Railway Jack

December 1, 2019
Johnston's debut recounts the partnership of English-born railway signalman Jim Wide and his service baboon, Jack, in 1880s South Africa. After an accident necessitates the amputation of his legs, Jim can no longer inspect the trains at Uitenhage Station. Fortunately, his request for a new task is granted, and he becomes a signalman, switching trains onto different tracks by pulling levers. But getting around is difficult, even after Jim carves himself prostheses and builds a handcart. Jim finds a helping hand in Jack, a chacma baboon, training the animal to push the cart, operate switches, and more. Soon, the hardworking primate becomes not only Jim's assistant, but his "best friend." But when railway authorities discover a monkey at the switch, Jack must prove his reliability in order for Jim to keep his job. Jack's antics are sometimes charmingly (and somewhat disorientingly) humanlike; affection radiates throughout the straightforward text and Samaniego's close, expressive illustrations as the pair share an exuberant cart ride or Jack chatters at a smiling Jim, a hand on Jim's shoulder. Against the eloquent illustrations, the occasional speech-balloon dialogue feels redundant. Most humans, including Jim, present white; South Africa's troubled racial history goes unmentioned. An author's note provides an epilogue, and thought-provoking discussion questions touch on animal rights. Backmatter includes archival photos, a glossary, internet resources, related reading, a brief history of service animals, and a bibliography. A warm, engaging tale of the bond between a resourceful man and his service animal. (Informational picture book. 8-12)

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January 1, 2020

Gr 3-5-Debut author Johnston focuses on the relationship between Jim Wide, a railway guard and train inspector in Uitenhage, South Africa, in the late 1800s, and his service animal Jack, a chacma baboon. Wide made himself a pair of wooden legs after a work accident left him without the lower portions of his legs. He displayed continuous ingenuity when creating tools to improve his mobility and the capacity to do his job. One day, Wide saw Jack assisting a man with his oxen. Wide purchased Jack and trained the animal to pitch in with the many tasks around his home, help him get around, and ultimately provide aid in some of his rail work duties. Johnston is thorough in explaining the railway process that Jim was required to do. Spanish illustrator Samaniego's digitally rendered images support the text in depicting the mechanics of the train system and portraying details specific to the historical era. Both the art and the narrative steer clear of any anthropomorphization of Jack. Back matter includes photos of Jack and Wide at work, an author's note, information on primates, the history of service animals, discussion questions, and a glossary. Though the book successfully shows people's relationships with service animals and offers a positive portrayal of disability, readers have to get to the end of the book to obtain context about the time period's lack of services for people with disabilities. It also only shows a white population of South Africa. VERDICT A good conversation starter that will need some unpacking.-Danielle Jones, Multnomah County Library, OR

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 15, 2019
Grades 1-3 In the annals of service animals, there can be but few to equal Jack, a chacma baboon who operated switches, fetched keys, and performed other complex tasks at South Africa's Uitenhage train station in the 1880s for Jim, a station attendant who had lost both legs in an accident. Along with presenting a narrative account of the pair's close and enduring relationship, Johnston appends several actual photos, an account of Jack's death, notes on the history of service animals and about primates in general, discussion questions, and relevant print and web resources. Samaniego's painted illustrations, plainly based on the photos, place man and baboon in accurately reconstructed surroundings, wowing passengers in period dress, and impressing even railroad officials, who granted Jack paid (in food) employee status. Though the story itself is a sunny one, portraying a loving two-way relationship, the discussion questions add necessary balance by bringing up issues of exploitation, keeping wild animals in captivity, and the perils of anthropomorphism.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)