A short story about Jack Reacher as a boy. A quick read. Nothing wonderful. ( )

AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE. Why do authors feel compelled to write short story dreck, with nothing additive to their characters? Is it just to see if they can? This novella? goes back to when Jack Reacher was a 13-year old, and his father is moved to a new island posting by the Army. It is just silly that the MPs allow Jack to do their jobs, solving the "thefts" of a code book and school exam. ( )

Very short story, but quite interesting nonetheless. ( )

Set in Okinawa, Japan in 1974 this novella is the first book in the Jack Reacher series by chronology and in publishing order comes after Worth Dying For.

It's a light and short story giving some further background to Reacher himself, his childhood and the family dynamic. Within we see the characteristic investigative style of Reacher beginning to form, as well as his way with the ladies.

Overall, a good little background piece with a short yet interesting story arc. ( )

Not a review, just a tip: This short story is included in the unabridged recording of The Affair, read by Dick Hill.

A short story in the Jack Reacher series by Lee Child. Reacher is 13 years old and just moved to Okinawa with his marine father and his mother and brother. Reacher establishes himself on the street with the other boys. He assists the marines in finding a code book. ( )

This short story had good points, but I didn't like the fact that it portrayed Reacher as having been essentially fully formed by age 13. In this story he not only fought the same way at 13 that he does as an adult, but he figured out 2 mysteries in basically the same way as well. This presents Reacher as not only preternaturally strong and street smart as a kid, but as a person for whom growing up didn't entail much of anything but getting bigger. ( )

This novella gives us a glimpse into Jack Reacher's teenage years. Even back then, his parents knew he would be big and that they would need to teach him restraint. His powers of observation were strong for a thirteen-year-old and he already had an acute sense of right and wrong.

Funny SN: Even though the rest of the family goes by first names, Jack is called Reacher from childhood. Lol! ( )

I had been planning to try this series since the movie adaptation featuring Tom Cruise and Rosamund Pike came out in 2012. Come 2014, and I started with this short novella the first in the series, chronologically, with a teenaged Jack Reacher. I read this book, fully knowing that this short novella was written with the soul purpose to give some kind of background to Jack Reacher, his history, his roots and nothing else; there still was more action than expected.

A satisfying read, for now I will continue with the series. ( )

I absolutely love the Jack Reacher books and so one the bonuses of Kindle ownership for me was the ability to download the Lee Child short stories and novellas that I was not previously able to get in book form. Second Son is one such short story and concerns the youth of Jack Reacher where mysterious and dangerous incidents conspire alongside shady characters and the odd hero to form Reacher from the boy into the man that he becomes. This is a very quick read and I can see why some previous reviewers might have been dissatisfied with the story but I really enjoyed Second Son both for the story itself and for the insight that it gave into Jack Reacher as a character.

A well-done tale of Reacher's childhood that left me wanting more. In this story, we find out a lot more about Reacher's family background. I've lamented recently that, since Reacher ages in real time, his present day adventures will soon be hampered by the fact that he's past 50 (no spring chicken), and can't keep taking down the nastiest bad guys indefinitely. I've thought that more forays into our hero's past is the way to go. In this story we get a glimpse that maybe there are a lot of untold tales of Jack and his more cerebral brother Joe. I can see them as more ass-kicking version of the Hardy Boys. Their globe-trotting youth as military brats would be a great springboard for stories of the young brothers Reacher. ( )

A glimpse into Reacher's teenage years on Okinawa, when his life philosophy and physical prowess begin to emerge. ( )

Available as an e-book only, Second Son by Lee Child is a short story that gives fans a glimpse of everyone's favorite tough guy, Jack Reacher, as a 13-year-old kid just arrived on an Okinawa Army base. It came out just before The Affair, so there's a preview of that book included. An enjoyable enough story, but doesn't build much in the way of suspense. ( )

This is a short story that gives an insight into what Jack Reacher was like as a child (around 13 years old). His grandfather is dying and his family has been relocated so they cannot contact his next of kin, which is his daughter, Josephine. Josephine is Reacher’s mother. After getting moved into their new home, Reacher and his brother, Joe, encounter the bully kid of the neighborhood. Before they know it, Reacher’s dad, Stan, and Joe are both in some trouble. Reacher’s mom has to leave to be with her dad and it is up to Reacher to put things back together for the family.

This is definitely a short story but it is worth the read. You realize that Reacher’s behaviors have been engrained in him from a very young age. He can be hard headed but shows intelligence that amazes you. He is able to deduce what is going on more accurately than the adults around him. It is clear from reading this short story that Reacher was a fighter early on in life and that he knew he would have to prove himself everywhere he lived. Reacher learned how to use people as pawns and manipulate them through the experiences he encountered growing up. It is also clear that his mother and father trusted him and knew that he would protect his family at all costs.

This story is nothing fancy or unique to Lee Child. His writing style is the same as it is throughout the Reacher series. It just gives the reader a snapshot of what Reacher was like as a teen and how even at a young age, we was being molded into the man he becomes throughout the series. ( )

Reacher as a 13 yr old was far more intelligent than your normal teen at this age. Almost beyond belief, that's why I only gave it a 3 rating. Short 69 page read, but like I said, things he did at that age was really encroaching on make believe, and I am really a Lee Child fan. ( )

This short story takes place in the early '70s when Reacher is a 13-year-old boy. But he is still Reacher. On one hand this is fun. On the other hand, Reacher never quite seems to be a 13-year-old boy; he's more of an adult in a slightly smaller body who lives with his parents. But the story was fun enough. ( )

This is a very short story, detailing a single incident of the teenage years of Jack Reacher. It's interesting to meet Jacks family, but the story is unrealistic. Nevertheless, it is well executed and interesting. ( )

This is a wonderful short story shedding more light on Reacher, Lee Child's incredible fictional character. It's a quick read, extremely well worded, delicious. I'm always hungry for more Jack Reacher and this one just makes me all the more hungry for the new Jack Reacher book coming September 27, 2011. ( )