Sunday, March 15, 2015

Paper Things by Jennifer Richard Jacobson - ADVISABLE

Jacobson, Jennifer Richard Paper Things, 376 pgs. Candlewick Press, 2015.  $16.99. 

Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: PG; Violence: G.  

Ari’s mother passed away 4 years ago. Since then she and her brother Gabe have been living with their guardian Jenna.  But when Gabe turns 19, he decides to move out, and takes 11-year-old Ari with him, because his mother’s dying wish was that they stay together.  Telling Jenna he has everything under control, Gabe soon realizes he doesn’t.  You can’t rent an apartment without a permanent job, and he and Ari find themselves homeless.  Ari does her best to keep up with her school work, but sleeping in a different place every night soon takes its toll on her grades, her friendships, and her health.  

Thankfully free of the ugly parts of homelessness, the story addresses a subject you don’t read about on this level. But the young perspective made for a hopeful story.  Ari is wonderfully resilient and her life is full of some very caring adults. I enjoyed this. 

EL MS - ADVISABLE  Lisa Librarian

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