Jake

by Audrey Couloumbis

A heartwarming holiday story from Audrey Couloumbis, the Newbery Honor–winning author of Getting Near to Baby.  With beautiful writing and an endearing young narrator so honest and full of hope that you can't help but fall in love with him, Audrey Couloumbis tells a story, of a young boy and the grandfather that he’s just getting to know, that will make readers laugh and cry and, most of all, appreciate the gift of family.

It's a few days before Christmas when ten-year-old Jake's mom breaks her leg, ending up in the hospital. For as long as Jake can remember, it's been just him and his mom. So with no one else to look after him, the hospital contacts the gruff granddad that Jake only knows through awkward twice-a-year phone calls. When Granddad shows up, he's nothing like Jake expected. And he brings a dog with him—a nightmare dog, Jake thinks at first. But as Jake gets to know his grandfather and a makeshift family of friends and neighbors comes together around him and his mom, he realizes that this might not be such a bad Christmas after all.

Genres: Middle Grade, Childrens, Realistic Fiction, Christmas, Fiction, Juvenile, Holiday

162 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Audrey is a recently transplanted (yet again) New Yorker (by choice), now in Bunker Hill, West Virginia (also by choice), where Civil War ghosts scare the dogs at night, where a CSX train track runs behind the house and the romantic sound of a faraway train can be heard three or four times a day, where she is starting a new garden of rambling roses and assorted deer-resistant flowering shrubs and renovating an old house.

Leisure time, what little there is of it, is spent watching how-to acrylic painting videos on youtube and occasionally getting out the paints to play.

New books are on the way: If Wishes Were Princes, Life and Death at the Warwick Arms, and Anthony Was Here. Stay tuned.

Reviews

[Julie G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christmas came early for my daughters and me in this delightful middle grades read set in Baltimore, Maryland.

I kept waiting for this story to turn schmaltzy or “after-school-special” on us, and it didn't.

This was a touching story about an overprotective mom, her 10-year-old son and the little community that forms around them when an emergency strikes their small family.

It's a book about being expansive in times of need, and we were taught a little something new about seeing a person's inner light and “reflecting” that light back to them. I don't think I've ever tried to like a difficult person as much as this kid Jake did. It was pretty inspiring.

Both of my girls had gum in their mouths as we finished the last page today. When I asked them how many stars, they both put up 4 fingers, without looking at the other.

When they don't look at each other to compare notes, they're solid!

[Eva-Marie Nevarez · Rating 3 out of 5]

This shouldn't be on my YA list, it should instead be on a 'children's' list but I don't have one. The closest I have is my daughters list which won't work because I read this for myself because it's a Blue Hen Nominee.
I feel almost unfair rating it because it is a good book and if I was 10 I'd probably give it 5 stars. But I'm not 10, I'm 33.
Couloumbis' writing is there and I'd hand this to a ten year old boy in a heartbeat if he asks me for a good book to read. It's definitely, IMHO, geared more for the boy reader. I don't know many young girls who'd be real thrilled with it anyway.
I think one thing that was hard for me was Jake's young attitude. I read One Crazy Summer just before this and in that the young main character, Delphine, is only slightly older than Jake here, yet she's worlds apart in terms of maturity. I can relate more to Delphine than to Jake and this affected me.
The best part of the book for me was the supporting characters. Mrs. Buttermark, Jake's Grandfather and the Mother's friends to a lesser degree. I was very much expecting Jake's neighbor and Grandfather to make a match which surprisingly was left open for the reader to assume.
I wouldn't mind reading something by Couloumbis that's for the older crowd. (By older I mean the teens out there.) Her writing has a special something there. Hopefully I'll get to read something else by her one of these days. I liked this enough that I'm going to take a look through her other titles to see if I find anything that interests me.

[Andree Sanborn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jake is for middle school age children; it is charming, sweet, and endearing; it has a positive outlook and wonderful role-model characters. I highly recommend this for your child and family. It is an unforgettable Vermont DCF nominee.

[Lisa Nagel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for grades three and up. This short but powerful story is told from the point of view of ten year old Jake. One a normal day shopping with his mom, Jake's world is turned upside down when his mom slips and falls on the ice. His dad was killed years ago in a bike accident, and suddenly Jake feels very alone. His cantankerous ex-marine Grandfather, who Jake rarely has contact with, comes to take care of Jake while his mom recovers. As the relationship with Jake's grandfather, his grandfather's dog and Jake's neighbor develops, this short story is chalk full of humor, insight and magical writing. One of my favorite books in a long time. Even older readers will enjoy this magical book.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just before Christmas Jake's mom breaks her leg so badly that she has to be in the hospital for a week. With no one to look after him, an urgent call is placed to his grandfather. Jake now copes with meeting his grandfather, thinking about his long-dead father, missing his mom, and dealing with Grandpa's dog Max. Of course bonding ensues. The plot actually sounds lamer than the story is. The voice of the narrator and storytelling skill of Couloumibs actually pulls you in beautifully. Fantastic book to teach about empathy, and can lead to a lot of discussion. It will be the perfect Black-Eyed Susan book!

[Eryn · Rating 2 out of 5]

An okay book but with absolutely no climatic point. There is nothing suspenseful or exciting going on in this novel, just a boy getting reacquainted with his grandfather. *shrug* A better read for a female student or one that has the patience for the lack of action.

[Jake Avetissian]

This book is about this guy named Jake who goes shopping with his mom but hates it because it's boring. His dad died and is going to need to get taken care of his grandfather he has never meet. He never knew his grandfather that well and he wants to figure out what his grandfather is like to him. Jake took his grandfathers dog when he died to keep Jake company. Jake really wants to know how his grandfather is especially that his father died, and his mom is in the hospital so he needs someone to take care of him. If he doesn't do this he will be alone with his mom and the dog, that's gonna be tough for him. It was almost christmas and his mom was in the hospital dealing with her broken leg that she has just broken by her falling while they both try to get to know each other. In a few days both Jake and his grandfather started liking each other and getting to know each other. This teacher named Mrs. ButterMark was helping Jake's mom and she is a very important character other then Jake and his grandfather because she was the one who helped with Jake's moms injury. Mrs. ButterMark didn't cure the injury but she helped Jake's mom rush to the hospital and stayed in the hospital with her. As days pass Jake's moms leg is getting better and the relationship or friendship is getting better between Jake and his grandfather.
I do like this book a lot it isn’t boring and doesn’t talk about people killing each other or any violents like the other books I read. It shows how his Jake solved a problem when his mom was in the hospital and he needed to trust his grandfather. His mom was in the hospital and his dad died so he had to get to know his grandfather. This book is also good because when it happens it's christmas which includes family. This is a really good book to read with your family or at least talk about it. I like stories that include family and are interesting like this one. Also, the whole point I choose the book is because my name is Jake, but I didn't know this book was going to be this good. This book is very good for any student, elementary threw high school.

[Julivete Skelton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great story about a young boy getting to know his grandfather. I loved this story and it very much reminded me of when my own estranged grandfather came to live with my family. This story takes place in the city of Baltimore. It begins with Jake and his mother out grocery shopping. Jake’s mother slips and breaks her leg and she needs to stay in the hospital for a few days. Jake is young so someone needs to take care of him. He soon finds his estranged granddad coming to the rescue. Jake and his grandfather are nearly strangers. They hadn’t seen much of each other since Jake’s father had passed away when he was very young. In the days that his mother spent in the hospital, they got to know each other very well and even developed a sweet relationship. From strangers to family. Jake and his grandfather get to know each other very well and bond.

[Pat Salvatini · Rating 1 out of 5]

When Jake's widowed mom breaks her leg just before Christmas, suddenly a grandfather Jake barely knows arrives to help care for him. Jake would be content staying with neighbor Mrs. Buttermark, but instead must develop a new relationship with both his paternal grandfather and Max, his grandfather's dog. The story has very little plot, rather it floats along on Jake's personal insights about his relationships and the meaning of family, relying on Jake's character development to drive the story.

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Initially, I wasn't sure what to make of this book. I never truly connected with Jake as the main character or how we just jumped into the middle of his life. Even so, the story won me over as it is really about a boy getting to know his estranged grandparent and vice versa. There is a charm there between the gruff old man and the boy that is undeniable. The plot is certainly secondary to it. For the warmth alone, it's a decent read.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story!
This book is probably meant for Middle School age kids, but I needed a short read until my next book arrived by UPS. This was one on my shelf of "to be read" books I'd purchased. I'm really glad I read it.

[Naomi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a nice little quick read. It was a friendly book, not too deep, not too inspirational, just kind of sweet in its own way, even through the ups and downs.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book to teach you the value of family.

[Sarah Shodrock · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book with my 4th grade class. They love to be read out loud too. They definitely liked Kensuke's Kingdom better. This book was very sweet but was slow at some points.

[Kristin Hermanson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Feel good reading!!

[Josiah · Rating 2 out of 5]

A subtle, simple story, Jake strikes me as a particularly good choice, among the many available options, for reading during the Christmas season. Not only is the story thematically oriented toward Christmas, but the sense of pure hope that lingers within the pages is a great lead-in to the special feeling of Christmas Day. I can easily imagine families reading a chapter or two of this book together each day as December twenty-fifth approaches, finishing on Christmas Eve as the anticipation of the special day reaches its zenith. It's no surprise that an author as inspiring as Audrey Couloumbis would be the one to have written a book so perfectly matched to the joys of the holiday season.

Jake doesn't start out in all happiness, though. Right near the beginning, as Jake and his mother are leaving the grocery store together one day, calamity strikes when Jake's mother has a bad fall in the icy, slippery parking lot. The injury is a very serious one; serious enough, in fact, to necessitate that Jake's granddad on his father's side travel in from out of town to help with the situation. Jake's father died when his son was but a toddler, and since then his granddad has kept a safe distance from mother and son, his involvement in Jake's life going no deeper than a few scattered phone calls each year and an exchange of gifts through the post every Christmas. This year, the incapacitating injury to Jake's mother will force his granddad to take a more active role in the family, a reality that discomfits Jake nearly as much as does the harm that has befallen his mother.

It's a relief, then, that Jake and his mother have a few caring friends around the area who will help their family get through these hard times. As Jake cautiously comes to know his granddad, it is the presence of the friends he knows well, especially Mrs. Buttermark from next door, which helps bolster his spirits and give him a sense of familiarity as he struggles to adjust to the differences that have marked this Christmas season. Jake just may find out that even when he gets back everything he was most afraid of losing, his life is a lot better than it had been because of the wonderful new things he has gained. Who could have predicted that a nasty fall in a parking lot would lead to such blessing? I guess that bad situations really can turn into good ones, and it is this message that Jake delivers so effectively, with much personal warmth and sincere Christmas cheer.

Jake is the type of boy that endears himself to the heart of anyone who ever meets him (or in this case, reads about him), which makes him a perfectly easy character to sympathize with as one reads this book and absorbs what is truly being said in the story. I think of all the novels I've read in which people have lost their loved ones without ever getting to know them, and then I see Jake's granddad coming onto the scene here and understand the beauty of the gift that Jake is being given. Not everyone gets to begin a relationship anew after years of separation, but here is Jake's grandad, alive and healthy and here with Jake for as long as he can be. Here can be such a lovely word. Not everyone is lucky enough to have here, but Jake and his grandad have it for now, and there's nothing finer than that. What I think Jake does best of all is the way it lets us feel how much of a gift our relationships are for as long as we still have them, and encourages us to be proactive in maintaining those relationships even when it's not convenient.

Jake is a very nice story, in my opinion, and I think that the simple title fits the book perfectly. After all, it is through the openness and goodness of Jake's spirit that the narrative finds its meaning, so the eponymous title seems completely appropriate. All in all, I would probably give two and a half stars to Jake, along with my happy recommendation as a Christmas story to be treasured.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jake

1- Genre: Contemporary Realism

2- Jake is a young ten-year-old boy that loves his daily routine with his mother. While at the grocery store his world is sent into a tailspin. His mother suffers a nasty fall knocking herself unconscious and breaking her leg, which requires a lengthy hospital stay. It is just Jake and his mother and it has been for some time now; his father is no longer alive. Since Jake has no other family, he is forced to stay with his neighbor until he is greeted by a grandfather he does not seem to know.

3- (a) Point of view
(b) This story is told through Jake’s point of view. This point of view allows the reader to personally connect with Jake. The reader is shown Jake’s innocence of understanding certain situations and the humor he still holds even when times are unsettling.
(c) For instance, the reader is shown Jake’s childhood innocence when he is at the hospital waiting to hear the status of his mother. He is informed, by someone understood to be a social worker, that she has a broken leg and the doctors put her to sleep. Well Jake knows exactly what that means! His mom had his cat put to sleep last year because it was sick. He begins to get confused because it was only a broken leg and there was no need to put her to sleep. He is soon comforted by a nurse telling him that she used a poor choice of words to explain to him what happened. Also, the reader is shown humor through Jake’s experience when he first meets his grandfather’s dog. He is explaining that when his grandfather unlocked the car the dog went berserk. It was bouncing all over the place in the back of the car and barking uncontrollably, and he explained that he was no longer afraid of dogs anymore. He then shares with the reader that he had once been beaten up by a dog. He then says to the reader, “Don’t laugh. It wasn’t funny.” and as the reader you cannot help but laugh.

4- This would be an excellent book to teach students about relationships. The teacher can have students discuss how Jake’s relationships evolved with each of the characters involved with the story.

[Rummana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mom? Mom, where are you? Jake and his mom were on their annual grocery shopping spree. when they went to the car to put the items away, Jake put it into the car in five minutes, when he turned around, he couldn't see his mom. An old lady across the parking lot was screaming. She was saying that a women was hurt. When Jake looked to see who it was, he was shocked to see that it was his mom. Half of her body was under the car.
They called an ambulance and Jake and his mom were driven to a nearby hospital. The doctor said that his mom sprained her knee and that it will take tome for it to heal. The nurses asked if he had any relatives or friends that he could live with. Jake didn't have any relatives, or a dad. He had a grandpa that he only talked to over the phone and got presents from. Other than that, the only other person that he knew was his neighbor Mrs.Buttermark.
After a few days of living with Mrs.Buttermark, they went to the hospital to check on Jake's mom. When they arrived, they were surprised to see an old man with Jake's mom. It turned out that it was Jake's grandpa. But this is just the beginning of the story, if you want to find out more, then pick up this book and read it. the author is also interesting as the book.

Audrey Couloumbis is a well known author for her children's books. She won a Newbery Honor in 2000. She is an amazing author for she knows what to include in her books. She includes many details in this book and focuses on one theme. She also gives emotion to Jake that a normal kid would have. She includes a few dialogues for the characters. She also made the beginning interesting and addicting. She made the introduction draw you into the book.

I gave this book a four out of five stars because the book wasn't really the best. I would have loved to see more dialogue and more events. Since she stayed on one topic, it was a bit repetitive on the emotions and on the text itself. So this is really great for the winter season because it also deals with Christmas, but you can read this anytime you want.

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only a few days before Christmas, Jake’s mother falls and breaks her leg. With his mother in the hospital awaiting surgery, Jake has to get to know a grandfather that he has only talked with on the phone. When Jake’s grandfather arrives, he is nothing like Jack had imagined him. Though gruff and rather military, his grandfather also has friendly crinkly eyes and a voice that is deep and friendly. He does have a nightmare dog that Jake is definitely wary of. Luckily, Jake also has a next door neighbor who takes care of him occasionally and is an adult to ask the important questions of the hospital, handle the car that was left in the parking lot, and also gives Jake a place to feel at home. As Jake gets to know his grandfather, he realizes that memories he thought were of his father are actually memories of his grandfather. The holidays arrive, and Jake, his mother and their family of friends create a warm and happy holiday for one another.

This is a small book with a huge heart. Jake is a protagonist who is bright, funny and optimistic. The depiction of a single mother is well done, especially with her fascinating group of friends and the neighbor. This is a child who has been surrounded by loving adults his entire life and it shows. His bonding with his grandfather is shown clearly and is given plenty of time to mature naturally. The depiction of the older characters in the book is very well done with plenty of flirting and personality. These are multi-dimensional people who are a pleasure to spend time with.

A joyful holiday read, the book has plenty of warm moments and great characters. It is a celebration of family, no matter what that family may look like.

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary: When ten-year-old Jake's widowed mother breaks her leg just before Christmas while her sister and best friend are both away, a grandfather Jake barely remembers must come to Baltimore, Maryland, to help a neighbor take care of him.

When I was first reading this, I thought Jake's mother was going to die after the ice accident. But I was happy to find out it wasn't that serious and that this wasn't going to be that kind if traumatic story.

The nice relationship of Jake with his elderly neighbor, Mrs. Buttermark makes me connect to Because of Winn-Dixie. Could be a nice read-alike recommendation.

Jake's grandfather, who is only talks to on the phone once or twice a year, is a stranger to him. This is paternal grandfather, Jake's father passing away when he was very young. Jake's grandfather (Granddad) is a retired marine and lives in North Carolina by himself. When Jake's mother breaks her leg, there aren't any close relatives who can be reached to take care of Jake. So he spends a night with his neighbor until Granddad comes to town. He stays with Jake at the apartment with his little dog. Throughout the story the two start to slowly break down the barriers and learn bits and pieces about each other. Jake learns that Granddad stayed away because he didn't think they needed him; Jake's mom being so independent. While Granddad gets to know his grandson.

Throughout the story, there is the idea of reflecting good back onto people (or dogs) that you don't like. Mrs. Buttermark teaches Jake to find some good in the little dog and reflect that good onto the dog so you can see the good in him and hopefully one can start to appreciate that person (dog).

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would best describe this as a very "nice" story. There were no villains, there was no one to dislike. It wasn't even really a coming of age story. It was just a nice story about a boy, the adults in his life who love him, and how he works to get to befriend the grandfather he has never really known. I will say this: the entire story happens over the span of two or three days, and it does seem like the transformation of both Jake and his grandfather happened a little quickly. I'm not sure such bonding would have occurred so quickly in real life. Additionally, I am not sure the bonding would have happened at all if Mrs. Buttermark hadn't been involved. She was definitely the most important character, being the only one available to watch Jake when his mom first got hurt, and provided a much-needed bridge to close the gap between Jake and his grandfather. Even Jake himself said that he would not have known what to say if Mrs. Buttermark hadn't been there to help.

I did very much like the small life lessons embedded in the story, namely the idea of "reflecting" someone's goodness back at them. Even if there is someone you don't get along with, or don't even necessarily like, you can still find something good about that person to reflect back at him/her and it will help you to see that person in a different light. That is an idea I will take away from this book and try to apply in my own life.

Overall, I enjoyed the book for being a nice, non-abrasive story for kids.

[Kim]

Close your eyes and imagine you are a ten year old boy....got it? Okay, now imagine that your father has died and you live alone with your very wonderful mom. Okay? Add to the mental picture a grandfather you only speak with on the phone who sends you a Christmas present every year like clockwork but doesn't really know you and a nice neighbor lady. Are you still with me? Okay, now imagine you are at the grocery store with your mom; it's really, really cold outside and there is ice everywhere. You come out of the store and your mom slips on the ice. One minute she's there and the next she isn't. An old lady starts screaming for help. You don't know what to do. Eventually, an ambulance comes and takes your mom to the hospital. You find yourself in a waiting room and some stranger lady comes in and starts asking you questions about who you can contact but all your family is away and you don't know what to do. Are you feeling how scary that could be? You will if you read this book. Don't worry, it works out in the end and people come together in the nicest ways but Audrey Couloumbis does a good job of telling a story in a ten year old's voice and making you feel his feelings of fright, loss and worry.

159 pp

[Tracie D'angelo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jake lives with his single mom. His dad died years ago in a bike accident. One weekend, as Jake was loading groceries in his car, his mom disappeared. He found her on the opposite side of the car on the ground, a tragic victim of ice. Both of them were sped away by ambulance to the hospital, where Jake's mom was diagnosed with a spiral fracture and she needed surgery. With no immediate family to look after him at that moment, Jake is released to his neighbor. The next morning Jake is met by his grandfather that he only talks to twice a year. Jake is a story about how it's never too late for family and sometimes the common tie is love and not blood.

Jake by Aubrey Couloumbis is a short, quirky little book. I enjoyed the way Jake's grandfather came in and took care of everything and even being a gruff military man, he still showed kindness and compassion. The characters were really likable and I loved the way everyone came together in the end. The story takes place around Christmas which can be a very lonely time for many people. Jake reminds us to look around at the loving faces that surround us every day and know that family lives in the heart.

[Ensiform · Rating 5 out of 5]

A few days before Christmas, ten-year-old Jake’s single mother slips on the ice and breaks her leg badly, requiring an operation. A very kindly neighbor and Jake’s gruff, estranged grandfather (and his small “nightmare” dog), plus a few other relatives and family friends come together to take up the slack, and soon things are bustling along more richly than ever. Jake’s grandfather gently pushes him to get over his fear of swimming, the dog gets used to walking with strangers, chess games and movies are enjoyed, and hot meals and extra sandwiches are the order of the day. Indeed, each of the principals learns a bit from the other, and though the book’s action only lasts a few days, there are indications that Jake’s idea of what a family is might be expanding. There’s no melodrama or big crisis in this heartwarming, at times moving book, just an underlying message of caring for others, hope, and the supreme value of human connections. It’s a beautifully written, warm, charming book.

[Sharne' Cherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

1. Contemporary Realism
2. Ten-year-old Jake had a pretty normal life until his mother slipped on ice and broke her leg. Then his world was turned around. There was no one else to take care of him while his mother was in the hospital, so his grandfather, showed up to help. Things were awkward at first. Jake only knew Granddad from phone calls, so it took a while to become comfortable with him.
3.a. Point of View
b. This story is written from Jake's point of view. This element is sucha strong add to this book because it gives the reader a sense of emotion and placement into the story.
c.As Jake's relationship grows with his grandfather the sense of family along with humor grows as well. His point of view just makes the story so much more captivating.
4. This story is great for the holidays. It's surrounded around a family theme and I think students would enjoy reading this one aloud.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ten-year-old Jake's mom slips in a parking lot and breaks her leg. Mrs. Buttermark and Jake's grandad help take care of Jake through his mom's surgery and find a way to celebrate Christmas.

A great book for students in grades 4 - 6. Jake is learning to be independent and, with his mom in the hospital, learns how he can help take care of adults too. While the idea of a mom breaking her leg and spending time in the hospital is scary, Jake demonstrates that children are an important part of helping their family. I also liked that 'family' in this story includes not only Jake and his mom, but a kindly neighbor and a variety of interesting friends. With support and a little work, Jake also confronts his fears about dogs and swimming. A sweet story with hope on every page, I recommend this book for both boys and girls!

[Badlydone · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my second read toward my son's Battle of the Books competition. The book is written from the point of view of a 10 year-old boy, Jake, who is largely surrounded by female adults, and who gets to spend time with his grandfather for the first time in his life. I really should be giving this more stars - it is well written and oriented toward boys in middle grade. However, my son and I feel both rather neutral about this book. This could be because we both prefer reading books with strong and intricate plot lines - fantasy and mysteries mostly - and this book seemed rather slow and plodding. In my case, I really don't enjoy contemporary realistic fiction very much, but I am glad that my son is getting exposed to this genre as many boys his age do tend to migrate to fantasy and science fiction.

[Torrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this book after seeing that one of my friends on goodreads had read and reviewed the book and decided I would see for myself what the book was about. At first the reader is introduced to Jake and his mother grocery shopping and how his relationship with his mother was different then most boys his age. After his mother faces an accident he is placed in a situation where he reconnects with his granddad and his granddad's dog. Although the plot as a strong plot line, I'm not sure it would hold the attention of the age group for which it was written. I am in my teen years and I found that found it difficult to keep my attention on it. The plot line lacks the action and adventure that most preteens are looking for to hold their short attention spans.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

When ten-year old Jake's mother breaks her leg just before Christmas while her sister and best friend are both away, a grandfather Jake barely remembers must come to Baltimore, Maryland to help a neighbor take care of him.

I really liked this book and thought the author kept it flowing well. Memories Jake had of his father when he passed way at three were confused at the end of the story you find out that Jake had more memories of his "granddad" than he had thought.This stern grandfather who he thought he had only birthday and Christmas conversations with develope into a strong connection of love and admiration.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quiet, heart-warming story about a thoughtful and reflective 10-year-old boy.

Just before Christmas Jake and his mother are navigating a slippery parking lot, when his mother falls and severely breaks her leg. Not only must Jake deal the the crisis of his mother's injury, hospitalization and surgery, but must also work out who will take care of him while his mother is laid up. Jake's immediate family is very small. His father died when he was quite young and he has only 1 grandparent, his father's father, whom he barely knows.

The reader is inside Jake's head as he makes the often awkward adjustments to the temporary changes in his family life.