Ratings

Content Ratings based on a 0-5 scale where
0 = no objectionable content and
5 = an excessive or disturbing level of content

Guide to Rating System

LANGUAGE

VIOLENCE

SEXUAL CONTENT

ADULT THEMES

1996 Newbery Honor Book

Ratings Explanation

Language: A few uses of Deity. Damn is used a few times. One use each of hell and sh**.

Violence: Van throws baby Nin across the room and her mother catches her. While this only happens one time, it is described a number of times throughout the book as Jamie remembers it over and over again. Jamie kicks his mother. Jamie’s mother shakes him rather forcefully once when she gets angry.

Adult Themes: Except for the throwing of the baby, there is no other actual abuse described but there is definitely an understanding that Van has been abusive. It’s rather subtle and younger children might not even pick up on it. Jamie’s mom smokes cigarettes.

Synopsis

Jamie wakes up suddenly one night to see his step-father throwing his baby sister across the room. His mother catches the baby and immediately leaves with Jamie, the baby and a few of their belongings. With the help of Patty’s friend, Earl, and Jamie’s teacher, Jamie’s broken family is able to begin again.

I didn’t love the book, but I didn’t hate it, either. It was well written, but a bit anticlimactic. I did enjoy the character of Jamie: He was a very ordinary boy with what I can imagine are very normal boy feelings and yet, he was sensitive to the situation and somewhat heroic in the end. It’s written in very simple language and would be easy for young readers, but the deeper and difficult subject matter might be harder for some. I would suggest 6th grade and older.