Miracle's Boys

Citation: Woodson, Jacqueline. Miracle's Boys. New York: Penguin Group, 2000.

Grades: 8-12

Genre: Urban, Multi-Cultural

Themes: Family, Loyalty, Brothers, Death, Loss, Grieving, Love, Gang Violence

Main Characters: Tyree, Charlie, Lafayette

Plot Summary:

The Bailey Brothers have been through a lot. First their father dies, trying to save a woman who fell through thin ice, then the middle brother gets caught trying to rob a candy store and is sent to a juvenile home, and then soon after he is gone, their mother dies from diabetic complications. Throughout the book the brothers are faced with the hardship of poverty as well and through it all try to keep their family together. Charlie is back from the juvenile home and is having a hard time keeping himself out of trouble. Lafayette is having a hard time dealing with his brother's new attitude and the grief of his mother's death. Ty'ree is trying to keep his family together and keep them on the straight and narrow. It is through family bonds, determination, and love between brothers that the Bailey family promise to stay on the right track.

Writing Style:

Miracle's Boys is told through the eyes of Lafayette, the youngest Bailey brother. The story is written like a young child would write, with the imagination, and naivete of youth. It is also written in urban dialect and tone.

Assessment of Quality and and Utility:

Miracle's Boys was a high quality novel. The reader really gets a glimpse into the lives a poor family just trying to live their lives and make it through day by day. I felt that telling the story through the eyes of the youngest brother was a smart move, this way the reader does not see things through a filter, children are truthful and honest, and this is what the reader gets.

The dialect of the story however made it a bit rough to read. Although in order to make the book feel realistic this was a necessity. You felt as if you were really reading the thoughts and feelings of a young urban boy and not of a middle aged woman (which Jacqueline Woodson is).

This novel would be great in any Social Studies class for discussion on minority groups, the plight of the impoverished, gangs and gang violence. Also it could be used in Health class or Psychology class when loss and death or the strength of family bonds are the topics. Studying the dialect and writing techniques the author uses in this book would be a great discussion topic in English class as well.