Sarah Ellis’s The Several Lives of Orphan Jack chronicles the adventures of a clever 12-year-old orphan named Jack. He was a master at avoiding trouble at the orphanage, but in his newfound life of freedom, he develops a knack for attracting it. To survive in the world, he must come up with a way to earn a living. Jack, a quick thinker and a lover of words, becomes an idea seller, convincing people to pay him with goods and money to hear his ideas. This middle-grade book about making one’s way in the world is a short, fun read, full of rich and delicious language. Illustrations by Bruno St. Aubin add to the charm. mRb