Taking the format of a redemption-adventure story, this illustrated novel is a charming little romp through Victorian London. It's missing Pullman's grand mythological themes, but it serves as a good introduction to his history-tinged style of storytelling. ( )

Spring-Heeled Jack is a fun, clever, and warm-hearted mash-up of many of our perceptions about the streets of Victorian England. ( )

I liked this children's book, half traditional chapter book, half graphic novel. Didn't make much of an impression on me, though. That's true for Pullman's other novels too, including his famous Golden Compass series. I don't know how to respond to them, somehow. I didn't realize that he lifted the character of Spring-Heeled Jack from English folklore when I read the book. Maybe if I'd grown up with the story it would have meant more. ( )

It's a cute story, and a quick read. ( )

Yeah, one star. I feel a little bad, because this book did not actively anger me. However, I didn't like anything about it.

My book club selected this, because: Golden Compass! Sally Lockhart! Yeah!
We haven't had our meeting yet, so I don't know what everyone else thought of it, but I was quite disappointed.

The plot is very slight, and hackneyed in a Dickens-lite kinda way. Three siblings must escape from a horrible orphanage, and find themselves in need of help from a mysterious benefactor.

Don't get me wrong, cliche or not, I like orphan stories! But these orphans just seemed wussy and kind of annoying (but only kind-of. They didn't have enough personality to be particularly annoying). The story didn't have any original twists to set it apart. Even for a middle-grades book, it seemed rather shallow.

The 'humorous' bits seemed aimed at older readers than the book's target audience, but weren't particularly funny.

I did not find the illustrations aesthetically appealing. (All the people, as drawn, resemble unattractive, doughy peanuts.)

And, worst of all, Spring-Heeled Jack - a quite fascinating Victorian urban legend - here is not portrayed as an enigmatic villain, but seems more like just some random adult do-gooder who fortuitously shows up to save some kids who weren't spunky enough to save themselves.

Plodding and predictable.



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