Scan barcode
A review by wrentheblurry
The House You Pass on the Way by Jacqueline Woodson
4.0
GENRE: Fiction, realistic fiction, homosexual issues.
SUMMARY: Fourteen-year-old Staggerlee has experienced difficulty fitting in at school; her classmates hold it against her that her father is black and her mother is white, and they feel that Staggerlee is a snob. Amidst this, Staggerlee is struggling to come to terms with the kiss she shared with Hazel, who was her one and only friend until Staggerlee's classmates turned Hazel against her. Life improves after Staggerlee's cousin Trout comes to visit for a summer. With Trout Staggerlee can be completely herself, and with her Staggerlee shares her secret about Hazel. Trout has a confession as well, which brings both of the girls closer, though things change after Trout goes back home.
EVALUATION: I liked this book a lot, from the way Staggerlee's relationship with her father and other family members is depicted, to the gentle way the author handles Staggerlee's confusion over her sexuality.
WHY I WOULD INCLUDE IT: Tweens are at an age when sexuality is becoming more and more important, and being able to find books that help them feel they are normal for perhaps experiencing emotions that are different than their peers. This book can provide that reassurance to tween girls, in a well-written way that also deals with racism issues.
READER'S ANNOTATION: Staggerlee deals with her bi-racialness, and comes to term with her sexuality during the summer her cousin Trout visits.
ITEMS WITH SIMILAR APPEAL:
• So Hard to Say by Alex Sanchez.
• Stop Pretending: What Happened When my Big Sister Went Crazy by Sonya Sones.
• Before We Were Free by Julia Alvarez.
SUMMARY: Fourteen-year-old Staggerlee has experienced difficulty fitting in at school; her classmates hold it against her that her father is black and her mother is white, and they feel that Staggerlee is a snob. Amidst this, Staggerlee is struggling to come to terms with the kiss she shared with Hazel, who was her one and only friend until Staggerlee's classmates turned Hazel against her. Life improves after Staggerlee's cousin Trout comes to visit for a summer. With Trout Staggerlee can be completely herself, and with her Staggerlee shares her secret about Hazel. Trout has a confession as well, which brings both of the girls closer, though things change after Trout goes back home.
EVALUATION: I liked this book a lot, from the way Staggerlee's relationship with her father and other family members is depicted, to the gentle way the author handles Staggerlee's confusion over her sexuality.
WHY I WOULD INCLUDE IT: Tweens are at an age when sexuality is becoming more and more important, and being able to find books that help them feel they are normal for perhaps experiencing emotions that are different than their peers. This book can provide that reassurance to tween girls, in a well-written way that also deals with racism issues.
READER'S ANNOTATION: Staggerlee deals with her bi-racialness, and comes to term with her sexuality during the summer her cousin Trout visits.
ITEMS WITH SIMILAR APPEAL:
• So Hard to Say by Alex Sanchez.
• Stop Pretending: What Happened When my Big Sister Went Crazy by Sonya Sones.
• Before We Were Free by Julia Alvarez.