Two Books about moms (absent moms)
Two books I read that fit into the “mother” theme are Jakeman by Deborah Ellis and Harry Sue by Sue Stauffacher, Although the latter author was new to me, I have loved Deborah Ellis’s work for a long time. She is the author of the “Breadwinner” trilogy, and her book Bifocal, which she co-authored with Eric Walters, has been nominated for next year’s Snow Willow awards in Saskatchewan. Jakeman is about Jake and his sister, Shoshona, who are off on the bus to visit their mom in prison. It struck me as rather bizarre that these children set out late at night to catch a bus with only one social worker for supervision. Jake imagines himself to be a superhero, Jakeman, who will be all the things he can’t be in real life; brave and daring. He has also decided that there has been a vast misunderstanding about the reason for his mother’s incarceration, so writes regular letters to the governor, asking for her release. Through a wild series of events, the children are left to guide the bus on their own and Jake is actually able to confront the governor in person with his request, only to find that the governor really doesn’t care.
Harry Sue, on the other hand, is a girl in a foster home who has decided that the only way she can find her mom is to become a criminal as well and be sent to jail. Although her intentions are good, her heart is much too compassionate towards the other children in the home, and she is constantly diverted from her plans by having to rescue one of them. I would love to use both of these boks with a class and compare these 2 heroes.
Some other great titles I have read on this theme:
Losing Forever- Gayle Friesen
So B. it: a Novel- Sarah Weeks
Out of Focus- Margret Buffie
Smell of Paint- Sheryl McFarlane
Peacekeepers- Dianne Linden
Raspberry House Blues- Linda Holeman
Escape From Memory – Margaret Peterson Haddix
Book Challenge, Realistic Fiction, YA | Comments (3)3 Responses to “Two Books about moms (absent moms)”
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Deborah Ellis has taken a different approach to looking at absent moms in her new book being published in September. In Off to War: Voices of Soldiers’ Children she interviews kids ages 6-17 from military families across the U.S. and Canada, and in the book they tell their own stories, in their own words. It’s very powerful stuff, and provides a deeply affecting look into the lives of children whose voices aren’t always heard.
[...] Stauffacher, Although the latter author was new to me, I have loved Deborah Ellis??s work for a lohttp://janeonbooks.edublogs.org/2008/05/23/two-books-about-moms-absent-moms/New York Times Best Sellers, collectibles, cards and gifts, childrens …Discount Books all the [...]
Thanks for your comment on my blog. It was a lovely surprise to realize it was from the very Jane whose blog I’ve had bookmarked and have been following for some time now. : )