Miracle's Boys

This book was heartbreaking in the most wonderful way. It wasn’t heavy handed or overly dramatic. It was a realistic portrayal of growing up poor in an urban area. The aspect I liked most about this book is that the three main characters are boys and yet they have FEELINGS. Real emotions. They may not show them outwardly but they’re there. I think that boys reading this will appreciate knowing that they themselves are not the only ones with feelings and insecurities. Even the tough middle brother with a criminal history feels deep sadness, not just anger (the one emotion boys are allowed to express in this world without fear of being made fun of).

This book has won several awards, including the Coretta Scott King award, most show more deservedly so. I recommend it to anyone – young and old – but to especially boys who want to add some variety to their reading life apart from the goofy world of Wimpy Kid and Captain Underpants. show less

My Review: A powerful, emotionally honest story about brotherhood, loss, and growing up. Woodson’s lyrical style makes heavy topics feel personal and deeply engaging.

My second time reading this, and I'll be keeping it around to read again. A very emotional story about three brothers, where one of them is going off-the-rails, one of them is trying to make sense of the world and the third is trying to hold them all together. I LOVED these brothers, I wish I could read more about them.

The eldest of three brothers chooses to take responsibility for his younger brothers when both parents die.

The reader cheers for the young man as he does his best to understand the dynamics of the family and watches as the middle child returns from prison a changed man. Angry, belligerent and striking out, the eldest brother grieves as he tries to stop this child from continuing a path of destruction.

Written from the perspective of the youngest child, the story is touching and heartfelt.

Everything this author writes is marvelous!

An honest book about complicated relationships and very raw truth behind the types of grief a child can feel after they lose their parent and how shame can warp all of it.

This is a very short novel and it is very specific and purposed focused in on a very specific time in the lives of 3 brothers. It is powerful and heartbreaking, but also heartfelt. It is a story of brotherhood - the family kind - and not giving up.

Warning: Deals with the processing of the death of one's parents.

Woodson, Jacqueline. MIRACLE'S BOYS. New York : Puffin Books, 2008.

Source: Coretta Scott King Award

Subject Headings: Realistic Fiction, Brothers, Gangs, Death, Family

Age: 13-18

Review: Award winning author Jacqueline Woodson tells the story of a family over the course of a day. Told from the perspective of 12 year old Lafayette, the reader learns how Lafeyette's eldest brother Ty'ree isn't going to school so he can take care of him and Charlie. Lafayette doesn't take much, but Charlie has been in a whole world of trouble. Ever since their Mom died, Charlie has been a reck and tonight he will push the bounds of his family one more time. Will the brother's stick together, or will everything fall apart?

Concerns: No concerns come show more immediately to mind, although I suppose a parent may object to the reference to gang violence, but the story is short, insightful, well told and has a happy ending, what more can people ask for?

Ideas: Ask students to discuss which brother is their favorite and why. Each brother has handled their family's struggles in a different way, teachers/librarians could ask students to discuss if they think their favorite brother handled challenges well and if they didn't how come? show less