Alex Jackson: Grommet
Pat Flynn

UQP: Young Adult Fiction 2001 

132p pbk $14.95

ISBN: 0-7022-3223-8

Alex Jackson: Grommet is a story that relates to a teenager's life. Its about a 13 year old boy who has a crush on a new girl, faces a tough challenge from his worst enemy and above all has to face the challenge of learning new tricks on his skateboard. Basically it's a typical teenagers story that your life could relate to.

The book is for teenagers as the storyline talks about girlfriends and is set in a high school. The story is neither boring nor exciting, making it just right  for people who like peaceful books. Surprisingly, there are no swearing words in the book, which are replaced by words more appropriate. The writing is easy to read and understand, with approximately 270 words per page. The book is certainly not a read- along but definitely a read-alone book. This book is not one of those that make you want to know what happens on the next page. The only action is the main characters skateboarding and a fight with an enemy. Alex Jackson: Grommet sounds suspiciously like a daytime soap opera. I would give it 6 out of 10

Alex Jackson: Grommet, is about a young and fantastic skate boarder. He can pull off anything on a skateboard, but when it comes to girls, Alex doesn't stand a chance, especially when the school bully likes the same girl as Alex does, Becky. 

This is a very appealing book and easy to read and to follow.  It has the classic clich of boy meets girl who eventually fall in love. But what Becky doesn't know is that Alex has been pretending to be a girl named Juliette who Becky met over the Internet!  It's a sports story within a love story and is an exciting and enjoyable story for all people from Years 5 to 7 to read.  The story line is easy to follow and holds together pretty well. The print is easy to read, not too large and is well laid out. 

Personally, I think Alex Jackson: Grommet is a very good story but is a bit too easy for my age group.  I would, however, recommend it to younger children who want to sit back and have the opportunity to read an enjoyable book.  I rate the novel about eight out of ten, and I can't compare it to any other Pat Flynn stories because I haven't read any! 

Sam, aged 12, Canberra, ACT

Alex is a fourteen-year-old boy who attends St Josephs College. He enjoys skateboarding above all else.  He has a schoolyard crush on a girl named Becky Tonella and a bone to pick with the school bully, Billy Johnstone. He gets entangled in his crush until he decides to talk to her. Alex finds out that this girl has a mysterious past and to find out more he and his friend hatch a scheme.

This book is intended for teenage boys or someone who likes skateboarding, romance or a realistic schoolyard theme and being a teenage boy I found it very appealing. It was very well suited to the intended age group and its choice of topic was ideal to capture the mind of the reader. The storyline was a romance mingled together with a lot of reality and had a technical computer and skateboarding side as well. The readability was excellent for the intended age group, was very easy to read with the layout assisting the reader to understand its context, but should be read alone to let the reader enjoy the emotions and dwell on the problems mentally. I personally found this book very enjoyable and recommend this book to any teenage boy liking or disliking skateboarding or to any youth that likes a good romance with the twists and turns of any relationship.

I think this book is very similar to high school life as I have seen these events occur. I think this book is suitable for older readers as the language and activities are not appropriate for younger readers. I give it ten out of ten as it is a very exciting book and hard to put down!

Ross, Luddenham, NSW

The main characters in this story are Becky Tonella (girlfriend), Billy Johnston (bully), Sarah Sceney and Jimmy - Alex's best mate.

This book is suitable for Young Adults who enjoy reading teenage books about love and skateboarding. The size of the print is large which makes it easy to read. The cover picture is eye catching. There are pictures on the back and front covers.

I personally thought the book was fantastic and I would rate it 10/10. I think everyone else who reads it would think the same as I did.

Pat Flynn has a great perspective of bringing the characters to life and it seems accurate to what a boy in Year 8 would be doing. I hope there will be more Alex Jackson books to come because I loved Grommet. This is a book you cannot close!

Marcus 12yrs rural Victoria

The main characters are Alex Jackson, Becky Tonella, Sarah Sceney, Jimmy, Billy Johnstone and Casey. Sarah Sceney has liked Alex for 5 years and is consistently embarrassing him in front of everyone. Jimmy is Alex's best friend and hangs around him everyday. Billy Johnstone is a popular kid and a bully but he is very embarrassed when Becky refuses to go out with him. Billy gets into a couple of fights with Alex. Casey is Alex's idol and shows Alex how to do skateboard tricks and gives him advice along the way. Becky Tonella is a shy, new girl who is very pretty. Alex falls in love with her. Alex is the main character of the book. He can pull off tricks that no other Year 8 ever could.

The size of print is just right so I didn't have to strain my eyes to see the writing. The cover is appealing and it looked good. There are no pictures in the book which didn't matter because I could picture it in my mind.

I loved this book. It's my favourite - maybe because I like skateboarding but I just wanted to keep reading. I could've read for hours. Some bits were annoying - like how Alex pretends to be Juliette.

Alex is a great skateboarder, but when it comes to girls, he is hopeless.  All he can do is stare.  He, and his best friend Jimmy, plan a scam to find out his one and only love, Becky Tonella.  Along the way he gets into a couple of fights with Billy Johnstone, the school bully, plus he has to deal with Sarah Sceney who has loved him for five years and written it everywhere.  She has even told the teachers!

I recommend this book for children in Years 5 to 8 because the language in this book is not for primary ages because of the occasional swear words and skateboarding terms. 

I give this book nine out of ten.  IT is a wonderful romantic book and is based on an everyday ordinary life.  So if you like romance and everyday life, this is the book for you.

Brook, 10, Luddehanm, NSW

He then wins the love of his life, Becky Tonella. But Becky has a dark secret, and together with his best friend Jimmy, Alex tries to find out what it is that Becky is hiding.

Alex Jackson, Grommet is suitable for children in Year 5 and 6.  It has a bit of coarse language so it is more suitable for older readers.  It is good that there is a glossary included to explain the skateboarding terms.

You are hooked from the beginning and it is great for both boys and girls.  It is a book about the ups and downs of teenage life and I would rate it 10 out of 10 because it is so realistic.  It is suitable to read alone of out loud.  I really enjoyed reading it.

Emma, 12, Luddenham

The book is interesting and easy to follow.  It is based on a teenager's life and tells of everything that teenage boys enjoy - skating, bullying and girls.  This book is very interesting and hard to put down.  The language that the author uses appeals to older readers and the skateboarding terms may not be understood by younger readers.

I recommend this book for ages 11 and up because it is about teenagers and what they like.  I think teachers should read this book to their class because they will want to use their free time to read it for themselves because it is so interesting.  I rate this book 9/10 because overall this book is absolutely great and is so interesting.
Daniel, 11, Luddenham, NSW

Alex Jackson: Grommet is a story that relates to any modern 14 year old boy. This story is perfect for any person of the age 12-15 years. Alex Jackson: Grommet is an excellent book for anyone interested in romance, skateboards and morals. It is about a boy Alex Jackson, who has a crush on the new girl at school, Becky Tenello. Alex can perform skate tricks no eleven year old can do and year eights only dream of. Alexs father, Chief, was once a boxer, his mum, Sharon, is a worry wart who likes to have deep meaningful conversations. His sister, Sam, is a busy body who cant keep secrets.

The bully at St Josephs College is Billy Johnstone. He plans a fight and, with tips from his dad, Alex gives him a bleeding lip. Jimmy, Alexs best friend, meets Becky in a chatroom. Jimmy disguises himself as a girl and finds out about Becky and what she likes. Alex will soon find out Becky Tenellos painful secret.

I recommend Alex Jackson: Grommet to students of years five to seven as the book is not suitable for anyone younger as it discusses girls and skateboarding. I think any sex would enjoy it as girls will like the romance and the boys will like what Alex says about Becky and the skateboarding. I think this book is excellent and you really dont want to put it down. You will always want to know what is on the next page. I rate it 10/10. I suggest teachers should read it to their classes because most students will want to go into their recess and lunch to keep reading.

Denise, aged 11, NSW