Miracle's Boys [Paperback]

Jacqueline Woodson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 8, 2006 | Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

Lafayette would do anything to have things back the way they used to be—back before their parents died and back before his brother Charlie changed so much. But things have changed and all he can do now is ask why.... Why did Mama have to die? Why does Charlie hate him so much? And how are the three brothers—Miracle’s boys—supposed to survive when so much seems to be stacked against them?

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

"Sometimes I feel like our life is one big work of art--it's everything" [Charlie] stared down at his bare feet. "And nothing."

"This isn't art," I said. "It's our block! It's our life."

If only, if only... Life is full of poignant hypotheticals for Ty'ree, Charlie, and Lafayette, three brothers who are raising themselves after they lost their father to a drowning accident and their mother to diabetes. Each boy deals with his grief in his own way: the oldest, Ty'ree, has given up his dreams of college to work full time to support the others. Charlie is slipping into a life of crime, and is just back, angry and alienated, from two years at a correctional facility. Lafayette, the youngest brother, has retreated inward, avoiding his friends and blaming himself for his mother's death. These three are struggling against pretty large odds, but "brother to brother to brother," they can survive.

Jacqueline Woodson writes with a sure hand and true understanding of the complexity and depth of young people's lives. Winner of many awards for her novels, including two Coretta Scott King Honors (for From the Notebooks of Melanin Sun and I Hadn't Meant to Tell You This), she tells a captivating, honest story. (Ages 9 and older) --Emilie Coulter --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Publishers Weekly

Seventh-grader Lafayette fears that he will become separated from his two brothers after the death of their mother. "Viewing household tensions through Lafayette's eyes, readers will come to realize each character's internal conflicts and recognize their desperate need to cling together as a family," said PW. Ages 12-up. (Dec.) n

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Speak (June 8, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0142406023
• ISBN-13: 978-0142406021
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (48 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,071,253 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jacqueline Woodson's awards include 3 Newbery Honors, a Coretta Scott King Award and 3 Coretta Scott King Honors, 2 National Book Awards, a Margaret A. Edwards Award and an ALAN Award -- both for Lifetime Achievement in YA Literature. She is the author of more than 2 dozen books for children and young adults and lives with her family in Brooklyn, New York

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Powerful Book!, June 5, 2000

By 

Teresa (New York City) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Miracle's Boys (Coretta Scott King Author Award Winner) (Hardcover)

Miracle's Boys is a beautifully written story about the relationship between three half-black, half-Puerto Rican brothers living in New York City. It's a great book for boys who aren't big readers and anyone who wants a good story. The novel is dialogue driven and told by Lafayette who is twelve and coming to terms with his mother's death (a death he feels responsible for). Charlie who is fifteen has just returned from a juvenile detention center and Ty'ree, at twenty-one, has given up a college scholarship to take care of his brothers. At times sad, often elegant, this novel is ultimately powerful and honest. Woodson's genius lies in her ability to be subtle. There is nothing heavy-handed about Miracle's Boys. It's a beautiful, extremely well-written book. This reader wanted it to go on and on.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very beautiful., July 13, 2004

By 

KidsReads (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Miracle's Boys (Coretta Scott King Author Award Winner) (Hardcover)

Lafayette never got a chance to meet his father; his dad died before Lafayette was even born. Though he misses having a dad to do boy stuff with, Lafayette didn't know the man enough to miss him personally. When his mother dies, though, Lafayette is crushed. He misses her terribly --- every day, with every thought.

Lafayette's oldest brother Ty'ree misses their mother just as much. With both parents gone, Ty'ree is now responsible raising Laf and also looking out for middle brother Charlie who has just returned from doing time in a juvenile detention center. In addition to being full of sorrow, Ty'ree is bitter: If he didn't have to look after his younger brothers, Ty'ree would have been able to attend college. Now, he works like a dog in the mailroom for a big company and is tired all the time from trying to make ends meet. Laf tries not to ask too many questions, or cry too much, or to want things they can't afford. On top of it all, Charlie just keeps acting out and getting in trouble. If he caught by the police again, Charlie and Laf will be made wards of the court.

Author Woodson has a wonderful talent for writing about kids in tough situations. You really understand how someone in Laf's position might feel. This is a touching novel about a family trying to stay afloat through some really hard times. Their mother, whose name was Milagro, (Miracle in Spanish) was the center of the family and held them together. Now they must rely on each other while learning to deal with the death of their mother. They already got their one miracle --- can they stick together without one?

This is a quiet novel that you can read quickly. All the action takes place in one day, but it never feels hurried or too busy. If you are looking for a book that makes violence, gang life, and fighting brothers seem dramatic or glamorous, this is not the book for you. But if you want to read a realistic story about how these elements of urban life affect a small, loving family, try reading MIRACLE'S BOYS. Laf has tremendous reserves of kindness and love, and the bravery to show his emotions when he feels them. This whole novel is sometimes very sad, but it ends on a hopeful note. And as is usual with this author's work, it's also very beautiful.

--- (...)

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Miracle's Boy's, March 1, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Miracle's Boys (Coretta Scott King Author Award Winner) (Hardcover)

I found this to be a powerful story. Woodson carefully unfurls the story of three brothers who must make a life together after losing both of their parents. The story takes place during a two day time period with flashbacks to bring us to the present. A must read for teens dealing with the death of a parent.