In fact, he "skipped over trouble, danced over trouble, slid under trouble, melted away from trouble, talked his way out of trouble and slipped between two close troubles like a cat through a picket fence (pg. 16)". One day Jack is called into the schoolmaster's office and is told that he has been given the opportunity to apprentice as a bookkeeper. He is so excited! At least, until he can't keep the columns neat or get the numbers to add. To escape the tough life at the Opportunities School for Orphans and Foundlings, Jack runs away with his favorite dictionary in tow.

This charming children's chapter book is a winner of the IODE Violet Downey award. Jack is a aimable character whose love for words and dictionaries allows for clever ways to introduce new and bigger words to young readers. A cute and fun read. ( )

This clever tale is about an orphan who runs away from the orphanage after he learns that he will spend his life as a bookkeeper. The book is especially good about introducing more difficult words to young readers as Jack's most prized posession is a dictionary. The story may be a little slow and the illustrations, while nice, do not add much, but children who enjoy stories about kids out on their own, will likely enjoy this book as well. ( )

I really enjoyed the style of this story - Jack is an orphan, and is delighted to hear he will be apprenticed to a bookkeeper - how wonderful to be responsible for protecting books! The book is full of patterns, wordplay, and fun. It reads aloud very well. ( )