Jake Drake, Know-It-All

One of the lessons that Jake learns in Jake Drake, Know-It-All is that he cannot really enjoy himself unless he is also staying loyal to his best friend, Willie. From the story’s beginning, Jake establishes how important Willie is in his life. In his explanation of his love for computers in Chapter 1, Jake makes sure to mention that he plays video games with Willie nearly every day, for example. Jake has some of Willie’s basketball cards in his junk drawer in Chapter 6, making it clear how intertwined their lives are. In Chapter 7, the only fun part of Jake’s winter break is the day he spends sledding with Willie.

Despite how close the two are and how much they enjoy one another’s company, Jake initially chooses not to work with Willie on the science fair project. He is too caught up in his selfish desire to have the Bluntium Twelve all to himself. He knows that his refusal hurts Willie, and he acknowledges that he is not being very nice: “But when you […] have to win, then you don’t have as much time to be nice anymore,” he explains (26). This choice is ultimately self-defeating. Although Jake begins his project on electromagnets with enthusiasm, his excitement quickly fades, and the project becomes a boring burden.