"...realistic first-person narration...intimate view of a closeknit family...." Booklist

"...an engaging coming of age story especially appropriate for younger teens, it is both entertaining and insightful reading for all ages...." Midwest Book Review

"...mixes adolescent angst with martial arts philosophy...humility, endurance, responsibility, and compassion..." Flamingnet Reviews

"The book affected me much like The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton... They communicate in much the same voice--but where Pony-Boy and his brothers and friends had to blunder on with no real role models, Jack and his friends have role models in abundance, if they just pay attention. With Jack's astute sense of other people, he can put himself in their shoes and see why they do things, even when he doesn't agree with them. I hope to read more about young John-Browne Ordway in the future." --Kathleeen Tromp in Vicki Ball's Books'n'Bytes.com.

"...Although some parents may think of the character John-Browne as too perfect and overly mature for a 13-year-old, they should not discount picking up the book to inspire their own kids. Not all of us ignored the virtues of reading when growing up, hint, hint. The book is refreshing, educational, and a motivational read. It made me laugh, feel sorrow, and recognize how real life is for teenagers. It was a genuine pleasure to read...." Annie Bonneau, MyShelf.com.

     “I found this novel refreshing...” Jonathan Hunt, adbooks@yahoogroups.com

"My students...enjoyed sharing moral dilemmas with a decent kid struggling with various realistic teenage problems." (Donna Shreve, Sierra Middle School, Stockton, CA)

Mrs. Shreve's seventh-grade students who read the (first edition of the) book say:
"...I liked this book so much that I am currently reading another
Jonathan Pearce book, The Far Side of the Moon...." Kevin Miller
"...a book that shows how to deal with real life problems and how to discipline
yourself. It shows kids how to become strong and how to become a leader." Carson Mintiens
"...was about real life events and it touched me emotionally...." Bianca Delucchi
"...a good book to read when you're bored." Matthew Harwell
"...interesting and had some good life lessons in it. It also taught how to come up with good
but not rude come-backs...really targeted for 6th through 8th grades...I highly
recommend...." Alyson White
"...starts out fast and grabs you...." Brittney Nunes
"...I would recommend this book to any kid or adult anywhere...." Gigi Ross
"...really good...captures you...." Christina Lepe
"...created or had a lot of feeling...." Teresa Karhay Ma
"...easy to relate to...." Stephanie Truman
"...an exciting book...." Phillip Giles
"...outstanding!" Christina Flores
"...had a hard time putting it down...." Melissa Rodgers
"...all teens should read this book." Michael Tutt