Woodson, Jacqueline. 2000. Miracle's boys. New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons. ISBN 0399231137.
This story is of three young boys who are half African American and half Puerto Rican. After their parent's death, they live together in the same two bedroom apartment in New York. The oldest is Ty'ree, a recent high school graduate who had plans to go to MIT, but with the death of their mother, decided to stay and become the guardian of his younger brothers. Set in the present time, Ty'ree is in his early 20's, second oldest Charlie is 14 years old and the youngest boy, Lafayette is just 12 years old. Charlie was sent to Juvenile detention center named Rahway Home for Boys for armed robbery of a candy store. While he was at Rahway, their mother passed away. Charlie blames Lafayette for not saving their mother and for being the youngest "little angel" in the family. This is a story of mistakes, misunderstandings, forgiveness and love. It is full of anxiety and hope for a good life in tough times.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
Miracle is the English variation of the Spanish name Milagro. This story is about Milagro's three boys, hence the name Miracle's boys. Cultural markers include hair, clothing, urban landscape and facial features on the front cover. The front and back covers contains the only illustrations for this novel. Cultural markers in the text include description of physical attributes, such as, "His hair's curly, like our mama's was - jet-black curls that girls go crazy for. " and "Ty'ree always said I looked like our daddy. He was dark and curly-headed with brown eyes. My eyes are more black than brown, and my hairs more kinky than curly."
The culture they identify with was discussed at the beginning of the novel with Lafayette claiming they were half Puerto Rican on their mothers side and African American on their fathers side. Rap was discussed as the musical preference of the middle child Charlie, but "Me and Bobby McGee" was their mama's favorite song. Religious preferences cited included Sunday church services at St. Francis.
REVIEW EXCERPT(S):
Review from SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "Gr 6-10-A compelling novel about three streetwise New York City brothers trying to help one another confront their personal demons. ... Lafayette and Ty'ree take comfort in school, work, and other routines of daily life to keep their lives focused and their minds off the past. All of this changes, however, when a middle brother named Charlie returns from a juvenile-detention facility where he served a three-year sentence for an armed robbery. Having this angry, sometimes hostile presence in their lives forces Lafayette and Ty'ree to depend upon one another even more to work through their grief and figure out how to help Charlie survive. As usual, Woodson's characterizations and dialogue are right on. The dynamics among the brothers are beautifully rendered. The narrative is told through dialogue and Lafayette's introspections so there is not a lot of action, but readers should find this story of tough, self-sufficient young men to be powerful and engaging.-Edward Sullivan, New York Public Library Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information."
Review from PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: "... Viewing household tensions and hardships through Lafayette's eyes, readers will come to realize each character's internal conflicts and recognize their desperate need to cling together as a family. The boys' loyalties to one another are tested during a cathartic climax, though it is resolved a bit too easily, and Lafayette's visions of his mother aren't fully developed or integrated into the plot. Gang violence and urban poverty play an integral part in this novel, but what readers will remember most is the brothers' deep-rooted affection for one another. An intelligently wrought, thought-provoking story. Ages 10-up. (Apr.) Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information."
Review from KIRKUS REVIEWS: "Another tale of the inner city that focuses on the real struggles of those live there, from Woodson (Lena, 1999, etc.). ... Readers will be caught up in this searing and gritty story of their struggle; Woodson composes a plot without easy answers, and creates characters for whom predictable behavior is all but impossible. A decent, involving novel about a family struggling to remain intact in spite of tremendous obstacles."
Coretta Scott King Award
Activities
* Use for lessons on identifying plot, theme, setting, characters.
* Create a timeline of events for a book review.
* Utilize as reference for reader's theatre script.
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