Miracle's Boys

by Jacqueline Woodson

Book Overview

Twelve-year-old Lafayette's close relationship with his older brother Charlie changes after Charlie is released from a detention home and blames Lafayette for the death of their mother.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0399231137
• ISBN13: 9780399231131
• Release Date: April 2000
• Publisher: G. P. Putnam's Sons
• Length: 144 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.8" x 8.4"
• Age Range: 10 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 5 and higher

Customer Reviews

Future TV Show

Very good plotline and it makes you think too. It shows all kinds of grief and struggle between a broken family trying to recover from tragedies. This book will soon be made into a tv mini-series on Noggin's teen network, The-N.

Miracle's Boys

Miracle's Boys By: Jaqueline Woodson Review By: Skyler A. Ishie How would you feel if both your parents died and the only people you had were your two older brothers? While one of your brothers is struggling to be both parents and make ends meet for the both of you and the other just doesn't care. In the book Miracle's Boys Lafayette is a boy who has to deal with that same situation every day. Jaqueline Woodson does a fantastic job in this realistic fiction novel describing Lafayette's day-to-day life. Ever since his parent's death Lafayette's life has never been the same. His oldest brother Tyrone, is struggling to take care of the two like a father and a mother. His second oldest brother Charlie, or Newcharlie, as Lafayette sometimes refers to him as, has changed ever since he came from Rahway, a home for delinquent boys. While all of the boys are hiding emotions, they manage to keep their composure throughout most of the book. This is a wonderful book for people who enjoy realistic fiction. You will really get attached to the characters in the story. The book shows that bottling up feelings and emotions just makes situations like theirs wore than they already are. The book also shows that when you think you have it bad you can remember that there are people out there worse off than you. Lafayette had Tyrone to talk to and he knew he wouldn't laugh at his feelings, especially since he could relate to what he was going through. I believe that Lafayette appreciates Tyrone more than Charlie. I'm sure there are people out there without mothers and/or fathers who can relate to this book. People lose parents every day. Some people have strong relationships with their families and some don't. But these people learn to move on with their lives and keep living. Miracle's Boys is an excellent book and I hope everyone gets a chance to read it.

Very beautiful.

Lafayette never got a chance to meet his father; his dad died before Lafayette was even born. Though he misses having a dad to do boy stuff with, Lafayette didn't know the man enough to miss him personally. When his mother dies, though, Lafayette is crushed. He misses her terribly --- every day, with every thought. Lafayette's oldest brother Ty'ree misses their mother just as much. With both parents gone, Ty'ree is now responsible raising Laf and also looking out for middle brother Charlie who has just returned from doing time in a juvenile detention center. In addition to being full of sorrow, Ty'ree is bitter: If he didn't have to look after his younger brothers, Ty'ree would have been able to attend college. Now, he works like a dog in the mailroom for a big company and is tired all the time from trying to make ends meet. Laf tries not to ask too many questions, or cry too much, or to want things they can't afford. On top of it all, Charlie just keeps acting out and getting in trouble. If he caught by the police again, Charlie and Laf will be made wards of the court. Author Woodson has a wonderful talent for writing about kids in tough situations. You really understand how someone in Laf's position might feel. This is a touching novel about a family trying to stay afloat through some really hard times. Their mother, whose name was Milagro, (Miracle in Spanish) was the center of the family and held them together. Now they must rely on each other while learning to deal with the death of their mother. They already got their one miracle --- can they stick together without one?This is a quiet novel that you can read quickly. All the action takes place in one day, but it never feels hurried or too busy. If you are looking for a book that makes violence, gang life, and fighting brothers seem dramatic or glamorous, this is not the book for you. But if you want to read a realistic story about how these elements of urban life affect a small, loving family, try reading MIRACLE'S BOYS. Laf has tremendous reserves of kindness and love, and the bravery to show his emotions when he feels them. This whole novel is sometimes very sad, but it ends on a hopeful note. And as is usual with this author's work, it's also very beautiful. --- (...)

Miracle's Boys

The reasoning behind the star rating is the story's about a few African-American boys trying to survive without theire parents. When the oldest son was a pre-teen his father died of hypethermia. Then, a couple years before the book was taking place, their mom died suddenly in her sleep. The heartwarming part it that Tyree (the oldest), who finishes high school, decides to put his plans and future dreams on hold so he can be qualified as Charlie and Lafayette's parental guardian. If not they'd have to move far away with their aunt. Jus because of the love and shear courage of the characters is why this book deserves five stars. The main conflict in this book is between Charlie, who just got out of Juvenile Boys School, and Lafayette. There constant fighting is because Charlie is always trying to look cool in front of his gang friends. He also blames Lafayette constantly for their mother's death. At the end though Charlie has to go to the police station because his "boys" didn't stick up for him. This shows him that his brothers are his real "boys."

A Powerful Book!

Miracle's Boys is a beautifully written story about the relationship between three half-black, half-Puerto Rican brothers living in New York City. It's a great book for boys who aren't big readers and anyone who wants a good story. The novel is dialogue driven and told by Lafayette who is twelve and coming to terms with his mother's death (a death he feels responsible for). Charlie who is fifteen has just returned from a juvenile detention center and Ty'ree, at twenty-one, has given up a college scholarship to take care of his brothers. At times sad, often elegant, this novel is ultimately powerful and honest. Woodson's genius lies in her ability to be subtle. There is nothing heavy-handed about Miracle's Boys. It's a beautiful, extremely well-written book. This reader wanted it to go on and on.