Jake, Reinvented

Bibliography
Korman, Gordon. Jake, Reinvented. New York: Hyperion Paperbacks, 2003.

Plot Summary
This is a revised version of The Great Gatsby. It is set in the midwest at F. Scott Fitzgerald High School. The five main characters represent the five of Fitzgerald's famous novel. Jake Garrett (Jay) throws fantastic parties in hopes to impress his love Didi (Daisy).

Critical Analysis
I enjoyed reading the "new" version of Jay Gatz and picking out the similarities between this book and Gatsby. Rick (Nick) is the kicker for the team. Since he is now considered Jake's best friend (after only knowing him two weeks), Rick decides he'll take the popularity. As he states, "We kickers don't get a lot of headlines" (Korman 93).

Once Jake (Jay) and Didi (Daisy) begin their re-acquaintance, the parties become more crowded. Didi's boyfriend Todd (Tom), the star quarterback, picks up on the magnetism between the two, he begins rumors about Jake. "Actually it made perfect sense. Our great and exalted quarterback had soured on Jake. Therefore it was only a matter of time before everyone else fell into line. I love high school. It's a place for individuality to flourish" (Korman 128).

Another line that caught me was when Didi tells Jake, "'Why do you always have to spoil everything? Isn't it enough that I'm with you now?'" I remember that line from Gatsby, so I looked it up and sure enough, Daisy says to Jay, "'Oh, you want too much! I love you now--isn't that enough?'" (Fitzgerald 140).

The title of the book is referenced on page 168.

As Fitzgerald wrote about Daisy, so too does Korman create Didi. An incident occurs and Didi holds true to form: she does not right a wrong that she created. At the pivital moment of Jake's life, only Rick and Dipsy show up. Where are all of his "friends" now?

I feel like I've reread the plot of Gatsby without the complication of reading Fitzgerald. This book was worth spending the day reading.