I'd read Sarah Weeks' first novel, So B. It, in not only one day, but in one sitting. It is a magical book that I wish I could've read as a child. So when, not knowing that it existed, I came upon Jumping the Scratch on the second day of my read-a-book-each-day-for-a-week experiment, I easily bumped DeLillo back a day.
Jamie (not James) is a 5th grader who has come upon some bad luck. His cat ran died, his dad took off, and he has to move to Michigan. His Aunt Sapphy, involved in a freak accident at a cherry factory, can't care for herself any longer, so Jamie and his mom move to Traverse City to help her out.
Once at his new school, Jamie is an outcast. Even his teacher can't seem to find anything redeeming in Jamie, so he retreats even further from anyone who reaches out to him. There is obviously something deeper that's traumatized Jamie, and he refers to it only as the incident, and of his fear being tied to the taste of butterscotch.
Two brief encounters turn into pivotal connections for Jamie. One is with the weird girl from his class, Audrey, who is also his neighbor. The other is with an author who visits his classroom. These characters are believable, and their appearances rather brief, but their impact is felt by both the protagonist and the reader.
While I wasn't over the moon about this book, I can see how it will be helpful in dealing with broader issues for young adults. Divorce, trauma, abuse, and bullying are all dealt with deftly and with the disposition of a 10-year-old-boy. Any story that can assist students deal with life is significant enough to be told.
No comments:
Post a Comment