Jam Sessions

by Jerry Harwood

Meet Phillip. His mom relocates him to a new school in the middle of the school year.

Things do not go well. Phillip lands himself a trip to the dean of student’s office when he tries to forge his mother’s signature. Maybe if he spelled her name correctly it would have gone better.

Phillip also finds himself having more and more anxiety. And the song some bullies are singing is certainly not helping:

Phillip Willip, Puddin and Pie.
Got a bad grade and made him cry.

There is one class Phillip has that is going well. It is with Mr. Filter, who starts each day with a writing prompt. These “jam sessions” allow students to be creative and enjoy writing. Phillip writes about being a basketball on a soccer field. Another day he writes about receiving two dragon eggs in the mail, one for himself and one for a particularly cute girl.

But will Phillip ever be able to make his real life go as well as his Jam Sessions?

Genres: Childrens, Middle Grade

214 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 1, 2020

Reviews

[Sean-Paul Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely, beautiful and well-written book by Jerry Harwood about a little boy with terrible anxiety who flees an abusive home with his mother and has to settle into a new home and school all over again before taking the biggest and hardest leap of all - making new friends once more. This brought back a lot of past memories for me regarding my own school days and the anxiety brought on by always moving to a new school every two/three years as my Dad travelled around the European continent with his Engineer job in the British army. So this book really resonated with me, especially the trials and tribulations that Phillip had to go through and the feelings and emotions created by adjusting to a big move to a new place and a new school and all the good and bad feelings that go with making new friends. From excitement and joy to dread and anguish. Yes, Jam sessions is a very good and easy read with many short and sharp chapters to carry you through. All in all, there are some fantastic and meaningful life lessons thrown into this book which I think every school pupil in the world should read - and of course, a lot of Adults too.

[Page Grey (Editor) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found Jam Sessions informative and relatable, which makes it an important read.

I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this book as much as I did. In fact, I didn’t even know what this book is about. I didn’t read the blurb before I started reading. This book features a boy, Phillip, who has anxiety that definitely went strong when his mother took him in a new place and in a new school, but for a reason. As most middle schools, Phillip’s new school has bullies who he was associated with and it didn’t help with his anxiety that Phillip even had panic attacks.

I think this is a very realistic book. I never thought I would see myself in a boy like Phillip but I did. I have anxiety for as long as I can remember but it was definitely worse during my teenage years. I felt for Phillip as he navigated each day in his new school, trying to fit in and really, just trying to survive. The portrayal of anxiety in this book is very realistic and relatable. I know that not all share the same way of dealing anxiety and panic but still, I saw myself in Phillip. At first, he associated himself with wrong people but he found the right friends to be with along the way. I want to have friends like Ashley, Jaylan and Daniel. I wish all teens, especially the ones struggling with mental health has friends like them.

I also love Phillip’s favorite teacher, Mr. Filters. His Jam Sessions are the best and I wished I had the same teacher in school. Using my creativity with the help of my teacher would’ve helped me a lot in dealing with my mental health issues. Phillip and his mother have a good enough relationship but his mother is busy with work. Thankfully he has a good relationship with his grandfather. Not all the teachers in his school are good parent figures but the ones that are good are really likeable. I think the author did a great job at portraying the teachers. He did a great job at portraying the bullies, as well. They were very realistic.

The writing overall is great. I enjoyed the short chapters which I think children and middle grade readers and even adult readers will love. There were capitalized words in dialogues throughout the book and they bothered me at first but got used to them eventually. The story itself is a bit slow in the beginning but picks up as the story goes.

For me, this book is important and I really hope many will have the chance to read this. This will not just educate people who are not that familiar with anxiety and panic attacks but will also help those who needed help with this issue.

[Meenu Annadurai · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received the Review Copy of this Book from Digital Reads Blog Tours in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Shalini for this wonderful opportunity to read and review this amazing book by Jerry Harwood and also thank you for making me part of this Blog Tour!

REVIEW

Jam Sessions is a story of a Middle Grade student, Phillip who has been subjected to a very big change in his life. He and his mother get separated from their father and start over their life from scratch in a very new place. Phillip is sent to a new school, he finds it difficult to get accustomed to the new changes and gets himself in trouble though he is not really at fault. Because of the changes and the bullying he faces at the new school he starts getting anxiety attacks. The only good thing in his life is the Jam sessions his teacher, Mr Filter conducts everyday in their class. Will Phillip overcome his anxiety and gets control of his life or not is the basic plot-line of this book.

The plot of this book was really sharp and engaging. The chapters were really short and that helped the readers to swish pass the pages easily. Though this book has been written for middle grade kids, it was written in such a way that it peaks the interest of the adult readers as well. The writing style was really simple and easy to understand. The author has deliberately written it in a way in which it could reach his audience perfectly.

The best thing about this book was the Jam Sessions conducted by one of the teachers, Mr Filter at Phillip’s school. The characterization of this teacher was extraordinary. The kind of impact the teacher was trying to bring about in his students through his Jam Sessions, his actions and his mentality was remarkable. He was this teacher who everybody loved and adored very much and his classes was extremely interesting to attend, even for the readers.

The prompts, Mr Filter gave to his students everyday was really unique and delightful. His prompts had the full capacity to trigger the imagination and creativity of the the student to the maximum level. The way the kids used his prompts was seriously mind-blowing, everyone had written it uniquely and tremendously. The direction every kid’s mind took whenever Mr. Filter gave a prompt was really spectacular.

The character development and character arc of Phillip was commendable. His mindset, the manner in which he approach certain things were very age appropriate. It felt like the author had practically turned into a middle grade kid to write the book because throughout the book it felt like a middle grade kid has written and narrating the story to the readers. This single feature made the book extremely realistic and relatable. Phillip’s character was very natural, he had every characteristic a kid would have and it was in no way cliche or anything at any part of the book.

The other kids in this book was also really amazing. Everyone had a distinct characteristic and the way they all become friends or enemies with Phillip was extremely natural and great to read as well. How these kids spent their time with each other at school and the concern they have towards their new friend Phillip was remarkable. While reading, these kids trying to help Phillip in all possible ways from their power was heart warming.

Though Phillip only spent few moments with his family but each and every single situation was very soothing and it will make your heart gloat with immense happiness. The wood carving lessons and other quality time spent with his grandfather was extremely adorable. And the way Phillip’s mom was supportive towards him and the way she raised him was something really nice. On the whole, all the characters was extremely nice to read and they all served their purpose correctly.

There were these very nice and suitable illustrations in between the chapters which helped the little readers visualize the book and it’s plot a bit more easier.

This is that one book which every kid out there should read. Because this book will teach them so much about life, their growth, their mindset and also this book talks about anxiety and mental health at layman level which a kid could assimilate and make use of it, if and when the need arise.

MY VIEWS

I absolutely loved this book so very much. I usually feel like I’m too old to read kids or middle grade or young adult books but this book completely vanquished that very thought from my mind because during the full duration when I was reading Jam Sessions, I was practically living the life of Phillip and as Phillip. The author’s talent and ability to write good story and the narration capacity made me forget my reality in no time. I loved it so much.

I would suggest every kid out there to read this book because obviously it will help them take the right direction on the journey of their life. This book is a must for all kids. Just because I am emphasizing on kids it doesn’t mean adults shouldn’t read it. Adults can also read it and experience it because it will take you back to your middle grade. Adults please read this book and encourage the young reader in your family or friends circle to read it without fail.

My rating for this book would be 4.2 out of 5 stars

Do read this book and let know how you feel about this book!

Happy Reading Folks!!

~ Meenu

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jam Sessions is the story of Phillip, a middle school boy who is dealing with many changes in his life. He and his mother have left his abusive father and are starting a new life in a town close to his mother's parents. He is also beginning a new school midway through the year. Phillip has anxiety that is exacerbated by some bullies in his grade. He perseveres and tries to ignore them as best he can, but has a couple of panic attacks where he passes out. His favourite teacher, Mr. Filter, had the students using writing prompts to be creative and express themselves. These "Jam Sessions" help Phillip to find his way in his new school.

Jerry Harwood has created a story with a cast of characters that are real and relatable. Chuck and his friends are easily identified as bullies and are unlikable, while Ashley, Daniel and Jaylan had me wishing I had friends like them when I went to school. Not all of the teachers were likable characters but some, like Mr. Filter and the Coach were what I would hope all teachers would be like. Phillip's mom was busy working, but I loved the relationship he had with his grandparents, especially his grandpa. He gave him another outlet for his creativity and showed him unconditional love. This was how wonderfully developed the characters were in this relatively short book.

Jerry Harwood does a great job describing what a panic attack feels like. I have never had one, but I could feel Phillip's anxiety and wanted to reach out and help him calm himself. I liked how this book demonstrates different ways to deal with them as there is not a one size fits all solution for panic and anxiety. My grandson has a lot of anxiety, but has not had panic attacks at this time. I will get a copy of this book to read with him to be proactive. I enjoyed Jerry Harwood's writing. It was detailed, well-plotted and the story flowed well. I liked the short chapters and they work well in an MG book. There were not a lot of illustrations, but those that were there were set at the beginning of several chapters to give an idea of what is about to happen and the pen and ink sketches fit the story perfectly. The ending was wonderful and left this reader with hopeful feelings and happy thoughts. I would happily read other books by Jerry Harwood and hope that he writes another book about Phillip and his new friends. I received a copy of this book through Digital Reads upon request. The rating and opinions shared are my own.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jam Sessions by Jerry Harwood caused flashbacks to my own middle school life. I was bullied, and my anxiety was definitely going strong during those years. I love that Jam Sessions explores the real life difficulties and the real life successes that kids go through in middle school.

This is an easy read. Short chapters, with light but still talented writing, creates a great little book with a lot of great lessons. I wish I had some kids in my life that were in this part of their lives. I’ll keep this one on hand, for when they get to this age.

A little side: I love that this author makes this book available for classrooms because I think the story would be great for middle schoolers to read. I know it would be relatable and give them things to think about.

Overall, great read. Would recommend for the kids in your life! And maybe adults too, for some nostalgia!

*I received a free copy of this book from Digital Reads to review honestly on the blog tour. All opinions are my own and unbiased.*

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book with my class, and the kids and I loved it. Phillip's story is so relatable without being cliche. He is a main character who is so much like many of the kids in our school, and my students connected with him immediately. There were moments of laughter and a few tears, and we enjoyed all of it! My class is asking for a sequel!

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this realistic story of middle school. The different aspects of anxiety and how the characters responded was done really well. I liked the added appendices. This is one I’d definitely recommend to any middle school readers. I won a copy from the author.

[Jean Torgeson white · Rating 5 out of 5]

Granddaughter loved it.

[Grady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Navigating the preteen period

Tennessee author Jerry Harwood earned his education from Baylor School, Samford University in Alabama, and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and has enjoyed a varied career – as an educator at both the middle school and college level, program director for a counseling center, a camp director, a first responder – all of which contribute to his ability to explore the mind of a preteen and the challenges that coming of age anxieties impose. JAM SESSIONS appears to be his debut novel, a solid book enhanced by the illustrations of Myles Richardson, a former student of Jerry’s.

There is a tenuous border between children’s books and young adult books, a line often delineated by fanciful versus fictional extremes, and Jerry seems to be at home writing for that age group: preteens, teens, and tweens. In addressing topics such as anxiety and panic attacks could distance some readers of this latter audience, but Jerry Harwood keeps his created story both grounded in real life situations and airborne in the manner in which he escorts his principle character Phillip though the coming of age syndrome (if it can be called that!).
The lightness of the prose conditions the reader from the start – ‘Phillip’s Thomas the Tank clock read 11:47. He knew he was too big for Thomas, but he loved the “choo choo choo” alarm it blared very morning …’ That little moment opens the door to Phillip’s emotional mindset as the story progresses.

In keeping with the easy to read short chapter light format of the book, the plot is summarized as follows: ‘Meet Phillip. His mom relocates him to a new school in the middle of the school year. Things do not go well. Phillip lands himself a trip to the dean of student’s office when he tries to forge his mother’s signature. Maybe if he spelled her name correctly it would have gone better. Phillip also finds himself having more and more anxiety. And the song some bullies are singing is certainly not helping: ‘Phillip Willip, Puddin and Pie. Got a bad grade and made him cry.’ There is one class Phillip has that is going well. It is with Mr. Filter, who starts each day with a writing prompt. These “jam sessions” allow students to be creative and enjoy writing. Phillip writes about being a basketball on a soccer field. Another day he writes about receiving two dragon eggs in the mail, one for himself and one for a particularly cute girl. But will Phillip ever be able to make his real life go as well as his Jam Sessions?’

Clever concept, these jam sessions, and they provide the key to understanding and identifying with Phillip. Not only is the story organically excellent, but at the end of this book Jerry invites Dr. Timothy Sisemore to contribute information about anxiety and panic attacks, most additive to the quality of this excellent now book – one that hopefully parents will read as well as the youngsters for whom it is written.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jam Sessions
by Jerry Harwood
I was really jazzed when I read the dedication and acknowledgements. When I saw that one of his students drew the illustrations of his book, I was wowed. The number of artistic students I have seen in schools would have been grateful for that support.
The book had a slow start, but by the end I could not put it down.
First of all I think Teachers should read this as part of the schools continued teacher learning. The teachers method of using imagination and connecting to the students with his Jam sessions is inspiring. This would hopefully help teachers realize their mark on the students. The story and the appendix is a great lesson for teachers, and admin to learn about how to help children with Anxiety, Poverty, bully proofing, consequences for behavior and social family conflict.
Secondly this would be a great book to read and share with students. Allowing the students the prior information the same as the teachers, yet also showing students how taking responsibility for your actions is important. The bully proofing aspect of this book is amazing, not only showing how to judge things on immediate impression but also how to stand up to peer pressure, and find peaceful resolutions to conflict. It would be a great book for students to learn these aspects. The artwork and the story will connect with the students.

[Shh I am Reading Leticia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and I think that if you have a kid in your life struggling with bullies and anxiety, this is a really excellent read. It is also a very good reminder, as a parent, that if your kiddo is struggling with other students or with anxiety, teachers are excellent resources of positive reinforcement, which is clearly what Phillip needed. But also, if your struggling kiddo has a good teacher in their life, be sure to help them nurture that relationship because it will make all the difference!

I was fairly lucky to have met my own Mr. Filter in many forms of awesome teachers throughout my life. School was especially hard for me. I could not read until grade 5. Yep. The teacher who taught me how to read spent all of grade 4 and 5 doing so, and she still to this day says, "it was like a lightbulb finally turned on in Leticia and has never shut off." She is very correct. Also, yes, we still talk to this day. I've a couple of other teachers whom I am in contact with on and off because of the impact they made in my life. This is when you know you're a good teacher, when your former students still want you around long after you made that positive impact.

I received a review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rock on!

Phillip has to move to a new home and go to a new school when his home becomes too dangerous for him to stay. Initially, he befriends some kids who are not good influences. This causes a medical issue to arise. With new friends Phillip starts to improve in more ways than one. Maybe starting over again doesn’t have to be so scary after all.
#GoodreadsGiveaway

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won a Kindle Edition of this book on Goodreads Giveaways. LOVED it. Great for middle schoolers. Definitely believe my kids would have related to it when they were this age. BRAVO!!!!

[Nancy Ahyee · Rating 4 out of 5]

See my full review of this title on my blog: Books Under the Blanket (with a flashlight): https://booksundertheblanket.com/memo...

[P. Benjamin · Rating 5 out of 5]

While it has been nearly twenty-five years since I have walked the halls of my middle school, Jerry Harwood’s Jam Sessions takes me back to those formative years. Navigating the jungle that is middle school is a harrowing enough trial. Imagine navigating it as the new kid after his mother took them out of an abusive household in the middle of the night. It is no surprise that Phillip suffers from crippling anxiety and one of Harwood’s greatest strengths is crafting a character that is relatable to readers young and old.

Phillip stumbles his way through his first days at his new school. He is nervous and makes serious errors in judgment, especially when he befriends the class bully who turns out to be a bad influence that gets him in deep trouble. He experiences the first throes of young love when he meets a girl with a troubled background similar to his own. I couldn’t help but cheer for him as he began to make friendships and find his place among his classmates. Having struggled with anxiety in one form or another from a young age, I could relate to how a failed test or a torn cover would seem like the end of the world to a twelve-year-old.

Much of this comes from the layers added to the character as we start to see Phillip develop an interest in role-playing games as he gains new. He is truly a kid after my own heart. Even secondary characters like Mr. Filter get this treatment with his interest in basketball and encouraging his students’ creativity. If we all were so lucky to have a teacher like him who recognized Phillip’s distress in the early chapters. Similarly, Phillip’s mother is shown to be struggling with their new situation and her concern for her son pulls at the heart strings as well. The only character who comes across as two-dimensional in the book is Chuck, the class bully. Given that I had dealt with bullies when I was the main character’s age, I know that some people are just bad eggs and this character really does not need to be more than an obstacle for the MC to overcome.

With mental health becoming more widely talked about, I see Jam Sessions as relevant to our times. Preteens and teens need to understand that anxiety and depression are conditions that can be managed with the right support. Mr. Lea’s assignment for Phillip reminded me of work I did for myself while undergoing cognitive behavioral therapy and should provide parents with a window to how they can manage their child’s anxiety. The short chapters and succinct prose assist in making this book an easy read and the art by Myles Richardson gives it much character by reminding me of how I spent more time sketching than taking notes during my middle school days. This receives my highest endorsement.

On a more personal note, the parts of the book that affected me the most were the times Phillip spent with my grandfather. With both of mine having passed on years ago, reading it gave me those bittersweet feelings of nostalgia for the time I spent with them. So bravo, Mr. Harwood. This book deserves all the accolades it gets.

[William Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jerry Harwood’s Jam Sessions is a novel set in a middle school. It’s the story of Phillip, son if a battered wife who flees her batterer and moves to a new town, where she enrolls Phillip in a new school much less hospitable than his old school. He falls in initially with a clique of three bullies, who torment him and trip his psychological predilection for anxiety and panic attacks. His skilled and caring writing teacher and a psychologist help him with his disability as he struggles to separate himself from the bullies and find true friends.
I got into this story, partly because it took me back to my own middle school years where my first love was a sincere girl from a dysfunctional family much like Philip's girlfriend. But I can see the book appeals to many others who likely don’t share my background. It seems to me a book that would appeal to most students Phillip’s age, especially those with an anxiety disorder--and their parents as well. We learn ways to deal with anxiety in the story, and at the end of the book are an appendix giving further information about anxiety and another appendix on panic attacks. Both appendices contain websites with further info and websites of the appropriate psychological associations.
I was touched by the story and impressed quite favorably by its purpose. It’s a good read as well as a useful tool to overcome a debilitating condition. Loved the writing teacher who reminded me of my own brilliant 9th grade English teacher, Mrs. Yeoman, who changed my life.
Nice job, Jerry!

[M. K. French · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phillip starts at a new school in the middle of the academic year, and things don't start off well. It isn't any better when bullies tease him. One class is fun, which includes daily writing prompts known as "jam sessions" to get the creativity flowing. Can his real life ever match the stories he writes?

Middle school is tough enough as it is, but entering in the middle of the school year means that he doesn't know the other students, which cliques are which, how teachers like to do things, or what is considered normal. With his mother taking him out of a potentially dangerous situation that's only alluded to in the first chapter, Phillip is shy and fearful of this new place. The first boy that reached out to him in a positive way turned out to be one of the school bullies, but of course, he wouldn't know that. Unexpected situations trigger anxiety attacks, and he continues to feel out of place.

The cute doodles in the book add the youthful rhythm of the book. Kids will identify with feeling out of place or odd, or if they have anxiety. We have a positive look at counseling and situation analysis, as well as distraction techniques that are commonly used to treat anxiety in children. This is a real problem many children have, as is explained in the appendices, and it's wonderful to see Phillip work through his struggle with anxiety and making new friends. He's able to talk about his anxiety, figure out why he feels the way he does, and even stand up for himself. This is a powerful message for children to read and learn from.

[AFIFA ALAM RAISA · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy-to-follow story that abets hope.

‘Jam Sessions’ by Jerry Harwood focuses on Philip, a young boy who had to move out with his mother, and was put in a new school in the middle of the year. Anxiety along with trouble began to head his way but he was not meant to be taken down. With an understanding mother, kind teachers, sympathetic counselor, and potential friends, Philip Rhodman gradually found himself in a position where he was ready to fight back and lend a hand to a friend in need.

The story focuses on the importance of supportive company in the battle against mental health issues. Through the perspective of a middle-grader, the author lets us know that no matter how bad a situation might be, there would always be a way out.

The power of sympathy, friendship, patience, and confidence is never to be underestimated.

The overall presentation was a little plain for my taste but the simplicity makes it suitable for younger kids. I personally believe that many readers might like to see a little remorse in the character Chuck at the end of the story.

The author deserves to be given a shot.

(I received a copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily)

[Nila (digitalcreativepages) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A middle grade book that bespoke of the stress that our kids go through when they are bullied by their classmates. Meet Philip. He had to go through that every day and the only outlet to his budding anxiety was writing about his feelings.

My first book by author Jerry Harwood, I loved the way his writing coursed over such an important phase of life, to some, a ritual by fire. The story had smiles and tears intertwined to show the vagaries of life.

The author was brilliant in depicting teen anxiety and how it affected a life which was supposed to be enveloped in happiness. The writing showed genuine moments of real life scenes. There were times I wanted to tell Philip to hold on and that everything would be okay.

This was a book that every child would identify with. Something that was needed to be read out in middle grade. A must read for parents and kids!!

[Danny Tuttle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book touched me. There is laughter and tears. It is a beautiful story about a boy dealing with real-life stress and change. Well-written, well-paced, I found myself unexpectedly drawn into a story that was not too different from my own childhood. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is bullied in school and feeling anxiety. This author understands this journey, and describes it with a wholesome kindness that let's us know we weren't the only ones that experienced such things.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think the way mental health was handle in this book was wonderful. It was also great to see a contrast between the negative experience of toxic friendships and the positive experience of true, supportive friendships.

You can read the full review on my blog.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read