Jo Knowles

Living with Jackie Chan

Candlewick Press

 

 

 

 

From the publisher: 

“After fathering a baby, a teenager moves in with his karate-loving uncle and tries to come to terms with his guilt -- and find a way to forgive.”

 

(A companion novel to 

Jumping Off Swings)

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Reviews:

 

“Undeniably Powerful”—The New York Times

 

Knowles’ knack for developing relationships and creating authentic and memorable characters is truly superior, and the story positively brims with intelligence, sensitivity and humor. Readers will be behind Josh all the way. —Kirkus (Starred Review)

 

Divided into four parts, the compelling narrative offers an honest and frank look at teen pregnancy from the male’s perspective, and while the book could have been a depressing read in another author’s hands, Knowles succeeds in writing a character-driven story that is as uplifting as it is heartbreaking. —School Library Journal (Starred Review)

 

This is an especially well-crafted sequel—readers need not have read the first book to get caught up in Josh’s agony...It follows Josh’s interior journey from self-hatred to self-forgiveness, as he slowly accepts that he’s a good person who made a bad choice, and takes the first step toward moving forward from it.  —Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

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This is the rarely told story of teen pregnancy from the other side—post-baby and from the guy’s perspective. Knowles is once again eloquent in her portrayal of real teens struggling to work through circumstance to better understand the liminal place between being a child and an adult. Living with Jackie Chan meets that elusive goal of filling a hole in young adult literature without preaching while still appealing to fans and being a hopeful, gratifying read.—VOYA

 

Knowles compassionately depicts the consequences of teen pregnancy from the boy’s perspective, and Josh’s journey—aided in no small part by the kind (and perky) wisdom of his uncle—is touching and honest. Josh’s anger, sadness, and regret are palpable, but his ultimate steps forward are quietly triumphant.  —Booklist

 

"Knowles also has created the best sensei to ever enter pop culture… While the kung fu master himself never enters the story, Living with Jackie Chan is a book that will leave you wanting to go on your own journey of self-discovery through martial arts…preferably with the help of Uncle Larry. —YA Books Central

 

"Jo Knowles composes a profound tale of growing up and learning to accept the past…LIVING WITH JACKIE CHAN is filled with amazingly lovable, brilliantly written characters. Uncle Larry is sure to be a favorite…LIVING WITH JACKIE CHAN is a beautiful story that will no doubt be remembered by readers. Knowles' writing is incredible." —TeenReads.com 

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"You can fly a long way off a swing if you’re desperate and pump hard enough. You can end up a long way from the park. Living with Jackie Chan is about trying to get your swing back – find your way back to the park. Jo Knowles writes with such compassion, such generosity of spirit, but not at the expense of a good hard look at the twisted shapes that pain and shame can take. The tiny voice up there crying in the middle of the night that you can’t escape. This is a lovely book." —Tim Wynne-Jones, author of Blink & Caution

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"I absolutely loved LIVING WITH JACKIE CHAN. On the outside, Josh is a tough, fledgling 'karate man,' but inside is where the real fight is going down. Knowles expertly navigates this complex 'guy' terrain," creating a novel you'll fall in love with." —Matt de la Peña, author of Ball Don't Lie

 

"Jo Knowles is a true karate writer, and if you want to know why, you must read this book." —Nancy Werlin, author of Impossible

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Awards:

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• A Junior Library Guild Selection

• YALSA Best Fiction For Young Adults

• The Westchester Fiction Award

• A NESCBWI Crystal Kite Finalist

• A Gerogia Peach Book Award Nominee

• A South Carolina Book Award Nominee