Spring-Heeled Jack

by Philip Pullman, D Mostyn (Illustrator)

Overview

Spring-Heeled Jack: The name evoked awe from both criminals and upstanding citizens alike. Some thought he was the devil, but he was actually the original superhero—leaping over the buildings of Victorian England with the help of springs in the heels of his shoes.

The story begins as three young innocents escape their orphanage one dark and stormy night. As they make their way through the treacherous streets of London danger lurks, for hiding in the shadows is Mack the
Knife, the most villainous of villains. Enter
Spring-Heeled Jack, the springiest of heroes. But will Jack’s powers be enough to save
the orphans?

Originally published in paperback, Spring-Heeled Jack is back—now as a hardcover with eye-catching new jacket art.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781524765019
Publisher:	Random House Children's Books
Publication date:	03/29/2017
Sold by:	Random House
Format:	eBook
Pages:	112
File size:	113 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

PHILIP PULLMAN is one of the most acclaimed writers working today. He is best known for the His Dark Materials trilogy (The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, The Amber Spyglass), which has been named one of the top 100 novels of all time by Newsweek and one of the all-time greatest novels by Entertainment Weekly. He has also won many distinguished prizes, including the Carnegie Medal for The Golden Compass (and the reader-voted "Carnegie of Carnegies" for the best children's book of the past seventy years); the Whitbread (now Costa) Award for The Amber Spyglass; a Booker Prize long-list nomination (The Amber Spyglass); Parents' Choice Gold Awards (The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass); and the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, in honor of his body of work. In 2004, he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
 
It has recently been announced that The Book of Dust, the much anticipated new book from Mr. Pullman, also set in the world of His Dark Materials, will be published as a major work in three parts, with the first part to arrive in October 2017.  
 
Philip Pullman is the author of many other much-lauded novels. Other volumes related to His Dark Materials: Lyra’s Oxford, Once Upon a Time in the North, and The Collectors. For younger readers: I Was a Rat!; Count Karlstein; Two Crafty Criminals; Spring-Heeled Jack, and The Scarecrow and His Servant. For older readers: the Sally Lockhart quartet: The Ruby in the Smoke, The Shadow in the North, The Tiger in the Well, and The Tin Princess; The White Mercedes; and The Broken Bridge.
 
Philip Pullman lives in Oxford, England. To learn more, please visit philip-pullman.com and hisdarkmaterials.com. Or follow him on Twitter at @PhilipPullman.

Hometown:

Oxford, England

Date of Birth:

October 19, 1946

Place of Birth:

Norwich, England

Education:

Exeter College, Oxford University

Website:

http://www.philip-pullman.com/

Editorial Reviews

An orphan's tale is often used as fodder for a good story, and author Philip Pullman and illustrator David Mostyn bring the adventures of three runaway orphans to light with exceptional humor, drama, and wit. Following Rose, Lily, and little Ned as they make their way through the streets of London, readers soon discover that villains lurk in the streets. Who is to look out for these helpless kids? Why, Spring-Heeled Jack, of course! The caped crusader prides himself on sporty shoes with springs that let him jump in leaps and bounds. Featuring Pullman's thrilling plotline and comic-book illustrations that stand on their own, Spring-Heeled Jack is a exciting and excellent read for both reluctant readers and established Pullman fans.

bn.com

Humor and melodrama prevail in this jaunty illustrated novel from the Whitbread Prize–winning author of The Amber Spyglass. Set in Victorian England, the fast-moving tale features an old-fashioned superhero, Spring-Heeled Jack, who dresses like the devil but acts like an angel, saving the helpless from evildoers. Each page integrates comic-strip panels and text, adding a strong visual appeal and emphasizing the saucy humor.

Kathleen Odean

In Victorian London, three children escape an orphanage only to fall into the clutches of Mack the Knife. "Part narrative, part comic strip, this waggish, innovative story of a courageous trio is sure to engage even the most reluctant reader," wrote PW. Ages 8-12. (Feb.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

Gr 3-5-- The author of Ruby in the Smoke (Knopf, 1987) again pulls readers back to Victorian London for a tale of dark deeds and bright courage, aimed this time at a younger audience. Rose, Lily, and little Ned escape the Alderman Cawn-Plaster Memorial Orphanage one night, hoping to board ship and make a new life in America--but they don't reckon on running into cutthroat Mack the Knife and his evil band, or being so hotly pursued by the orphanage's nefarious supervisors, Gasket and Killjoy. With help from a good-hearted sailor, a small but fierce stray dog, and especially from Spring-Heeled Jack, a menacing caped figure in tights, tophat, and trick shoes that let him jump over tall buildings in a single bound, the brave children win their way to safety, and even find--O Joy!--their long-lost father. Pullman's prose is appropriately melodramatic, and breaks frequently into Mad Magazine -style cartoon panels, with dialogue in square balloons and small creatures at the edges making asides. The author and illustrator obviously had great fun with this funny, action-packed send-up, and so will readers. --John Peters, New York Public Library

School Library Journal

Hilarious, neatly plotted, and thoroughly appealing.”—Kirkus Reviews, Starred

“The author and illustrator obviously had great fun with this funny, action-packed send-up, and so will readers.”—School Library Journal, Starred

From the Publisher