'Jamie's a Hero' - reviews

Jamie's plan
Jamie's 10 and is trying to be a hero.
He needs something at this tough time in his life. His mum and dad are divorced, school is difficult and he has nightmares and stomach aches.

But if he could do something special at school it might held.
'Jamie's A Hero' is for every kid who is hurt because parents live apart. It is for young readers, written by Susanne Gervay, and illustrated by Cathy Wilcox.

Super Scene Section for Kids in The Sun Herald

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Jamie's A Hero by Susanne Gervay

Well almost! Jamie desire to be special at a time in his life when he has to cope with separated parents. Good friends, a supportive Mum and a not too dreadful younger sister help him to overcome stomach aches and insecurities. This theme is interspersed with Jamie's comic and constant inventing, as he collects junk and builds all types of machines. The final invention is indeed a masterpiece. Illustrations by Cathy Wilcox add to the fun. While obviously tackling the emotions around family break-up, this novel used appropriate pace and humour to sustain interest. It explores emotional uncertainly and captures the gratification of achievement very well.

NSW Department of School Education, Curriculum Directorate

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'I'm trying to be a hero and I'm ten years old.'

But Jamie has terrible nightmares, he keeps getting pains in the stomach and he has to struggle against 'cowardly' fears of strangers and strange places which lie in wait, ready to overwhelm him. The only really heroic thing he manages is minding his sister Victoria, whom he saved from being hit by a car. He wants to be a hero, but it's tough ….

Despite the subject of the book being about divorce, 'Jamie's A Hero' is not depressing, for Jamie's voice throughout is brisk and matter-of-fact and his family group of mother and little sister are very real and likeable. Jamie's extended family of aunts and uncles become a major support for him and he learns to value them greatly. His experiences are not all 'tough' either; many of them are very funny.

Children will find a friend in 'Jamie's A Hero.'

From a literature review of children's books titles 'Books that help children' by Jan Fox written for MBF.

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