Jumping the Scratch

This middle grade novel, set in northern Michigan, draws out some of the most complicated emotions and serious challenges of childhood. It takes divorce, memory, death and abuse as its subjects and handles them deftly, creating a narrative that is not at all comfortable yet is beautiful in its own way. Weeks is adept at inhabiting the perspective of a child with a secret. Here, that child is Jamie, who feels responsible for the bad things happening around him -- his parents splitting, his cat dying, his aunt's health issues and even more terrible secrets -- and is struggling to function in his shifting world.

Although this is a quick read, it is not an easy one, especially for anyone who has ever been in a similar situation. Jamie's show more challenges are familiar, relatable, wrenching and -- as a result -- important for the reader. I think, in fact, that this might be one of those important books... one that you can hand to kids or even adults who are struggling in order to reassure them that they are not alone. It will unsettle you -- it should unsettle you -- but it is very much worth the discomfort. Recommended for older children who can handle serious themes and beyond. show less

Reviewed by Me for TeensReadToo.com

JUMPING THE SCRATCH is best described as a story about forgetting. For eleven-year-old Jamie, it's about forgetting an event that has traumatized him. For Sapphy, his aunt, it's about forgetting anything and everything that happens to her on a daily basis. But let's back up just a little bit...

Jamie Reardon has moved to Traverse City, Michigan, from Battle Creek, where he once had a real home, a mom and dad to always fix whatever was wrong, a cat named Mister who knew how to listen, and a normal-as-cornflakes life. But then Mister died, and his dad ran off with a cashier from the MicroMart, and his Aunt Sapphy was injured in a work-related accident. So that year, during fifth grade, Jamie and his mom show more moved in with Aunt Sapphy in her trailer at Wondrous Acres, and there was no big Thanksgiving dinner or sparkling Christmas tree. There was only Aunt Sapphy, who got hit on the head by a falling pipe during her shift at the Cheery Cherry canning factory, and now can't form any short-term memories. There's Jamie's mother, who took a third-shift job at the same cherry factory because it was the only place hiring. There's Marge, the home nursing aide, who doesn't like anyone, especially Aunt Sapphy. And then there's Jamie, who changed sometime around Christmas, and yet no one seems to notice.

While Jamie is busy dodging the verbal bullets of his teacher, Miss Miller, and the crazy questions of Audrey Krouch, a fellow student who also lives in Wondrous Acres, he's also trying to forget. Forget what happened on Christmas Eve, with Old Gray, the guy who sits in the office at the trailer park. It's funny how memories work. While Jamie works hard to find the magic trigger to give Sapphy back her memories, he wants nothing more than to erase his own.

It's easy to sympathize with Jamie, especially with the careless adults that surround him in JUMPING THE SCRATCH. Although I would have liked the story to be longer and more filled out, this is a quick, emotional read. It's definitely interesting to watch Jamie's transformation, to read about the intriguing Aunt Sapphy, and to see into the heart and mind of the wonderfully odd Audrey. show less

So B. It was a five star read for me in 2012, and thus I'm compelled to read other books by Sarah Weeks.

This one did not disappoint and Weeks is an author I'll follow.

When Jamie and his mother move to northern Michigan to live with and assist his Aunt Sapphy, the transition is difficult.

Abandoned by his father who left for another woman, Jamie and his mother moved and now live in a tiny trailer; his mother works long hours, and his Aunt is different.

Suffering from an accident at a cherry factory, Aunt Sapphy now has amnesia. Like a needle stuck in a record, Aunt Sapphy repeats herself over and over and over and over.

While Aunt Sapphy cannot remember, Jamie has a terrible secret and he longs to be more like his Aunt. While she cannot show more remember; he cannot forget.

Persecuted on the bus and in school, Jamie simply tries to zone out. When Audrey Krouch, a gangly, curious girl who lives in the same trailer park, begins to notice and tries to interact with Jamie, he realizes just how much his secret impacts on his ability to relate to others.

Before he moved, Jaime had a lovely cat named Mister. A stray, Mister was taken in and cared for by Jaime. When Mister has an accident and dies, it coincides with the loss of his father. Losing two things he loved is terribly painful.

Losing the wonderful relationship he previously had with Aunt Sapphy before her accident, simply represents yet another tragedy and loss.

When Mr. Gray, the manager of the trailer park befriends Jamie, he thinks he can trust and share his loss and pain. Sadly, he is used and abused by Mr. Gray. Mr. Gray's betrayal leads to shame for Jamie and represents yet another loss of innocence.

Desperately trying to hide his secret from everyone, Audrey notices that Jamie takes the long way from the bus to his home, avoiding the area where Mr. Gray lives, and she continues to question Jamie.

As Jamie's secret unravels, the relationship with Audrey and with Aunt Sapphy helps both Jamie and Aunt Sapphy to "jump the scratch" and to sing a new song.

Highly recommended. show less

Jamie and his mom move to northern Michigan to live with, and care for, his aunt. Suffering from a head injury, Aunt Saphy can't remember anything day to day. Jamie has a dark secret that he'd love to forget, but he can't. With the help of a new friend, Audrey, Jamie sets out to help his aunt, but ends up finding answers of his own.

This book was phenomenal. Weeks has woven together Jamie's and his aunt Saphy's stories in a way that reminds me of Gary Schmidt's books.While not as rich in historical detail as Schmidt, Weeks develops her characters and reveals the plot at just the right pace. I also love how she strikes the perfect balance of Jamie being alone with his secret, without making all of the adults in his life completely show more incompetent. Highly recommended for readers of all ages. show less

After his father takes off with a mini-mart clerk and his Aunt Sapphy suffers a head injury in a cherry factory accident, 5th-grader Jamie Reardon finds himself living in a trailer at the not-so-wondrous Wondrous Acres. As the new kid at school, Jamie only wishes to be invisible, but a bully, his teacher Miss Miller who doesn't even realize his name isn't short for James, and the odd and prying Audrey Krouch simply won't let him disappear. Even as he tries to help his aunt regain her short-term memory, Jamie only wishes to forget his own terrible secret. As it happens, his disabled aunt and Audrey are the ones that can ultimately help Jamie face his fears.

Jumping the Scratch is a charming and quick read for younger readers. Jamie is a show more lovable character who I'm sure most kids, and humans in general, could relate to as he struggles with how to respond to a bully's taunts, how to fit in at a new school, and how to deal with a teacher who always seems to be picking on him. This a great story about kindness that isn't always so common and learning to open up and trust others to know and help us with our problems. show less

Jamie and his mom move to northern Michigan to live with, and care for, his aunt. Suffering from a head injury, Aunt Saphy can't remember anything day to day. Jamie has a dark secret (abuse) that he'd love to forget, but he can't. With the help of a new friend, Audrey, Jamie sets out to help his aunt, but ends up finding answers of his own. This book starts w/a great opening line in the intro and cont to reel in the reader in Ch 1. I would use this book to teach Pathways-Feelings, divorce, abandonment, complex families, extended family, similes, and great opening lines "bold beginnings". Grades 5+ for strong emotion and complex issues.

This was a story full of wonderful characters. Sarah Weeks writes so well for young people.