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Mighty Jack: Homeschool Study and Book Club Ideas

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Mighty Jack by Ben Hatke is a twisted tale of Jack and his magic beans. This fantastic adventure story for middle school kids is a great title to add to your homeschool study this year.

It’s the first book in a popular graphic novel series and it is worth adding to your child’s reading list. Best of all, once your child reads the two Mighty Jack books, they can enjoy both Zita the Spacegirl books, and then the final book in the series that includes both Zita and Jack.

Mighty Jack Book Review and Book club ideas for kids to add to your homeschool study.

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Mighty Jack by Ben Hatke

Genre: Fantasy and Folklore; Adventure; Graphic Novel
Length: 208 pages
First Published: 2016

View on Amazon | View on Goodreads


Publisher’s Description of Mighty Jack

Jack might be the only kid in the world who’s dreading summer. But he’s got a good reason: summer is when his single mom takes a second job and leaves him at home to watch his autistic kid sister, Maddy. It’s a lot of responsibility, and it’s boring, too, because Maddy doesn’t talk. Ever. But then, one day at the flea market, Maddy does talk―to tell Jack to trade their mom’s car for a box of mysterious seeds. It’s the best mistake Jack has ever made.

In Mighty Jack, what starts as a normal little garden out back behind the house quickly grows up into a wild, magical jungle with tiny onion babies running amok, huge, pink pumpkins that bite, and, on one moonlit night that changes everything…a dragon.


My Goodreads Review

This twist on the classic fairy tale, Jack and the Beanstalk, makes for a fantastic adventure. Jack, Maddie (his sister), and Lily form a delightful trio and their magical garden adventures are a ton of fun. The artwork is bright and imaginative and the author uses graphic novel panels creatively.

The Mighty Jack series is considered a Young Adult graphic novel, so parents should consider the content before allowing younger children to read this adventure (there is a brief kiss and some language).

Note: Mighty Jack is book 1 of 3 books in the series, which concludes with a Mighty Jack and Zita the Spacegirl joint adventure. You’ll definitely want to finish reading the series.



Mighty Jack Book Club Ideas

Decorate using green paper products and a green tablecloth. Bring any of your house plants into the meeting area for decoration as well.

Eat flower cookies as a snack during your book discussion. Have a bean salad or another favorite bean recipe.

Paint a flower pot and plant a seed in the soil.


Homeschooling with Graphic Novels: Discussion Questions

Be sure to grab this set of questions specifically designed to facilitate discussion about the format and artwork of the graphic novel:

Questions to ask about any graphic novel for your homeschool study.

About the Author: Ben Hatke

Ben Hatke describes himself as a “writer, artist, author of graphic novels and other kinds of books -most notably the Zita the Spacegirl trilogy and the picture book Julia’s House for Lost Creatures.” You can find him on his website.

Read this Q&A discussion between Zita the Spacegirl author, Ben Hatke, and Wired magazine.


More Graphic Novels for your Homeschool Study

Book Review and Book Club for kids with Giants Beware
Learn more about reading Treat, Trenches, Mud, and Blood with your kids
Book Club ideas for Zita the Spacegirl


Titles Similar to Mighty Jack


A list of graphic novels for elementary school kids

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