Kinda Like Brothers

xxpish - Jarrett’s mom takes in foster babies. He is used to getting less attention than the foster babies and life is pretty predictable. Until Kevon comes. Kevon is a foster child a little older than Jarrett who gets taken in to be fostered. Jarrett and Kevon immediately dislike each other. But Jarrett doesn’t trust Kevon—he knows something is off. A nice, light read that touches on hate, this is a story about two kids who could just as well be brothers. My thoughts: This book was enjoyable. I had some problems with it, but overall I found it to be an easy and fast read. Ok, these kids HATE each other. I could not STAND it. Jarrett does this, so Kevon does that and Jarrett gets him back and it’s not my fault it’s his fault. AAAAAAAHHHHHHH. “Why does he have to share a room with me?” Me: “Why are you so selfish? He came from bad circumstances and ALL HE DOES IS SHARE A ROOM WITH YOU. Oh. My. Gosh” *end rant* Other than the aforementioned craziness, I did actually think this book was great. It was a nice story, and I loved how real it was. You connected with the characters (even if two of them could be jerks) and I really liked Kevon’s sister, Treasure. she is kinda sorta really cute. Even though I had problems with the characters, I understand that the book was ABOUT trying to be friends and kinda being like brothers. The back is why I picked this up at BEA: “Kinda Like Friends. Kinda Like Enemies. Kinda Like Brothers.” I just love that. So, this book did well emphasizing how people can be ignorant and could care less about someone else, and it shows you that if you just dislike someone just because, it will lead you nowhere. The book conveyed its message.

August 4, 2014
In her first novel for middle-grade readers, Booth (Bronxwood) introduces an African-American family in Newark who open their home to foster children. By the time Kevon, 12, and his two-year-old sister, Treasure, arrive in the middle of the night, 11-year-old Jarrett has had enough of his mother's charity. Jarrett is forced to share a room with Kevon, who acts distant and ungrateful, and he's also annoyed to be attending summer school, with the threat of having to repeat the sixth grade. Even his usual joysâcrushing on his down-to-earth friend Caprice, taking step class at a neighborhood center, and making horror movie trailers with his best friendâare overshadowed by Kevon's presence. Jarrett snoops into Kevon's past in hopes of getting rid of him, but, predictably, the truth he uncovers evokes sympathy. Booth offers candid insight into racism, poverty, and the foster care system without becoming heavy-handed; she also sensitively depicts a character's coming-out moment. Jarrett's evolution from a position of resistance to an acceptance of circumstances beyond his control is believably subtle. Ages 8â12. Agent: Jodi Reamer, Writers House.

July 15, 2014
Booth offers a glimpse of gritty inner-city life for a middle-grade audience through the eyes of 11-year-old Jarrett. Jarrett's failing summer school, making an ignominious repetition of sixth grade seem all too likely. His mother, fine at nurturing a long series of foster babies, is surprisingly oblivious to his floundering attempts to manage the schoolwork and his resulting discouragement, an emotional distance she also maintains with strong male role model Terrence, her boyfriend. Then she takes in Kevon, mature beyond his 12 years, and his toddler sister, Treasure. Jarrett resentfully shares his room and life with Kevon, but he also spies on him, discovering much about his foster brother's mysterious, unhappy past. At the same time, he and best friend Ennis are cleverly crafting a horror film trailer at the community center that plays a major, positive role in local kids' lives. Ennis is exploring his growing realization that "I don't like girls, and I don't think I ever will," a revelation Jarrett sensitively accepts, in sharp, not fully explained contrast to his increasingly bitter, self-indulgent conflict with Kevon. The many plotlines keep the narrative brisk, enhanced by believable dialogue and nicely rounded characters, even though their motivations don't always feel fully justified.Jarrett's frank view of the inner-city perils he faces is optimistically balanced by the strengths offered by family, friends and his community. (Fiction. 8-12)

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September 1, 2014

Gr 4-6-Life is a very complicated affair if you happen to be 11-year-old Jarrett of Newark, New Jersey. He is asthmatic and about to fail summer school. His mother takes in almost any foster child, including kids with special needs. The last straw is the arrival of two siblings, the developmentally challenged toddler, Treasure, and her tall, athletic 12-year-old brother, Kevon, who will be sharing Jarrett's room. Jarrett has had to share his mother's attention for as long as he can remember but never before had to give up his personal space. The friction between Jarrett and Kevon gains momentum when Kevon makes the basketball team and shows off for the girls, including Caprice, the girl Jarrett has a crush on. The protagonist is bound to get even at all costs. He spies on Kevon and his social worker, digging for any way to humiliate his foster brother without thought to the consequences. A pattern of mutual cruelties is set into motion which rapidly escalates on both sides. Plot and characters are realistic and engaging. References to farts, foot odor, and disgusting toenails abound. Gross-out humor aside, this is a solid story about dealing with problems that threaten to overwhelm and the importance putting one's own personal pain aside to understand the pain of another.-Kathy Cherniavsky, Ridgefield Library, CT

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 15, 2014
Grades 4-7 Eleven-year-old Jarrett is used to having foster babies in the house. Then case workers bring 12-year-old Kevon and Kevon's baby sister, Treasure, and Jarrett feels nothing but resentment about sharing his room with the new boy. Between his asthma attacks and difficulty passing summer school, Jarrett has enough to worry about without Kevon in his business. But as Jarrett learns why Kevon and Treasure are in foster care, he starts to see things in a different light. Readers will identify with Jarrett, whose angry outbursts and cluelessness about girls are realistic and relatable. Although there are many teachable moments here, they never sound didactic, and Booth deftly illustrates how difficult it can be for both kids and adults to take responsibility for their actions and do the right thing. The multiple plotlines naturally reflect the complexities of modern life and add depth to Jarrett's story. This is an excellent title to help fill the void for younger readers seeking compelling, realistic stories set in America's inner cities.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)