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81st out of 84 books
—
189 voters
Jake, Reinvented
There is a mysterious new student at Fitzgerald High, Jake Garret. He seems to have it all figured out. He looks like he just stepped off the cover of the J. Crew catalog, he is the best kicker the football team has ever had, and best of all, he hosts the party to go to every Friday night. All the guys want to be like him and all the girls want to date him, but Jake only h...more
Paperback, 224 pages
Published
June 22nd 2005
by Disney-Hyperion
(first published September 28th 2003)
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I'll be honest- I read this book because I will be teaching it in the fall in my English 11 class. It is a modern retelling of The Great Gatsby and we thought it might be a bit more accessible to the kids than the classic. We will probably offer the classic as some sort of extra credit project, unfortunately, but as much as I would like to teach it, there is only so much time in the trimester. So anyway, I didn't want to read this, I had to.
I'm glad I did! It was a good, quick read. I read Gatsb...more
I'm glad I did! It was a good, quick read. I read Gatsb...more
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REVIEW BY BETH
Jake, Reinvented struck me as a ‘boys’ book’ when I first began, with many references to American Football and guy stuff, which could put some readers off but not me. Knowing the novel was a clever teenage analogue of The Great Gatsby, which I’ve recently read for the first time, I devoured it and found the connections and links extremely well forged and intelligent, without seeming at all forced or overdone. I found the tone perfect for readers of 12+ and thought it managed to cle...more
Jake, Reinvented struck me as a ‘boys’ book’ when I first began, with many references to American Football and guy stuff, which could put some readers off but not me. Knowing the novel was a clever teenage analogue of The Great Gatsby, which I’ve recently read for the first time, I devoured it and found the connections and links extremely well forged and intelligent, without seeming at all forced or overdone. I found the tone perfect for readers of 12+ and thought it managed to cle...more
This book is unrealistic and makes me angry.What kind of father would let his son go parading around every weekend and have a party for the whole school to attend?Apparently a father that's gone every.single.weekend.The ending is stupid.No one was charged with setting fire to the house or at least causing it?No,the police were worried about finding a box full of essays that Jake wrote for college students.That would never.ever.happen.
"oh yea might as well look over to see if theirs essays that s...more
"oh yea might as well look over to see if theirs essays that s...more
jake,reinvented
by,Gordon Korman
review by breanna stiff
I once thought that high school drama was so over rated and and uninteresting that's until I read this book.it had me so interested keep wanting to read more.Gordon Korman is a legend for this book,it feels as though thir is really happening i mean,it made me feel as though i was there like in the party when nelson was finna kill jake all all of this drama and craziness over a girl.
jake is the reason I love this book how he endured all this,t...more
by,Gordon Korman
review by breanna stiff
I once thought that high school drama was so over rated and and uninteresting that's until I read this book.it had me so interested keep wanting to read more.Gordon Korman is a legend for this book,it feels as though thir is really happening i mean,it made me feel as though i was there like in the party when nelson was finna kill jake all all of this drama and craziness over a girl.
jake is the reason I love this book how he endured all this,t...more
How have I not read a book by Gordon Korman before? This one was a lot of fun -- Gatsby retold in a high school setting. An alum recommended using this as pre-read for Gatsby and I can totally see why. Particularly for struggling readers, the book quickly establishes all of the main characters, conflicts, and themes. Yes, many of the characters are shallow stereotypes; yes, it's doubtful that Jake could really make that much money doing what he's doing; and yes, the final party scene is pretty p...more
Nov 02, 2012
Michele.♥
rated it
1 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
disappointmenting-books
Rating 1.5
Before Reading: I didn't like the Great Gatsby but I love a good retelling! Hopefully this will be good.
After Reading: Here's a tip that's probably pretty obvious to everyone don't read a retelling of a book you didn't even like to begin with. It just doesn't make sense since you most likely won't like the retelling either. At least that's what happened with me with this book. The characters were irritating (the character who is supposed to be Gatsby just calls everyone baby each secon...more
Before Reading: I didn't like the Great Gatsby but I love a good retelling! Hopefully this will be good.
After Reading: Here's a tip that's probably pretty obvious to everyone don't read a retelling of a book you didn't even like to begin with. It just doesn't make sense since you most likely won't like the retelling either. At least that's what happened with me with this book. The characters were irritating (the character who is supposed to be Gatsby just calls everyone baby each secon...more
While I'm an unapologetic elitist who still thinks Korman's early books are his best and the later stuff fairly mediocre, Jake, Reinvented still does a good job of YA escapism. It's a totally unrealistic book (as most of Korman novels are, if we're being honest), but it gets at the heart of some real issues.
I was surprised, actually, at how smarmy this book actually is. I'm not used to a Korman book acknowledging underage drinking, cheating, house parties, and so forth, but here we are. And whil...more
I was surprised, actually, at how smarmy this book actually is. I'm not used to a Korman book acknowledging underage drinking, cheating, house parties, and so forth, but here we are. And whil...more
Prior to reading JAKE, REINVENTED, I had not read THE GREAT GATSBY, and I'm sure that that fact probably affected, and most likely dwindled, my appreciation of the novel, as JAKE, REINVENTED is a retelling of THE GREAT GATSBY, a modernized, young adult version of the classic story. JAKE, REINVENTED tells the story of a high school student who unexpectedly arrives at and becomes the new "hot stuff" of F. Scott Fitzgerald High School (named, by the author, Gordon Korman, after the author of THE GR...more
Two reasons I read this-blue cover and I'm about to teach Gatsby again. This is pretty much a teen version of the story. Jake throws huge parties every Friday night and EVERYONE is there even though he is new at Fitzgerald HIgh School. Like the OG story, it is told from an outside point of view-Rick. IF you are familiar with Gatsby you will recognize the similarities throughout. Instead of "old sport", Jake says "baby." He has a mysterious past and he pines for the most beautiful girl in the ne...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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Synopsis:
Jake Garret is the newest edition to Fitz High School. He's mysteriously dropped in from heaven, he's the best long snapper for the football team andis the host of THE party to be every Friday night. But Jake Garret is hiding something. But when he slips up and people learn his dirty little secret, lives suddenly are on the line.
Classification:
Target Audience: High School, Football crowds, "nerds"
Primary Purpose: To inform of how the outcasts feel, how to be yourself
Manner of Expression...more
Jake Garret is the newest edition to Fitz High School. He's mysteriously dropped in from heaven, he's the best long snapper for the football team andis the host of THE party to be every Friday night. But Jake Garret is hiding something. But when he slips up and people learn his dirty little secret, lives suddenly are on the line.
Classification:
Target Audience: High School, Football crowds, "nerds"
Primary Purpose: To inform of how the outcasts feel, how to be yourself
Manner of Expression...more
This reminded me of a simpler version of "The Great Gatsby." I enjoyed this light read over a fall weekend. The narrator, Ricky, is a likable high school character, dealing with the superficial world, trying to make sense of girls, friends, and himself. It was a bit overdone at times, but close enough to reality to keep it in my hands. Dipsy kept me laughing, and the love interest between Jen and Ricky was fun. The suspense was built well, but I've never been to any parties like the ones Jake ha...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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Mar 21, 2009
Miranda
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Young adults and adults alike
Shelves:
young-adult-novels
Korman did an EXCELLENT job in retelling the classic story THE GREAT GATSBY. Rick narrates the story of Jake -- Jacob -- Garrett who transforms his life to win the love of Didi (the Daisy character in TGG). The story is set in Fitzgerald High -- and all the main players are involved: Todd (Tom), Didi (Daisy, as mentioned), Jennifer (Jordan), Nelson (Wilson), Melissa (Myrtle) and Dipsy (Owl Eyes); even the many cars and wrecks are alluded to in Korman's novel.
Jennifer's character (Jordan Baker...more
Jennifer's character (Jordan Baker...more
I got two diametrically opposing recommendations about this book: one of them was that I'd love it (my students) and the other that I'd hate it (a fellow teacher). After reading the book, I have trouble explaining how I feel about it. I like the idea upon which the story is based: That it's possible to become so infatuated and absorbed in something (or someone) that you will do absolutely anything to get it. The way the story plays out, however, is a little strange. The main character is almost...more
This is one of the titles from my young adult literature class. This is suppose to be a good pairing for The Great Gatsby. The author dedicated the novel to Jay and Daisy. I'll keep you posted on my thoughts as I read this one!
Okay, this book makes me laugh, not because it's funny in the good belly laugh kind of way. It's funny because of the similarities to The Great Gatsby. This is the modern day, high school kid version of The Great Gatsby. The Jay Gatsby character is Jake Garret, the Daisy i...more
Okay, this book makes me laugh, not because it's funny in the good belly laugh kind of way. It's funny because of the similarities to The Great Gatsby. This is the modern day, high school kid version of The Great Gatsby. The Jay Gatsby character is Jake Garret, the Daisy i...more
Somewhere among "The Great Gatsby," "Can't Buy Me Love" and "The New Guy," the story of the one guy that cares about the outcome of the nerd gets lost in the perfect ending. "Jake, Reinvented" tells the story of the nerd turned cool from the best friend's perspective.
When Jake Garrett moves to town and becomes the king of all parties, the fashion plate for guys, the biggest thing in high school football since the plastic mouth-guard, people start looking for the catch. That is everyone but Rick...more
When Jake Garrett moves to town and becomes the king of all parties, the fashion plate for guys, the biggest thing in high school football since the plastic mouth-guard, people start looking for the catch. That is everyone but Rick...more
Korman's a versatile writer who can seemingly span MG - YA with ease. Jake, Reinvented is YA, about a new kid at school named Jake who has undergone a transformation in order to get the unattainable girl. The story is told through the eyes of main character Rick, who wonders who the new kid is, and what kind of secret he's hiding. The teens are portrayed fairly stereotypically, especially the girls, but the book has humor and the MC does learn something in the end.
I really didn't like this book. When I read the back of the book, I thought, ok, this book sounds interesting and it's by Gordon Korman, so it has to be good. Wrong! The book leads up to a suspenceful peak, and just drops. The story is about a football player who befriends the "new guy". This new guy seems really cool and fun to hang around, but he has a dark secret that will change everything. Trust me, the book is not as interesting as it sounds.
I thought this book be great for anybody around my age. This book was probably the most interesting book I have every read. All the twists and turns in this book make it exciting all the way through.
This book was about a kid that showed up at Fitz Highschool and all of a sudden became all that. After a little bit people start wonder how be became so popular. With a very exciting climax this book was very good.
Thank you, John Deradoorian
This book was about a kid that showed up at Fitz Highschool and all of a sudden became all that. After a little bit people start wonder how be became so popular. With a very exciting climax this book was very good.
Thank you, John Deradoorian
The library did this as part of the Big Read Newport, to go along with the Great Gatsby. Korman is totally a hack, and his pre-packaged tricks were annoying at first. All in all, though, it's not a bad story--it's the sort of thing that I wish I'd read when I was a kid. But I still think it's unnecessary. The only two teens we've had really participate are reading Gatsby, which is better anyway.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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I remember grabbing this on a whim for some air of mysticism the title held in my eighth grade mind. Imagine how surprised I was to see the same plot retold two years later when I read The Great Gatsby for my sophomore English class! I respect it for being a more accessible variant to the dated atmosphere that the original exudes so thickly.
Cute little The Great Gatsby thing. I guess if you only cared about themes and wanted them watered down and geographically/historically off, completely disregarded language, it could be a fun read for someone who found Gatsby too difficult. Or a fun little YAL book for someone who'd never heard of gatsby before. Cute, clever, funnish.
Luke has to read this for a teen book club, so obviously it was important that I read it first... I'm a sucker for YA lit that shows up in my house. Modeled after The Great Gatsby, several of the book's passages brought Gatsby to mind, usually in a pleasant way. The high school party scenes ring true, if frightening.
If I could have given less than one star, I would have. I read this because it is on my high schooler's summer reading list. What an awful book for a high schooler! Sure, let's just inform them of all the trouble they can get into so they can find it easily! What was this author thinking?!?
Jake, Reinvented has been a fabulous way for me to teach The Great Gatsby in a high school resource room English setting. My students have been able to make many connections between the two texts. I wish the ending was more true to the original story, but overall a great book for teens.
This book is pretty good, but it is not my favorite Gordon Korman book. If you are reading it for the football, you will be disappointed. If you are, I would suggest POP, or The Zucchini Warriors. Younger kids might not enjoy t, but it is a good read for Young Adults 14-18.
A blatant rip-off of The Great Gatsby. It's not reinvented; it's simply a knockoff of a great book. This isn't worth your time at all. Stick to The Great Gatsby and you'll be much happier. This doesn't deserve any stars. If 1 star means didn't like it, I need some negative stars.
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
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| Brief Summary of the Novel!!!!!!!!! | 1 | 81 | Feb 19, 2009 07:36pm |
Korman wrote his first book, "This Can't be Happening at Macdonald Hall", when he was 12 years old, for a coach who suddenly found himself teaching 7th grade English. He later took that episode and created a book out of it, as well, in "The Sixth Grade Nickname Game", wherein Mr. Huge was based on that 7th grade teacher.
Korman moved to New York City, where he studied film and film writing. While i...more
More about Gordon Korman...
Korman moved to New York City, where he studied film and film writing. While i...more
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