Saving Jake

by Ophelia Julien

Philip Corts has a special gift that his best friend Jake Holdridge won't let him ignore--he can track lost objects, people, and even past lives with his mind. But not all trackings have happy endings... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1930076150
• ISBN13: 9781930076150
• Release Date: November 2002
• Publisher: Wigwam Publishing Company
• Length: 185 Pages
• Weight: 0.49 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.1" x 8.1"

Customer Reviews

Courtesy of Teens Read Too

Philip Corts would like to be an average teenager, but his special abilities set him apart. He's always been able to find things that his family loses. He hears voices in cemeteries. And, with the help of his best friend, Jake Holdridge, he discovers that he can see the past through objects that have been there. But is he only seeing the past, or is he reliving it? Philip isn't sure he wants to know the truth about himself, so he turns his back on his supernatural talents. While Phil struggles with his own gift, his friend Jake has a burden of his own: a demanding, wealthy father who expects Jake to follow his footsteps into a successful corporate career. Never mind that Jake is an artist with no interest in the business world. So Jake devises a radical plan to free himself from his father's domineering presence, and he needs Philip's unique talents to help pull it off. The very talents that Philip swore he would never use again. SAVING JAKE is a paranormal adventure that combines the chills of a ghost story with the heart-wrenching drama of teens at a crossroads in their lives. The relationship between Jake and Philip is fascinating in its closeness and complexity. Also, the struggles engaged in by the main character, Philip, would probably seem extraordinary in most other stories, but compared to the daily misery endured by Jake, Philip's life almost seems like a walk in the park. As the book progresses, the reader can practically see Jake fading away. His eventual solution to his problems, although extreme, seems infinitely superior to having him continue life as he has been. This is an exciting book for readers who enjoy an eerie, mysterious tale, and it should appeal to those who like a great drama, too. Both of those elements worked together very well here. Overall, it was the paranormal elements that drew me to SAVING JAKE in the first place, but it was the well-written, unique story that kept me hooked. Reviewed by: K. Osborn Sullivan

Saving the Spirit

Ophelia Julien did a remarkable job of interweaving the longings of the human spirit and the absurdities of the paranormal world. The main characters, Jake Holdridge and Philip Corts, are each questioning the complexities of their lives and the unknown of the future. Jake is tormented by his father's expectations, his mother's abandonment, and his desire to be an artist. Corts has his own demons; the gift of being able to track and experience the terrifying dangers of other times and places, the decision to accept or reject a journalism scholarship, and the need to restore his broken relationship with his girlfriend. While he is trying to piece his own life together, Corts is faced with the hardest decision of all. Should he track one more time to save Jake from dieing as he sinks deeper into his hopeless state of depression? Or should he safely walk away from the inevitable danger involved in tracking? Saving Jake contains such a captivating story that reader will have a hard time putting this book down. Ophelia Julien develops and portrays her characters so skillfully that Jake and Corts quickly "track" their way right into the heart and mind of the reader.

Food for thought

College frshman, Philip Corts, is surprised and a little wary when his old friend, Jake Holdridge re-enters his life after several years. He's even more unnerved at Jake's unsusual request. Philip has the paranormal gift called, tracking, or, psychometry. But his ability to locate missing items with his mind goes much further when he glimpses a past life too painful to revisit. Philip discovers how far he will go in order to save a friend's displaced soul in search of the right life. Intriguing and well written with resonance to keep you thinking long after you close the book. Ophelia Julien captures the readers heart with memorable characters caught up in a thickening plot. A true heart and soul read for those daring to reach beyond the here and now.

Spooky stuff

In the first chapter of Saving Jake, Ophelia Julien immediately creates an atmosphere that stays with her readers for the rest of this spooky novel. If you've had paranormal experiences yourself, read this book as it may help answer some of your questions. If you haven't, read this book and you may begin to question what you consider normal. Fast-paced and well-written, pick up Saving Jake today ... and be prepared to meet some ghosts!

a pragmatic approach to the paranormal

"Saving Jake" is about a teenager's experience with the non-physical world, and how he is asked to use this ability, at the risk of his own life, to save his friend's life. Author Ophelia Julien defly explores not only the angst of a teenage boy finding himself, but also the greater challenge of how does a teenage boy with physic ability live a meaningful life. Her approach to the paranormal is pragmatic. Though written for the young adult reader, the book is a read for all who are intrigued or curious about experience beyond the linear logic of a rational world. I highly recommend it.