Sometimes We Were Brave [Hardcover]

Pat Brisson (Author), France Brassard (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2010 | Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

Bravery has many meanings. Jerome's mom is a sailor. When her ship is in home port, she and Jerome bake cookies, read books together, and take their dog, Duffy, for walks. When his mom's ship goes to sea, she gives Jerome a hug and says, "Be brave, Jerome. I'll be back as soon as I can." Jerome doesn't feel brave at all. But he does what he needs to do every day - goes to school, helps his dad with chores, and takes care of Duffy. Then one day he learns that bravery means something very different than he thought it did. Pat Brisson's endearing story, lovingly illustrated by France Brassard, shows how a Navy family adjusts to life while mom is serving at sea.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2—This story addresses the difficulties associated with a parent's absence. Jerome tells how much he and his dog miss his mother when her job as a sailor takes her away from home, even though his dad takes good care of him. Sometimes he is happy. At other times, though, Jerome and Duffy are afraid, act out at school, or have accidents. Bedwetting is handled in a calm manner. Dad says, "That's okay, Jerome. That's why God invented washing machines and bathtubs." Jerome worries about himself and Duffy, who acts as something of a surrogate for Jerome's own experiences. The text is positive about Dad, but the watercolor illustrations oddly distance him. He is rarely shown with Jerome and never with the whole family. The focus is on Jerome, Duffy, and Mom almost exclusively. The pictures reflect the sentimental tone by showing everything as clean, pretty, and sunny. Even the difficult times do not appear very threatening. In a storm scene Jerome is asleep; when he gets in trouble at school, the picture is of him sitting in the principal's office rather than the fight itself. The story ends with Jerome anticipating rather than experiencing his mother's homecoming. By not having a tidy conclusion, the author leaves the story a bit open and more relatable for children who are also still waiting for the return of a loved one.—Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

"... Written in short, simple words that read aloud well, the believably childlike narrative tells of Jerome's pleasures, frustrations, and worries. The realistic watercolor illustrations express nuances of emotion through body language and facial expressions. Creating a vivid and ultimately moving portrayal of Jerome's life while his mother is away, this picture book is sure to resonate strongly with children whose parents are on active duty in the military and with many other readers as well." --Booklist

"... While war isn't explicitly mentioned here, the mom in the story is a sailor in the Navy and the impact of her absence is strongly felt. Narrated by her son, who appears to be early-elementary age, the focus is on the things that happen while she's away... Breaking the text into sections helps the flow while also making the passing of time apparent. Brassard's watercolor illustrations are realistic with a varied perspective that adds interest... Earnest and effective." --Kirkus Reviews

"... The combined effect of the watercolors and Brisson's (I Remember Miss Perry) bluntly honest prose is powerful: readers of all ages will come away feeling protective of this struggling little boy. Even when subsequent readings raise troubling issues (like Dad's peripheral visual presence, and Jerome's parents' preternatural ability to be consistently firm, patient, and emotionally available), kids in Jerome's situation - and those curious about how it feels to be there - should find this book immensely comforting and reassuring." --Publishers Weekly

While war isn't explicitly mentioned here, the mom in the story is a sailor in the Navy and the impact of her absence is strongly felt. Narrated by her son, who appears to be early-elementary age, the focus is on the things that happen while she's away... Breaking the text into sections helps the flow while also making the passing of time apparent. Brassard's watercolor illustrations are realistic with a varied perspective that adds interest... Earnest and effective. --Kirkus Reviews

This is a solid...treatment of children whose parents serve in the military, and it will help others recognize the sacrifices these families make. Jerome's mother is in the Navy and must be away at sea for long periods. Each time she leaves she tells Jerome she loves him and that he should be brave. Jerome doesn't feel brave, just lonely and sometimes frightened for his mom. Nonetheless, he and his dog, Duffy, deal with her absence in a variety of ways, with a lot of help from Jerome's dad. When Duffy wins a dog show prize for bravest dog, Jerome learns that being brave does not preclude being frightened. Aside from Jerome's mom, adults are pointedly missing from the illustrations, making it feel as if Jerome deals with his mom's absence by himself. In all of the illustrations, Jerome is lovingly rendered with luminous blue eyes that reveal all his thoughts and emotions. Duffy is less successfully drawn, but the bond between boy and dog is fully captured. This book will comfort and reassure children whose parents are away on military service. --Library Media Connection

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Boyds Mills Press (January 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159078586X
• ISBN-13: 978-1590785867
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 9.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,263,981 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars This poignant tale of a young boy whose mother is out to sea will touch the hearts of every reader!, June 12, 2010

By 

D. Fowler "Dragonfly77" (Vermont) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sometimes We Were Brave (Hardcover)

Jerome's mother waved at him from her ship. She was in the Navy and when the ship was in port they would spend time together every night. They did lots of things like bake, read, and play with his dog, Duffy, but when the ship went to sea it was a much different story. Before she left, they would hug tight and she would give him three quick kisses in a row that meant "I-Love-You." She also told him that she would be home soon and told him that he needed to be brave, a feeling he didn't have at all. He only wanted to cry.

Dad took very good care of Jerome and Duffy, but it just wasn't the same without Mom. Dad didn't bake cookies, but sometimes there were surprises like a new set of markers and paper. It still wasn't the same. Duffy sometimes had accidents and sometimes Jerome was afraid, but Dad was there. It still wasn't the same without Mom and it was getting harder to be brave. Sometimes there were good days like when Dad gave them treats, but then again there were bad days like when Jerome got into a fight at school. It still wasn't the same without Mom . . . when was she going to come home?

This poignant tale of a young boy whose mother is out to sea will touch the hearts of every reader. Many children experience the heartbreak of separation from a parent when they leave home on military duty. It is not easy when any parent leaves home, but it is especially difficult for some when their mother leaves. This book does an excellent job in relaying the message that "bravery" isn't simply being gallant, but carrying on life as well as one can. The illustrations are beautifully realistic and capture Jerome's subtle facial features that show he is sometimes in distress or angry. If you are a military family, or know one, this is one book you may wish to add to your list!

5.0 out of 5 stars wish this book was around when I was a kid, April 1, 2010

By 

Sally Keehn - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sometimes We Were Brave (Hardcover)

I come from a military background in which my dad was gone for long stretches of time. Once when he was away, my mother, who is deathly afraid of snakes, had to call on me to help get a black snake out from behind the freezer! I was scared to death! I thought, I can't do this. But I did. Because I had to. A book like "Sometimes We Were Brave" would have reassured me that I was not alone in having to live through challenging situations. I think this sensitively written book is a must-have for all those military families who are bravely "carrying on" while their loved ones are away serving our country in far off places.

5.0 out of 5 stars An important book, March 26, 2010

By 

Pamela C. Swallow (Flemington, NJ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sometimes We Were Brave (Hardcover)

SOMETIMES WE WERE BRAVE is a beautifully and sensitively written story about a child dealing with the absences of a parent in the military. This book is a definite "must have" for all school and public libraries.