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3.33 AVERAGE
3.33 AVERAGE
Good children's book on domestic violence from the child's point of view. A reviewer on Amazon claimed the book was horrible because it did not aid families in this situation at all. I disagree. I think that this book could really help kids in this situation just by seeing that they are not the only ones dealing with this issue. Plus, the mother keeping the child home from school is just plain realistic. Coman did a great job with this character and through his eyes one can see the effect of DV on a young child.
Hard-hitting, meaningful story about overwhelming emotions, told using sparse, simple middle-grade prose. Seeing your stepfather throw your baby sister across the room is indeed terrifying, and young Jamie possesses neither a full understanding of what he's seen nor the words to express it. His uncertain fear about "what was next" feels gripping and real, as do his harsh reactions when things don't go well in his new life.
As a side note, this book takes place in rural northern New Hampshire, an isolated, economically struggling part of the region that rarely appears in fiction, and that subtly contributes to the isolation and struggles the characters face.
I'd recommend this book to anyone of any age looking to discover the power that raw, simple writing can convey in barely a hundred pages.
As a side note, this book takes place in rural northern New Hampshire, an isolated, economically struggling part of the region that rarely appears in fiction, and that subtly contributes to the isolation and struggles the characters face.
I'd recommend this book to anyone of any age looking to discover the power that raw, simple writing can convey in barely a hundred pages.
Such an interesting yet powerful story. I really enjoyed seeing the story through Jamie's eyes and experiencing what he saw as I read. I have not read many books like this so it was very thought provoking. Even now after I am finished, I am wondering about Jamie and if things are good for him and his family.
This book was well written but the subject matter seemed very adult. I am not sure I would want a young person to read it without an adult to discuss it with. I think it may be confussing in parts.
What Jamie saw was his mom's boyfriend throwing his baby sister across the room. Luckily, Jamie's mom was quick enough to catch her and the three of them left that night. This gem of a book tells what happened after the incident and how Jamie and his mom begin to conquer their fears and put their lives back together. I was hooked from the beginning. Great for middle grade and older readers who like issues books.
Tenderly captured the tensions of a family in crisis through third grade eyes.
Don't think it was written very well and it left too many questions unanswered.
The language in this really keeps it from being a children's book, which is unfortunate because I feel otherwise it does what it intends to do really well.
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
I honestly don't remember hearing about this book, which won a Newbery Honor Award in 1996. I don't like the cover art, so probably would have passed it up. I don't really know why I started reading it, but after the first sentence - When Jamie saw him throw the baby, saw Van throw the little baby, saw Van throw his baby sister Nin, then they moved. -I was hooked. This story tells of domestic violence and its aftermath from the point of view of 3rd grader, Jamie. Even though the ugly subject matter is realistically portrayed, the book has a lyric quality that makes moments vivid. Coman accurately captures that sense of unreality experienced by kids going through a frightening, life-changing experience [p. 23 Once again a Christmasy feeling came over him - of being up late, of getting to fall asleep in a different place, near the grownups, a sense of things, however temporary, being truly different.]. It would be easy to write a story where the mother is neglectful or abusive, but the relationship between Jamie and his mother is beautiful. The author is never heavy-handed or preachy, and there is no easy, pat ending, but she handled the story so delicately, it will stay with me for a long, long time.