(NOTE: This review is an excerpt from a graduate level research paper. The rating (stars) and the critical review are mutually exclusive; the former simply pertains to my subjective partiality to the story)Jacuqeline Woodson’s Miracles’s Boys serves as a prime example of a narrative that incorporates realistic struggles along with heartwarming hope without concluding with an idealistic, saccharine ending. The story follows the lives of three brothers, Lafayette, Charlie, and Ty’ree, as they persevere in continuing on with their lives following the death of their mother. Their way of life, far less than ideal in the eyes of society, endures not without burdens and sacrifices on the part of each of them. Ty’ree, the oldest boy, legal guardian of and—for all intents and purposes—father to his younger brothers, chooses to give up his dream to attend MIT in order to work in a mailroom to support his siblings. His aspirations to one day work for NASA do not measure up to his love for and dedication towards his younger brothers, who become his priority not only out of the pressure of his own conscience, but because he believes that their late mother, Milagro, would have wanted the family to stay together. Lafayette, twelve years old and the youngest of the brothers, and the voice of the narrative, suffers the burden of feeling that he let his mother down. Part of him believes there may have been a way he could have potentially saved her from the insulin shock that took her life, a fear that Charie—on his return from the youth detention centre—reinforces by calling him “Milagro killer”. Lafayette suffers his guilt in silence, claiming “our house was full of stuff we didn’t need to talk about”, and his guilt manifests in images and dreams of his mother, sometimes so vivid it feels as though she is still with them.While Lafayette is the only boy who supposedly “sees” apparitions of their mother, the cemented presence of Milagro in the brothers’ lives—even long after she is gone—is arguably what drives this narrative. Evidence for this notion is found in the chronicle of Charlie’s actions and the consequences of his life, along with that of his brothers. The second oldest, he poses a dire problem for the family when he is caught robbing a candy store at the age of twelve, sent off to a juvenile detention centre, and returns with tough skin and harsh words as a barrier against his own stifling guilt. Arguably the most heart-wrenching account of all the brothers, we learn towards the end of the novel that what drove Charlie’s intent to steal from the candy store was not on impulse or to satisfy a selfish need, but his ineffable desire for money to send his family back to his mother’s ‘paradise’, her home in Puerto Rico where she grew up.The title of the novel, Miracle’s Boys, is an anchor in and of itself that establishes Milagro as a constant presence, if not an ephemeral character. In spite of confrontation with the law and social services, unruly behaviours as defense mechanisms, financial difficulties and foregone dreams (Ty’ree, at one point, admits that he feels as though he “left something behind him”), the boys are committed to remain “brother to brother” or “b to b” through the love they still harbour for their mother. The crux of Charlie’s guilt is that the last time she saw him, he was in handcuffs, a memory that haunts him and contributes to the steadfast wall concealing his true emotions, and the misbehaviour in which he participates as a mechanism of defense against the pain he refuses to express, until the end of the novel: “I used to make her laugh all the time. I wish that was the way she got to remember me. Not with handcuffs on.”Despite the account of her passing, and the struggles her boys endure in her absence, Milagro, or ‘Miracle’, is very much alive in this novel, through her very own sons. This deep-seated appreciation and love for their mother keeps her alive in memory and in the way they conduct their lives and climb the extra hurdles that accompany being a relatively parentless family. Though Ty’ree—who arguably espouses his guilt towards his father’s death—willingly and passionately puts forth an effort to effectively care for his younger siblings, little else is address in regards to the boys’ father. It is Milagro, the namesake of the novel, who remains at the heart of the narrative, ever-present and forever etched into the minds and hearts of their namely because she is manifest in Lafayette’s voice. She represents the days before Charlie felt impelled to barricade his sensitive nature against the world, and for that reason, Lafayette wholeheartedly believes that “old Charlie” is not lost. Her memory, and reminder of what Charlie felt (and still feels) for her, is arguably what deters him from becoming a part of Aaron’s gang. And, having taken it upon himself to transition early from childhood to adulthood after his father’s passing, Ty’ree maintains his role as guardian and father figure to his brothers, so as never to let his mother down, not even in her death. This novel, immersed in hardships, tragedy, and brotherly love, exhibits not only the resilience of family cohesion, but how strongly parental impact can reside in children as young as twelve, and younger. Milagro is not dead; she lives through her boys, and her ‘miracle’, possibly, is that in the absence of their parents, her boys continued to truly live. For they are all still young, in their own ways, and there is little reason to believe that their future cannot encompass hope.
Miracle’s Boys by Jacqueline WoodsonThree brothers, Ty’ree, Charlie, and Lafayette, are trying to face the world after both of their parents have passed away. They all carry guilt about their parents’ deaths, and although that guilt opens up a chasm between Charlie and his brothers, they eventually realize they have more in common that it would at first appear. Aspects of works that appeal or do not appeal to teens:The characters are teens – ages 22, 15 and 12. It is not a fancied up, “life is great” story, but it has realistic challenges. You can pretty much make up your own ending - the reader is left to decide if Charlie sticks with his new resolve to turn around his life.Will teens relate to the work, why or why not:Teens would possibly relate, but if they have not been short on money and haven’t had to face how to deal with that, they will likely not be able to relate to the characters on a personal basis. However, those who have faced such ordeals would probably relate very well. Also those who have been involved with gangs, street fighting, peer pressure, crime, etc would likely relate.Developmental areas/markers or assets that the work addresses:Demonstrates lack of developmental assets more than having those assets. Lack of family support or other adult role models, negative peer influences, not doing well in school, not caring about others, not having a long-term view of the future. It also addresses growing up – Ty’ree has to grow up early, getting a job, working full time to support a family, even though his family is his brothers. The story also shows very clearly that crime is not the answer.Are the characters believable, why or why not – voice authenticity:Probably. They don’t always speak correct English, which lends itself to those ages of teens. I’d say one part where they’re not so realistic is Charlie making such a turn-around at the end. Would he really be that receptive to changing away from his “gangsta” ways? How long will it last? And Ty’ree, although his character is somewhat realistic, not many older brothers would have the means and the will to take care of their brothers that way. That is a rare breed.How would you promote this book to teens:Telling them it’s a realistic story of what life’s like for inner city kids; telling them it’s about three brothers who beat the odds, staying together even after both parents die.VOYA codes:3Q 2P MJS
What do You think about Miracle's Boys (2006)?
Although this story could be true, I didn't find it realistic. In this book, three brothers try to go on living in together in spite of the death of both parents. Mom died from some illness where dad died trying to save a woman and her dog from drowning. The middle brother is in and out of trouble with the law which puts incredible pressure on Tyree, the eldest, to hold the family together by keeping his brother out of trouble and providing financially for all three. As a recent graduate from high school, he has forgone attending college to support the family. I can't imagine him at this young age being able to earn enough money to house, feed, entertain and clothe the three of them. Many reviews of this were very positive, yet I wasn't pulled into the likelyhood of this actually happening. This might appeal to the boys in the inner city who experience adversity in big ways, but I don't think the average suburbian youth will pick it up and read non-stop. ___________________________________________________________________3Q 2P M S
—Billie
This book follows the lives of three siblings who are trying to make ends meet after both their mother and father die. Any person who has siblings can relate to this book. The amount of unconditional love that you have for siblings can sometimes turn into absolute anger when you see them doing something in their life that you do not agree with. I loved how two of the brothers switched off on being upset so that neither of them would be upset at the same time at the middle brother. Great book and definitely recommend!
—Andrea Devinney
This story was simple in its plot line but the ideas it was trying to convey were so much more complex. There were ideas explored in this story of loyalty, of forgiveness, of blame, of acceptance, and of values. This family of three bothers carried this book with only their individual characteristics to move it along. The story wasn't long or overly descriptive, but Laf's personality was perfectly captured in this story. The slang phrases that Laf used and the offhand way that Laf's observations were described in this story provided perfect undertones that created the rustic, grounded mood that this book had going for it. There wasn't much of a climax in this story; it was more a book that made you think and appreciate the simplicities of family and the bond that only family can create. I really did like it and enjoy it, and there were several times were I could feel and empathize with the pain that these brothers were going through; dealing with the hard circumstances they lived in and the death of their parents and their own individual struggles. This book was a perfect snapshot of both the complex and the simple struggles and triumphs that life has to offer.
—Dani
