Showing 1-2 out of 2 reviews.

• Hector is an ordinary, 14-year-old geek with a minor problem--he's got a talking, self-aware tumor inside his head."Jack Tumor" is a darkly funny, original story that delves into what happens when your ordinary, average geek (Hector argues the merits of his attraction to Hawkgirl) is given advice, instructions and wisdom from a self-aware tumor. By having the humorous angle to things, Anthony McGown is able to explore some interesting, serious questions including life, death and everything in between. Humorous geeky references abound in the story and despite all his anti-social leanings, you may find yourself coming to like Jack a little bit as the story progresses.Unfortunately, 200 pages of build-up is let down by an ending that is little more than a two page summary of life post Jack. It felt like there could have been more to it than just that.

  3.00 out of 5

  bigorangemichael

• Jack Tumor is a humorous, and at times raunchy, story about freshman Hector Brunty, who finds himself at the bottom of his high school social chain. With enough problems from bullies, lack of interest from girls and his hippie mom who imposes her bizarre foods and tree-hugging clothes on him, life gets more complicated for Hector when he meets Jack, his talking brain tumor. Jack’s smart alec and domineering ways begin to take control of Hector’s body, making Hector have a new sense of fashion and coolness. Hector becomes everything anti-geek, torments the bullies and makes out with the hottest girl in school. But all of this comes at a cost, as the more Hector gives up control to Jack the closer he is to his death and further from the person he wanted to become. Although this novel can be challenging to read because of the British slang, author McGowan writes brilliantly from a hormonal teenage boy’s perspective. From sexual fantasies to perverse humor to cruel behaviors, readers will either be laughing or cringing throughout the entire novel. This coming of age story has a message of self identity and “that sometimes the only way to see clearly is to lose your mind completely.”Age Appropriate: 17 to 21 years-old This book is more likely to be appealing to males. Advanced readers or those with cultural experience/knowledge of the U.K. will be able to follow this book more easily.

  3.00 out of 5

  erineell

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