I recently reviewed a remarkable and emotional picture book that reveals the tremendous power within sibling relationships, ME AND THE BOSS, HERE. If you missed that I urge you to take a look at my comments and then read the book.
Such deeply-rooted relationships among siblings are not always positive, but more often than not they are. They certainly have the potential to be the foundation and scaffolding of adult lives. The picture book I am celebrating today moves those sibling relationship topics into an area of complexity that is too seldom brought to the eye of the general public:
Incarceration of family members.
Did you know?
• The total number of people who have ever had an immediate family member incarcerated was an estimated 113 million, according to the study – about one in every two adults in the U.S. Around 6.5 million people “have an immediate family member currently incarcerated in jail or prison (1 in 38).”
Source: https://www.prisonpolicy.org/research/families/
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| Random House Studio, 2022 |
MY BROTHER IS AWAY is written by Sara Greenwood and illustrated by Luisa Uribe. This is Greenwood's debut picture book, released by a major mainstream publisher, so congratulations are merited on that accomplishment alone. The poignant but genuine narrative and point of view will readily lead readers of many ages to make connections to their own lives or those of friends and neighbors. The overwhelming reality that half of American families have had personal experience with some level of the prison system begs the question about why this topic is so rarely treated.
Perhaps one insight into the lack of child-friendly books on this subject lies in the challenge of finding a suitable tone. MY BROTHER IS AWAY achieves a masterful touch in which this text and these illustrations are handled. The girl on the cover is the narrator, using first person, present tense voice and direct sentences to indicate that her brother is gone, but not forgotten. Several spreads allow readers to follow her into past tense to the things she used to do with her older brother, one who could lift her onto his shoulders and call her silly goose, teach her how to fly a kite. With that age gap, the illustrator assures that readers will also see many signs of still-young boyishness in his bedroom. Greenwood deftly allows the girl to experience her shame, worry, loneliness, sadness, and anger while also wrapping up in the comfort of happier memories and her loving parents' efforts to keep the family connected.
Never is the word "prison" used, but peer questions and accusations make it clear that the brother has not died, run away, or joined the military. He has been taken away and will not be back in their home any time soon. What he did is not specified but was in the paper, and his sister wonders why he would do such things. She is angry that his choices hurt her and her family so deeply. When they are finally able to go visit, will he still feel the same? Will she?
We join them on a lengthy journey and share awareness through prison visits that many families of many ages also have loved ones behind bars. She is not the only one suffering such a loss, and her life is closer to normal than she had imagined.
The mood and elaboration of story within illustrations are equally effective. Endpapers suggest an ambivalent sky, some clouds rosy and others deeply gray, some half of each. This suggests a powerful launch to the realistic emotional turmoil of the sister, and of families in such circumstances in general. I examined the front and back papers repeatedly, feeling certain that the colors, saturation, and tones had brightened on the ending papers. Then I realized that they are virtually identical, but the tone of encouragement and hope within the story had brightened my perception of those final endpapers as the girl and her family adjust to their reality. Subtle elements in illustration merit close attention and repeated readings. As the family approaches "A building ringed with silver fences" our eyes meet an imposing dull-grey prison that matches the flat-tone of the ubiquitous fences around it, despite that "silver" perception of the child. I also appreciated that the family is depicted as a typical white family, while the girl's classmates and the other family/prisoner characters in scenes near the conclusion reflect the diversity of our population. For too many of us, the word "prison" or "prisoner" conjures images of Black or Brown individuals.
Interior spread: MY BROTHER IS AWAY
As is often the case, the Author Note at the end is worth reading. In this case, the author shares her own childhood photo and personal history as a girl whose brother "was away" until he returned home while she was in eighth grade. Her deeply-felt experiences resonate through this story and likely account for the nuance and sensitivity of the text. She provides a direct message to any children who have a family member in prison: You are not alone.
Please check out this important picture book and recommend it to families, teachers, librarians, scout leaders, librarians, and more.
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