The Jacket [Hardcover]

Andrew Clements (Author), McDavid Henderson (Illustrator)

Book Description

Phil is on a mission. His absentminded little brother forgot his lunch money. All kinds of thoughts are running through Phil's mind as he searches for Jimmy in the throngs of fourth and fifth graders crowding the school hallway:...if I'm late for math today, then I might not be allowed to take the test -- and then I could flunk math! I might even flunk sixth grade and get left back!

Then Phil spots Jimmy's one-of-a-kind jacket and rushes to the corner of the hallway. Except the person wearing it isn't his brother; it's some black kid Phil's never seen before -- wearing Jimmy's jacket! Phil makes an accusation, tempers flare, and both kids wind up in the principal's office.

How will Phil react when he finds out how Daniel came to be the owner of this unique jacket? Will Daniel be able to forgive Phil for an accusation that was based on racial prejudice? What will each boy learn about the other, and most important, about himself?

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

After wrongly accusing a boy--an African American boy—of stealing his brother's jacket, Phil--a white boy--has some hard thinking to do. And a tough question for his mom: "How come you never told me I was prejudiced?" This seemingly small school incident turns into a painful, but ultimately satisfying, learning opportunity for the sixth grader, as he explores the myriad influences in his life and the way his thought patterns have formed... and finds a new friend in the process. The intellectual evolution Phil goes through may be somewhat facile for a child his age, but Andrew Clements's message will undoubtedly hit home for many readers. This is exactly the kind of situation that arises every day in schools (and offices and buses) all over the world. Clements is the author of many highly acclaimed children's books, including The Janitor's Boy and Frindle. (Ages 8 to 12) --Emilie Coulter

From Publishers Weekly

Originally serialized in the Boston Globe, Clements's (Frindle; The School Story) brief, instructive tale centers on a sixth-grader who one day realizes that he is prejudiced. When Phil spies Daniel, an African-American schoolmate, wearing a jacket identical to one that his mother bought him in Italy (and that Phil had passed down to his younger brother), he assumes that Daniel has stolen the coat. After tussling in the hall, the two sort things out in the principal's office, where Daniel reveals that his jacket was a gift from his grandmother, Lucy; as it turns out, the woman who for years has cleaned Phil's house is Daniel's grandmother. Learning that the jacket now legitimately belongs to Daniel, Phil questions his actions ("What if Daniel had been a white kid? Would I have grabbed him like that?"). The lad's quandary deepens when he suddenly recognizes that his father is, quite blatantly, a bigot. Though lacking subtlety, the story pointedly delivers a timely message and can serve as a springboard for dialogue about tolerance and self-honesty. Clements makes his point without didacticism and with just the right amount of emotion. Ages 8-12.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 96 pages
• Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers (February 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689825951
• ISBN-13: 978-0689825958
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 4.7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,092,777 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Most of my characters are fairly normal people who are dealing with the basics of everyday life--getting along with others, finding a place in the world, discovering talents, overcoming challenges, trying to have some wholesome fun along the way, and getting into some scrapes and a little mischief now and then, too. I guess I hope my readers will be able to see bits and pieces of themselves in the stories, particularly the novels that take place in and around school. School is a rich setting because schools and education are at the heart of every community. The stories that are set in school seem to resonate with kids, teachers, parents, librarians--readers of all ages. Everyone's life has been touched by school experiences. And I also hope, of course, that kids and others will enjoy reading, enjoy the use of language, enjoy my storytelling.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Tough Issues Handled in a Sensitive Manner, May 3, 2003

By 

T. Thompson (Wales, ME) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Jacket (Hardcover)

This book is written in a brisk style. The pace is quick and not heavy on detail. Instead Andrew Clements takes the time to let us into the mind of a young man struggling with his feelings. I really applaud Andrew Clements for taking on a sensitive issue.
This story gives a picture of a brief encounter between two young men Phil and Daniel. In this encounter Phil and Daniel squabble over the ownership of the jacket Daniel is wearing.
This event pushes Phil to really think about who he is and what his core beliefs are. You see, Daniel is an African American boy and Phil happens to be white. Phil begins to question if he is actually a predjudiced person.
Clements does a wonderful job of portraying Phil's questioning. He also touches on the way we are shaped by the views of a parents, whether we realize it or not! Clements also shows us that we can rise above the misconceptions and predjudices of our environment. Which to me, is the greatest message in this story.
I'm sure this story would challenge the thinking of late elementary students and middle school students. The copy I read has great discussion questions for literature groups.
I really enjoyed it... and I'm sure you would too!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Derek's Review, October 27, 2005

By 

Toni (Walker, MN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Jacket (Paperback)

This story is about a boy named Phil. Phil is white and when he sees a black boy, Daniel wearing his brother's jacket, he assumes that it has been stolen. This causes a fight between Phil and Daniel, and a lot of hard feelings, because Daniel did not steal the jacket. Both of the boys end up in the principal's office and Daniel threw the jacket down and said, "Fine, you can have it." Phil left the jacket there, and the Principal hung the jacket up on a hook. The jacket was given to Daniel by his grandma, who is the cleaning lady at Phil's house. Phil feels very crappy after this. He didn't know that his mom gave the jacket to Daniel's grandma. But what he feels really bad about is getting mad at Daniel. He realizes that he is prejudiced and that bothers him. He solves the problem by sneaking into the Principal's office and takes the jacket. On the weekend, he runs over to Daniel's house in the poor part of town, with the jacket. He felt a little scared there, so he ran to Daniel's house to return the jacket and apologize. Over time, the two boys become friends.

Phil realized he was prejudiced in this book. I think some people are prejudiced and they don't even realize it. Where I live, there are prejudiced people who call each other bad names because of their race or skin color.

I would recommend this book to other kids who want to learn about how not to judge people by their color or where they live.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Even my nonreaders loved this book, March 9, 2009

By 

N. Usher "Author of "Do Cows Cry"" (Atlanta, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Jacket (Paperback)

I was looking for an easy read for my students. Something not too wordy but engaging. I found that in Andrew Clements THE JACKET. My diverse group of students identified with both of the main characters and read eagerly to see how the situation would turn out. Now I can't find enough Andrew Clements for these kids who used to hate reading.