Carolyn Coman

This book is written from the perspective of Jamie, a little boy. He, his mother, and his little sister are living with a man named Van. The three of them are forced to flea in the middle of the night when Van throws his younger sister, Nin, across the room in a fit of rage. His mom is able to catch her in time so that she is not hurt but the event scares Jamie to the point where he begins to live in fear even after leaving. They move into the trailer of his mother's friend Earl. Earl makes comments that they are not safe from Van. This adds to Jamie's fear. One scene describes Jamie trying to get dressed in a hurry, he isn't sure why he is hurrying but the scene alludes to the anxiety and panic that a child may feel when feeling unsafe. This is a too real scenario. While I do think that the topic is important I am not sure that I would be prepared to read this with my class.… (mere)

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 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.… (mere)