• Age: 9 to 12
• Grade: 4 to 7
• Reading age: 9 to 12

Spencer loves movies, but real life is boring, right? When his late grandfather's will reveals the tasks he wants his grandsons to undertake, Spencer thinks he got screwed. He's not going to France or Spain or Africa. He's not even getting a cool tattoo, like his younger brother. No, he's going to Buffalo to get a kiss from an ancient movie star. Gross. And he's supposed to film it. Grosser. But Spencer hasn't bargained on Gloria Lorraine, star of the silver screen back in the day. Gloria has big plans—plans that involve her granddaughter AmberLea, a gun, a baker who might be a gangster, some real gangsters and a road trip to Nowheresville, Ontario. After being shot at, jumping into an icy lake and confronting some angry bikers, Spencer finally realizes that real life can be as exciting (and dangerous) as reel life.

Spencer's adventures start in Speed, part of The Seven Prequels and continue in Coda, part of The Seven Sequels.

 

TED STAUNTON a écrit plus de quarante livres jeunesse et a contribué à la sériepopulaire Seven. Il joue aussi de la musique folk et blues. Ted se rend souventdans des écoles et des bibliothèques canadiennes. Il donne aussi un cours derédaction au collège George Brown à Toronto. Quand il n’est pas plongé dans un livre, il fait souvent de la musique avec le Maple Leaf Champions Jug Band..

 

Ted Staunton is the award-winning author of over forty books for young people, including Bounced, What Blows Up in The Almost Epic Squad series, the picture book Friends for Real, illustrated by Ruth Ohi, and the coauthor of the non-fiction title It Seemed Like a Good Idea . . . : Canadian Feats, Facts and Flubs, with his son Will. A busy and popular presenter at schools across Canada, Ted also teaches writing at George Brown College in Toronto, and is a roots/blues musician in whatever time is left over. Visit him online at www.tedstauntonbooks.com.

 

Ted Staunton's profile page

• Nominated, Forest of Reading Red Maple Award
• Commended, CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens
• Commended, Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Quick Picks

"If Jump Cut were a movie, and it would make a fantastic film, it would an action thriller with a quirky cast and many surprises, and the audience would be relentlessly sitting on the edge of their seats and falling back with belly laughs. Ted Staunton's sense of humour is divine, especially when verbalized by the indomitable Gloria Lorraine...Jump Cut has the eccentric elements of a cult classic. But, I suspect, that Jump Cut and all the other books in Orca's Seven (the series) will definitely stay in the mainstream for a long time with their popularity ensuring their status as classics."

CanLit for LittleCanadians blog

"The dialogue is very amusing, sharp and revealing of character...This intriguing series will appeal to both boys and girls at the junior high level."

Resource Links

"[The] adventures are exciting and readers will be anxious to pick up the next book in the series. Great for middle grade boys who want realistic fiction with action and suspense."

NJ Youth Services

"This madcap adventure will appeal to those readers who like action novels, mob related novels, or road trip novels. A first class read about loyalty, first love and how life can imitate film... Strongly recommended for middle and high school libraries. Easy to read vocabulary with nonstop action, adventure and humor."

TriState YA Book Review Committee

"A zany adventure...In the course of the story, Spencer tangles with Mafia toughs and motorcycle gang members, finding maturity, smarts and personal strength in the process...[An] entertaining story with a heart of gold."

Kirkus Reviews

"Exciting and good fun...It's wonderful to read a book where you love all the characters and here I certainly did, right down to the dog."

Back to Books blog

"An inspirational story of tying up loose ends even when it might seem that it's too late."

YALSA Teens' Top Ten Galley Review

"Staunton offers plenty of action, intrigue, and well-placed humour. The way the story intertwines with Spencer's younger brother's journey adds further interest and keeps readers guessing to the end. The film allusions throughout are clever and appropriate, and the cast of characters is both interesting and convincing...Readers will thoroughly enjoy Jump Cut on its own or as part of this unique new series. Highly Recommended."

CM Magazine