Miracle’s Boys by Jacqueline Woodson
Jacqueline Woodson continues to do no wrong and Miracle’s Boys further confirms that I need to continue to read through her entire back list.
Miracle’s Boys is a beautiful exploration of what happens when parents die, leaving their children behind to cope in their absence. Ty’ree, the oldest, gives up college to care for his two younger brothers. Charlie has was just been released from Rahway Home for Boys for armed robbery and twelve-year old Lafayette is just trying to make it through each day.
Although this is a story about each brother in the aftermath of such a loss, it is Lafayette’s story and he is our narrator. Lafayette is full of guilt. Why did his father die? Why did his mother die? Why must Ty’ree sacrifice for him? Why is Charlie so different after coming home? Could he have done something different? What did he do in the past? Could he have changed it? Will his family be taken away from him? Will Ty’ree be able to keep them together? Will Charlie mess everything up? On top of all of that, Ty’ree lives with the guilt and the secret that he thinks he caused his mother’s death.
On Jacqueline Woodson on Miracle’s Boys (from her website):
I wanted to write a story that had no girls in it. I also wanted to write about how hard it is to be poor sometimes. I also wanted to write about how hard it is to lose someone you love—in this case, both parents—and how that pain starts shaping itself into other things sometimes like anger and isolation. Most of all, I wanted to write about three brothers who are funny, handsome, searching, and caring of one another.
Loved it. Plain and simple. You will too.
And because I can:
Links of interest: Maw Books reviews of Jacqueline Woodson titles, including Feathers, If You Come Softly, Behind You, Show Way, Locomotion, Peace Locomotion. Jacqueline Woodson website.
Genre: Fiction, approx ages 9-12. A great book for boys.
Publisher: Putnam Juvenile. December 31, 2001.
Paperback, 192 pages. ISBN: 0698119169
Miracle’s Boys is available from your local independent bookstore, Powell’s, and Amazon.
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Category: Book Reviews, Fiction, Young Adult
Tags: book to movie, M-P Title, U-Z Author
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This looks like a great read. Cute pic!
on June 24th, 2009 at 9:50 amI loved this book! I read it last year for a children’s lit class I took. Great book!
on June 24th, 2009 at 12:33 pmHaving lost my father two years ago, when I was 24, but my sisters were 33 and 36, I understand how people are affected by parent loss at any age, though the younger you are, the harder it (usually) is. Unfortunately, there’s not a lot of really good books out there that tackle this issue realistically, without getting sappy. One of my favorites on parent-loss is Jhumpa Lahiri’s titular short story Unaccustomed Earth. (my review for it: http://bibliofreakblog.com/fiction/unaccustomed-earth-by-jhumpa-lahiri/ )
on June 24th, 2009 at 12:51 pmHmmm, yet another book down for that Diversity Rocks challenge you keep meaning to join…LOL!
This has been on my list of books Ben might like for months. I need to get it for him already!
on June 24th, 2009 at 2:54 pmI haven’t read this one yet although I do love Jacqueline Woodson’s material. Fantastic photo together!
on June 24th, 2009 at 7:26 pmThis looks wonderful. I love her list of goals in writing the book. Super cute picture, too!
on June 24th, 2009 at 7:57 pmThere are so few really good books for boys in this age range. It’s always great to find a new one!
on June 24th, 2009 at 9:48 pmI love, love, love Jacquelyn Woodson, I think this was the second book I read by her the first being Show Way. She is so talented.
on June 27th, 2009 at 10:40 amOkay how bad is that I just spelled her name wrong. Sorry Jacqueline. Again though this is one of my favorite books.
on June 27th, 2009 at 10:42 amI’m going to have to put this on my must read list, sounds like a great read.
on June 28th, 2009 at 10:34 amAnd come on over and get your award!!!
Natalie :0)
What a beautiful review! I’ll add this to my TBR list.
on August 19th, 2009 at 10:08 am