SuitabookAll Because of Jackson
Dick King-Smith
- Reading
- Read it as a short adventure and pause before the voyage to explore Jackson’s motivation. Afterwards, revisit whether the journey changes his hopes, relationships or view of a “new life”.
- Themes
- Dreams and exploration: Jackson longs to see the world and go to sea, then travels towards a new life with Bunny. The premise foregrounds aspiration and exploration, but it is not clear whether the story ultimately celebrates, questions or revises Jackson’s dream.
- Risk, rules and independence: Jackson pursues his goal by stowing away on the Atalanta, accompanied by Bunny. The action creates a clear opportunity to consider independence and rule-breaking, but the book’s judgement of the choice cannot be determined from the available plot information.
- Worth knowing
- The central decision point is Jackson’s stowing away on a ship. A child may want to discuss whether an exciting dream can make a risky or rule-breaking choice seem attractive, without assuming the story approves of it.