Jacksweettooth
by Malorie Blackman

Release Date: 3rd Jan 2008
Publisher: Random House
ISBN: 978 0 552 55776 4
RRP: £3.99

Average Customer Rating:

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Amazing how a tiny mouse can cause so much trouble

I am a fan of mice, they tend to prefer eating cheese to worms, a fact that has enabled me to comfortably make friends with many a fine mouse and I imagine that Jack Sweettooth and I would be exceptionally good chums were he less... lackadaisical.

Let me explain... Jack is a house pet. A human pet and so has my sympathies, for nothing is more whimsical than a human owner and my point is made loud and clear in these 3 short stories about the life and ails of our Jack Sweettooth.

Firstly, our little mouse friend is falsely accused of stealing Mrs Bailey’s (the mother) lost ruby from her engagement ring. An accusation so absurd that it makes my tail segment quiver with indignation – what would a mouse want with a ruby for goodness sake! Mrs Bailey for her part is particularly ferocious and rather unpleasant and I for one, would not rush to join the Bailey family for supper... for fear of being screamed at like a banshee.

I don’t like Mrs Bailey at all. I don’t even care that she warmed up to Jack in the end as it was pure luck that he found her missing ruby and therefore pure luck that she realised she was in the wrong. A trip to a mouse-infested hairdressers that happened to remain open for business seems a little farfetched and where were the signs that Health and Safety would demand?

Secondly, who in their right mind would agree to look after a mouse-stalking cat when they own a mouse as a pet? I would have upped sticks and got out from under their feet had I been Jack here. I wouldn’t have taken that kind of nonsense! Thirdly, and the most ridiculous of all is the introduction of a female mouse only to take her away again! God Lord, do these people have no feelings!

All's well that end’s well, I suppose. But my problem remains. Jack is far too laid back for my liking. The family are grotesque in their neglect of his general well-being and lack of due consideration and Mrs Bailey is a monster of monstrous proportions.

A cute series of short mouse tails, but nonetheless awful. I do not, as a Words Worm, endure poor grammar and disgraceful treatment of any animal species well. There is a distinct lack of colour in this book, which only adds to the gloomy feel I get in the pit of my stomach. Even munching on my favourite nibble (equine excrement – fresh from the farm round the corner) did nothing to alleviate my disquiet. I was glad when it was over.

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