Jacob Two-Two on the High Seas

October 5, 2009
Fagan (the Kaspar Snit novels) continues the late Mordecai Richler’s three-book series starring an earnest boy whose name reflects the facts that he is “two plus two plus two years old” and that “nobody in his family ever heard him the first time, so he had to say everything two times.” Set after Richler’s first installment, Jacob Two-Two Meets the Hooded Fang
, this novel opens as the clan, relocating from England to Canada, ships out on the SS Spring-a-Leak
, skippered by an amusingly vain and clueless captain. Passengers include acrobat brothers, an inept ventriloquist, a luckless toy inventor and Jacob’s spunky new pal, Cindy. Droll interaction among the characters spins into slapstick when bumbling pirates board the ship and shanghai Jacob and Cindy as pirates-in-training. Fagan crafts a zany tale that kids (in the spirit of Jacob’s doublespeak) will want to read at least twice. Petricic, whose line art complements the story’s humor, also illustrates new reissues of Richler’s previous Jacob Two-Two titles. Ages 8–11.

December 1, 2009
Gr 3-4-Jacob Two-Two and his family are moving to Canada from England and have embarked on the SS "Spring-a-Leak, " along with other passengers who are various types of actors or entertainers. Unfortunately, Jacob finds that things are not all shipshape onboard as he and Cindy, a girl traveling with her mother, soon uncover some devious plans that result in them being captured by pirates. They were after what they thought was gold on the ship, but it turns out to be Cindy's pet mouse named Treasure. The two children end up on an island and are rescued by other passengers who put on a performance. The writing and plot are uninspired and even young readers will see how silly it is that the pirates decide to become actors. Part of a series that was originally written by Mordecai Richler and that has also been made into a cartoon series, this book has high adventure and black-and-white line drawings interspersed throughout. It might appeal to reluctant readers and those already familiar with the series."Clare A. Dombrowski, Amesbury Public Library, MA"

Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.