Paper Things

by Jennifer Richard Jacobson
Hennepin County Library hardcover 376 pages
genre: upper elem realistic fiction

Linda Dierks recommended this book about an eleven-year-old girl Arianna and her eighteen-year-old brother Gage. Their father died in Afghanistan and their mother passed away from cancer (?) when Arianna was seven. When Gage is old enough, he moves himself and sister out of their guardian's home. Although Janna is suspicious, they do a good enough job of convincing her that they are okay . . . except that they're not. Homelessness begins to take its toll on both of them as they struggle to find a place to sleep, enough food to eat, and time to do all the things that need to be done. This is beautifully written and brought me to tears a few times. In so many ways, though, this is more a book for older elementary kids than for middle school. Arianna wants to be a patrol captain more than anything . . .

When her best friend Sasha (who doesn't know her truth) hears Arianna's "love letter from a fraction (her way of trying to help Sasha learn the math), Sasha lashes out. "I tuck the words show off and weird, which have the weight and sharpness of scissors, inside an invisible pocket, where I can take them out and examine them when I'm alone." Jacobson expresses things beautifully - Reggie's wishing planes, Gage's disappointment, Arianna's work at Head Start as a volunteer, etc.

When the homeless Reggie offers to let them stay in his storage unit, he says "But I'm luckier than a lot of folks, and you can be sure I'm grateful for all that I've got - like new friends." I love when people's positive attitude trumps their situation.

page 253-4: "That's the great thing about librarians; they'll help you find information without being too nosy." Love this!