Carolyn Coman

When their parents are sent “up the river” for embezzlement, Ray and Ivy are left to live in the lap of luxury with Marietta Noland and her ancient husband, Lionel. But life at the big house is not all it's cracked up to be. First there is the shrouded portrait, then there is the spider in the decaying wedding cake. And what about the vicious instrument Marietta uses to decapitate her egg? When "the rain in Spain" begins to fall (in other words, Ray wets his bed), things go from bad to show more worse and Ivy knows it is time to take matters into her own hands. What follows is a hilarious lark as Ray and Ivy case the joint, get the skinny, and show Marietta she has met her match. show less

This books packs a punch beginning with the first sentence of chapter one: "When Jamie saw him throw the baby, saw Van throw the little baby, saw Van throw his little sister Nin, when Jamie saw Van throw his baby sister Nin, then they moved." This sentence sets up the dual problems Jamie confronts--his fear for his own and his family's safety and his worry about where his family will live. Essentially, Jamie needs security. Additionally, this first sentence establishes the young voice of show more Jamie. Many of the sentences, despite the third person voice used, are in this kind of round-about, rambling style--reminiscent of a young child who can't get his words right.
Coman mirrors her opening with the first sentence of the last chapter of the book: "Van showed up on Christmas Eve when Jamie was alone in the trailer with Nin." The tension is extreme at this point. Then within ten pages the climax is reached, the conflict resolved and Jamie is on the road to recovery. A spare and satisfying ending. show less

This Newbery Honor book didn't feel like a book for children or young adults. It felt like masterfully written short story for adults. The protagonist is a child, but I think the audience is adult.

As the book opens, Jamie, a third grade boy who lives with his baby sister, his mother, and her boyfriend, looks up to see the boyfriend throwing his baby sister across the room. His mother catches the baby, and she is fine, but she packs up her two children and leaves that very moment.

The rest of show more book covers the few weeks after they leave, as his mother, struggling both financially and emotionally, tries to figure out how to make things work.

A simple, beautiful, and emotion filled little book. show less

This 1996 Newbery Honor book was also a finalist for the National Book Award. It packs a punch in a mere 126 pages and it addresses a social issue that is compelling and necessary to discuss, ie the impact that adult decisions have upon their small children. Jamie's mother chose to subject her children in an unsafe situation. In the end, Jamie's mother also chose a path toward better decisions.

Short of fuse and long of violence, the boyfriend of Jamie's mother symbolizes the terror that show more children feel when life spins out of control.

Jamie saw Van violently lift and attempt to throw his infant sister Nin against a wall. Nin was crying and it inconvenienced Van. Luckily Jamie's mother caught the baby before she hit the wall.

As they find rescue in the home of another of his mother's friends, and then move on to a trailer deep in the woods, Jamie's fears and terrors surface. In hibernation, Jamie's family are sitting ducks for Van to return and harm again.

When a teacher reaches out and helps pave the way for safe decisions, it then enables Jamie and his mother to stand up to Van.

While this is a heavy book, laden with difficult subjects of abuse, fear, helplessness, it is also a book of hope when Jamie and his mother accept loving resources available.

Highly recommended. show less