Book Review: JAM SESSIONS by Jerry Harwood @shalini_g26 @saralitterateur

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Digital Reads Blog tour presents:

JAM SESSIONS by Jerry Harwood

BLURB

Meet Phillip. His mom relocates him to a new school in the middle of the school year. Things do not go well. Phillip lands himself a trip to the dean of student’s office when he tries to forge his mother’s signature. Maybe if he spelled her name correctly it would have gone better.   Phillip also finds himself having more and more anxiety. And the song some bullies are singing is certainly not helping: Phillip Willip, Puddin and Pie.  Got a bad grade and made him cry.   There is one class Phillip has that is going well. It is with Mr. Filter, who starts each day with a writing prompt. These “jam sessions” allow students to be creative and enjoy writing. Phillip writes about being a basketball on a soccer field. Another day he writes about receiving two dragon eggs in the mail, one for himself and one for a particularly cute girl.   But will Phillip ever be able to make his real life go as well as his Jam Sessions?

Book links

Jam Sessions: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0868XNSH9
EBook (non-kindle): https://books2read.com/u/3k1X8n
IndieBound: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781734787405
 Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/B08966KV5S/?source_code=AUDFPWS0223189MWT-BK-ACX0-197765&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_197765_rh_us
Jam Sessions Available For Classrooms: Teachers Pay Teachers: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Circumlocution
My other book:
Twelve Hours on the Block: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08J3YDCCX

Book Review

I really loved reading this book. I wish it didn’t end.

I wish I could give it 10 stars

I loved how the author took time to tell the story so readers would understand and I loved how the story was so intriguing and yet I could still learn so much about anxiety disorder.

Philip moved houses and moved to a new school. He had been going through a lot in his family and he and his mom were about to start a new life. The only issue is Philip is having a hard time adjusting to his new school.
He finds himself easily scared, out of breath and dizzy at the slightest incident.

He was failing math but the only class that made him feel less anxious is Mr Filter’s Jam session class where the students are made to write a story using fun, tricky and sometimes ridiculous prompts.

Mr Filter made the class very welcoming, less judgy and more calming for the students.

Though Philip went through quiet a lot of bullying, ISS (in-school suspension), failure, anxiety attacks and peer pressure, I love how things began to fall in place for him and how his mom was always so loving to him even when he doesn’t expect her to.

You’d learn, be entertained, laugh and see the world through the eyes of young kids who are trying to navigate their way and personality through life.

I also wish we had more stories about Philip’s life before the new school, about his father and also about Ashley, but I guess that has been left to the reader’s imagination.

I loved reading this book and I hope to read more works by the author again.

5 Star Reads.

EXCERPT

“Wow! You really SHOWED her! That’s awesome, Phillip. We hate Tina. She is such a prude.”
Robert added from the bus seat behind them, “Remember when we tied her gym shoes together and threw them up onto the basketball goal? She got us a detention for that. She deserved it, Phillip!”
Phillip didn’t feel like he “showed” anyone anything. And he certainly didn’t feel like Tina deserved to have her earring ripped out, even if she was reading his journal. But Chuck seemed to think it was the best thing that had ever happened at Cloverfield Middle School.
“Yeah,” Phillip added, “but I have ISS tomorrow. And it is in the afternoon, so I still have to get that math test signed. My mom is going to be so mad after this.”
“Let me see that test,” Chuck interjected.
Phillip hesitantly pulled it out of the front pocket of his trapper keeper. There again was the massive red “35%” on top of the page.
“What is your mom’s name?” Chuck asked.
It was a weird question. “Rhodman, just like mine.”
“No dude, like her FIRST name.”
“Janice, but…”
Chuck suddenly produced a pen from seemingly nowhere. Before Phillip could protest, Chuck wrote in big letters:
Janeese Rodman
“There you go, Phillip. Problem solved!” Chuck handed the paper back with the name written boldly right below the “35%.”
“What did you do?” Phillip said louder than he meant to. “That isn’t even how you spell it!”
“Mrs. Murray will never know. You are good. Now you don’t have to tell your mom. Seriously, I did you a favor. Be grateful.”

AUTHOR BIO

Jerry Harwood was born in Ooltewah, TN. His mother was an elementary school teacher and he spent his afternoons reading books in her classroom or the nearby library. He has experimented with other occupations: camp director, program director at a counseling center, college professor and middle school teacher. Jerry has backpacked Europe, taught in a Ukrainian University, worked in Rwanda after the genocide, is a first responder, sort-of remodeled a VW Thing, and has a love for Cherry Coke Zero that is only surpassed by his love for his wife, six children, and grandson.  
Jerry attended college at UT Chattanooga where he was in university honors and majored in Latin and classical literature.  He has two master’s degrees, nearing completion on a third.  He lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where  he is an active member of the Chattanooga Writer’s Guild, the Atlanta Writer’s Club, and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. 
Feel free to share your thoughts on the book with Jerry at JerryHarwoodBooks@gmail.com or visit his website at www.jerryharwood.com.

Author social media details

Website: http://www.jerryharwood.com
Amazon Author’s Page: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0863YPCD7
Blog: https://www.circumlocution.net
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20295900.Jerry_Harwood
Email: JerryHarwoodBooks@gmail.com