When Dad Killed Mom (Library Binding)

by Julius Lester (Author) "My mother is dead..." (more)
Key Phrases: turd face, fart breath, calling hours, Miss Albright, Aaron Mitchell, San Francisco (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Though his subject matter may be sensational, Lester (Pharaoh's Daughter) penetrates the minds of two children left motherless by their father's murder of her, to spin a taut psychological mystery. "My mother is dead. Dad killed her," opens the novel. Through the alternating viewpoints of Jeremy and his older sister, eighth-grader Jenna, readers glean clues to the psychologist father's motive for killing his wife, Rachel. Information that Jeremy uncovers in his mother's diary also sheds light on possible scenarios: inappropriate behavior both professionally and personally on their father's part comes to the fore. The author smoothly balances the children's individual struggles to deal with the aftermath of Rachel's death (their challenges at school, their inability to communicate with each other, their divergent reactions to their father) alongside their attempts to reconcile the facts surrounding her death and their father's subsequent imprisonment. The courtroom scene at the father's trial gives way to melodrama and undermines somewhat the admirable restraint in the preceding chapters. But Lester's exploration of the children's complicated mix of feelings especially Jenna's awakening sense of sexuality in the midst of sorting out her parents problems is subtly and credibly done. Ages 12-up.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up-Lester brings many attributes to his writing for young people: excellent research, a willingness to confront and present controversial topics, aesthetically whole characterizations, and insight on how young people's concerns do not necessarily match those of their elders. All of these attributes inform this novel, which is narrated in the alternating voices of sixth- and eighth-grade siblings, but which takes on issues that require readers to have attained more maturity than the average peers of these characters. The title sums up precisely the plot: the chief psychologist at a small New England college publicly shoots his wife. The ensuing emotional, social, academic, and legal events are presented as they are experienced by the shy, artistic son and his slightly older sister, who is deep in the throes of a tumultuous adolescence. In contrast with Neal Shusterman's What Daddy Did (Little, Brown, 1991), Lester depicts children who were well aware of trouble brewing between their parents. The adults in their lives after the horrific event include the mother's best friend who, curiously, is the father's first wife; their grandparents; the son's art teacher; and the family of a younger schoolmate. The young people undergo personal turmoil, grief, and self-revelation as time passes. This seems to be the crux of the story: the only certain thing in life is change itself. Lester's characters learn how to handle change or become imprisoned by their inability to handle life.-Francisca Goldsmith, Berkeley Public Library, CA

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Library Binding: 216 pages
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1435236491
• ISBN-13: 978-1435236493
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (50 customer reviews)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thought Provoking Book for Older Teens, November 21, 2001

By	Kali "bengaligirl" (United Kingdom) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

This review is from: When Dad Killed Mom (Hardcover)

A well written book about the aftermath of a murder. Jenna and Jeremy's father Eric has just killed their mother Rachel and they are left with to pick up the pieces of his heinous crime. Narrated alternately from both Jenna and Jeremy's point of view, the story follows the two children as they struggle to come to terms with the heart-breaking legacy their father has left behind. Not the closest of siblings, with Jenna having been a Daddy's girl, and Jeremy getting on better with their mother, the two siblings are forced to reconcile their differences in order to survive the future. Not easy when you both have the weight of the world on your young shoulders. There is their father's trial to deal with, a traumatic experience for both youngsters, plus secrets that need to be told as well as old family conflicts that have to be dealt with. This is a sharply written book with good dialogue, some of it very grown-up in places. Jenna is a precocious 8th grader, whilst Jeremy is almost bird-like, fluttering uncertainly at first as he tries to sort out in his head what made his father kill his mother. Both children bounce off the adult characters, such as Karen their father's first wife, their grandparents and an assortment of friends and curious hangers-on. A thought provoking book that reminds me of Judy's Blume's "Tiger Eyes", dealing with the concept of violent death in sensitive and none-condescending manner.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't be horrified by the strong title, January 19, 2005

By	pampered chef anita (WIU Macomb) - See all my reviews

This review is from: When Dad Killed Mom (Hardcover)

This well written young adult novel is one that should be read by all jr.high or high school language arts teachers. It potrays the life of two adolscents that are left behind after their father kills their mother, Rachel. As the mystery unfolds as to why each of the children has loyalty to one of their parents (Jenna to her dad and Jeremy to his mom), it is evident how manipulation can exist in a nuclear family in today's hetic world. Charaterization of Jenna and Jeremy evolve in this book, with each of the children so different in their personalitites, and how each of them change throughout the book. Along with this is, dramatic theme issues of death, trust, and isolation. From page one the reader will be entralled as to how and why situations happen like When Dad Killed Mom. The title is horrific, but Julius Lester knows how to grab his audience from the beginning in this real life drama. Grab ahold of your seat, you will not be able to put this book down until the last page. Stong language potrayed by Jenna and strong theme content. Recommended for readers 13 yrs old and above

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ***amazing***, July 26, 2003

By	"courteneycoxrox" (new york!!) - See all my reviews

This review is from: When Dad Killed Mom (Paperback)

hi, i'm 13, and i started this book last night. i finished it at 5am. i couldn't put it down. it was so amazing. what i really liked about it was that it was written in the childrens' point of view, and it's very realistic. for example, the girl, jenna curses all the time and stuff, but that's the way it is in real life. i hate when books make it seem like all kids are all 'goodie too shoes' the feelings and emotions are very real and i recommend this to anyone. it was terrific.