Katherine Paterson

Jacob Have I Loved
$6.99
Sara Louise Bradshaw is an awkward, pretentious young woman consumed with envy against her twin sister, whom she feels has robbed her of love and attention since their birth, when Louise was forgotten in the rush to save Caroline's life. In Louise's words,

I was the elder by a few minutes. I always treasured the thought of those minutes. They represented the only time in my life when I was the center of everyone's attention. From the moment Caroline was born, she snatched it all for herself. (Harper Trophy, 1990, p. 18)

Her feelings are understandable, since her emotionally distant parents do favor the beautiful Caroline, making significant sacrifices to develop her musical gift while Louise (or "Wheeze," as dubbed by her sister) is neglected. The book traces Louise's journey out of her oppressive adolescence into a new life of her own choosing, as she leaves home and marries far from her family.

This story is one of the first in a 1980's genre of fiction that focused on the out-of-place feelings young people struggle with. As in many stories of this type, the author succeeds very well at portraying Louise's crushing resentment, but fails to provide a satisfying resolution. Throughout her struggles she is obsessively self-absorbed and bitterly envious, providing ample opportunity for readers' empathy but not for emulation. More troubling than her hatred of Caroline is her insistence that God is to blame for her pain. This sentiment is underscored by her mentally ill grandmother, who venomously whispers an out-of-context scripture quotation to her: "As it is written, 'Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.'" (Romans 9:13)

Although the author subtly lets the reader know that many of Louise's problems are of her own making, the idea that God has forsaken her is never really contradicted. Rather, it is through taking responsibility for her decisions, leaving home and building a new life on her own terms that Louise achieves resolution. The story concludes when, in her new vocation as a midwife, she momentarily forgets to care for a healthy twin while saving the life of the younger. She instructs the young mother to give proper attention to the healthy child, and walks home peacefully, hearing her sister's voice singing in her mind. This scene may be interpreted to mean that she has come to terms with the injustice of her childhood, even though she does not actually reconcile with her sister or parents.

This book won a Newbery Medal, and has been enjoyed by many readers because of its masterful writing and the genuine pathos of its protagonist. But Louise's faults unfortunately permeate this compelling story. I'm willing to be challenged, but I believe that while Paterson has done a great job of describing adolescent struggles, her protagonist is never allowed to fully transcend them. This, combined with the truly poisonous nature of Sara Louise's family, makes this a story that may do more harm than good.

Miss Lettie and Me
$19.99
This movie was a refreshing breathe of clean air. The plot was believable. The acting was good to very good. I was particularly impressed by Charles Robinson. How many farm hands do you find who carry a high level of maturity along with seasoned wisdom and a gentle wit. The script writers did a good job. But Robinson deserves much credit for handling the part very skilfully.

The Great Gilly Hopkins
$5.99
I first read this book in the fifth grade for homework assignment. And still today, 10 years after graduating from school..I still remember this book and still love it. It'd be awesome if there were a movie made out of it.

Stories from the Asian Tradition: Tikki Tikki Tembo; The Tale of the Mandarin Ducks
$6.25
Video Tape. Running Time 21 Minutes.