Deborah Ellis is the internationally acclaimed author of a number of award-winning titles for children, including the Breadwinner trilogy, A Company of Fools, The Heaven Shop, and Our Stories, Our Songs. A peace activist and humanitarian field worker, Deborah has traveled the world to meet with and hear the stories of children marginalized by poverty, war, and illness.
"Highly Recommended." -- CM Magazine "Ellis explores important,
often uncomfortable questions. Is a child's future predetermined by
his circumstance? What can, and should, society do? The author's
approach to this difficult topic is sensitive and age-appropriate.
These are children society calls "damaged," but each youngster is
resilient, full of potential, and still hopeful. Readers won't soon
forget them." -- School Library Journal "This remarkable book
centers on a bus load of inner city black and latino kids traveling
by bus to spend Mother's Day visiting their moms, an aunt, and a
grandmother who are in prison. Gives a taste of the real thing.
Chilling." -- The Midwest Book Review "Ellis tackles some big
issues - the interactions between the jailed mothers and the
children are poignantly, heartbreakingly described - and the
characters' feelings of fear, anger, and despair won't be lost on
readers. . . Ellis's generally light touch makes the characters
relatable; unexpected plot twists keep the action moving; and the
current of sadness running through the book is realistic. -- Horn
Book "In her customary way, Ellis addresses unpleasant realities
most people ignore. . . But Ellis adds a spirit of creativity and
steely hardiness that Jake and his friends have developed to
survive and stay emotionally whole. The story takes a refreshingly
comic, nicely improbable turn as the kids make off with the bus,
pillage a church lunch, dodge police and finally, through their own
ingenuity, find a way to bring their plight to the attention of the
state governor. Ellis doesn't bow to an easy ending, but celebrates
kids' resourcefulness and resilience in a story that's both sad and
comic." -- The Toronto Star
-Highly Recommended.-
-- CM Magazine
-Ellis explores important, often uncomfortable questions. Is a
child's future predetermined by his circumstance? What can, and
should, society do? The author's approach to this difficult topic
is sensitive and age-appropriate. These are children society calls
-damaged, - but each youngster is resilient, full of potential, and
still hopeful. Readers won't soon forget them.-
-- School Library Journal
-This remarkable book centers on a bus load of inner city black and
latino kids traveling by bus to spend Mother's Day visiting their
moms, an aunt, and a grandmother who are in prison. Gives a taste
of the real thing. Chilling.-
-- The Midwest Book Review
-Ellis tackles some big issues - the interactions between the
jailed mothers and the children are poignantly, heartbreakingly
described - and the characters' feelings of fear, anger, and
despair won't be lost on readers. . . Ellis's generally light touch
makes the characters relatable; unexpected plot twists keep the
action moving; and the current of sadness running through the book
is realistic.
-- Horn Book
-In her customary way, Ellis addresses unpleasant realities most
people ignore. . . But Ellis adds a spirit of creativity and steely
hardiness that Jake and his friends have developed to survive and
stay emotionally whole. The story takes a refreshingly comic,
nicely improbable turn as the kids make off with the bus, pillage a
church lunch, dodge police and finally, through their own
ingenuity, find a way to bring their plight to the attention of the
state governor. Ellis doesn't bow to an easy ending, but celebrates
kids' resourcefulness and resilience in a story that's both sad and
comic.-
-- The Toronto Star
"Highly Recommended."
-- CM Magazine
"Ellis explores important, often uncomfortable questions. Is a
child's future predetermined by his circumstance? What can, and
should, society do? The author's approach to this difficult topic
is sensitive and age-appropriate. These are children society calls
"damaged," but each youngster is resilient, full of potential, and
still hopeful. Readers won't soon forget them."
-- School Library Journal
"This remarkable book centers on a bus load of inner city black and
latino kids traveling by bus to spend Mother's Day visiting their
moms, an aunt, and a grandmother who are in prison. Gives a taste
of the real thing. Chilling."
-- The Midwest Book Review
"Ellis tackles some big issues - the interactions between the
jailed mothers and the children are poignantly, heartbreakingly
described - and the characters' feelings of fear, anger, and
despair won't be lost on readers. . . Ellis's generally light touch
makes the characters relatable; unexpected plot twists keep the
action moving; and the current of sadness running through the book
is realistic.
-- Horn Book
"In her customary way, Ellis addresses unpleasant realities most
people ignore. . . But Ellis adds a spirit of creativity and steely
hardiness that Jake and his friends have developed to survive and
stay emotionally whole. The story takes a refreshingly comic,
nicely improbable turn as the kids make off with the bus, pillage a
church lunch, dodge police and finally, through their own
ingenuity, find a way to bring their plight to the attention of the
state governor. Ellis doesn't bow to an easy ending, but celebrates
kids' resourcefulness and resilience in a story that's both sad and
comic."
-- The Toronto Star
"Highly Recommended."
-- "CM Magazine"
"Ellis explores important, often uncomfortable questions. Is a
child's future predetermined by his circumstance? What can, and
should, society do? The author's approach to this difficult topic
is sensitive and age-appropriate. These are children society calls
"damaged," but each youngster is resilient, full of potential, and
still hopeful. Readers won't soon forget them."
-- "School Library Journal"
"This remarkable book centers on a bus load of inner city black and
latino kids traveling by bus to spend Mother's Day visiting their
moms, an aunt, and a grandmother who are in prison. Gives a taste
of the real thing. Chilling."
-- "The Midwest Book Review"
"Ellis tackles some big issues - the interactions between the
jailed mothers and the children are poignantly, heartbreakingly
described - and the characters' feelings of fear, anger, and
despair won't be lost on readers. . . Ellis's generally light touch
makes the characters relatable; unexpected plot twists keep the
action moving; and the current of sadness running through the book
is realistic.
-- "Horn Book"
"In her customary way, Ellis addresses unpleasant realities most
people ignore. . . But Ellis adds a spirit of creativity and steely
hardiness that Jake and his friends have developed to survive and
stay emotionally whole. The story takes a refreshingly comic,
nicely improbable turn as the kids make off with the bus, pillage a
church lunch, dodge police and finally, through their own
ingenuity, find a way to bring their plight to the attention of the
state governor. Ellis doesn't bow to an easy ending, but celebrates
kids' resourcefulness and resilience in a story that's both sad and
comic."
-- "The Toronto Star"
"Highly Recommended."
-- "CM Magazine" "Ellis explores important, often uncomfortable
questions. Is a child's future predetermined by his circumstance?
What can, and should, society do? The author's approach to this
difficult topic is sensitive and age-appropriate. These are
children society calls "damaged," but each youngster is resilient,
full of potential, and still hopeful. Readers won't soon forget
them."
-- "School Library Journal" "This remarkable book centers on a bus
load of inner city black and latino kids traveling by bus to spend
Mother's Day visiting their moms, an aunt, and a grandmother who
are in prison. Gives a taste of the real thing. Chilling."
-- "The Midwest Book Review" "Ellis tackles some big issues - the
interactions between the jailed mothers and the children are
poignantly, heartbreakingly described - and the characters'
feelings of fear, anger, and despair won't be lost on readers. . .
Ellis's generally light touch makes the characters relatable;
unexpected plot twists keep the action moving; and the current of
sadness running through the book is realistic.
-- "Horn Book" "In her customary way, Ellis addresses unpleasant
realities most people ignore. . . But Ellis adds a spirit of
creativity and steely hardiness that Jake and his friends have
developed to survive and stay emotionally whole. The story takes a
refreshingly comic, nicely improbable turn as the kids make off
with the bus, pillage a church lunch, dodge police and finally,
through their own ingenuity, find a way to bring their plight to
the attention of the state governor. Ellis doesn't bow to an easy
ending, but celebrates kids' resourcefulness and resilience in
astory that's both sad and comic."
-- "The Toronto Star"
"Highly Recommended."
-- "CM Magazine""Ellis explores important, often uncomfortable
questions. Is a child's future predetermined by his circumstance?
What can, and should, society do? The author's approach to this
difficult topic is sensitive and age-appropriate. These are
children society calls "damaged," but each youngster is resilient,
full of potential, and still hopeful. Readers won't soon forget
them."
-- "School Library Journal""Ellis tackles some big issues - the
interactions between the jailed mothers and the children are
poignantly, heartbreakingly described - and the characters'
feelings of fear, anger, and despair won't be lost on readers. . .
Ellis's generally light touch makes the characters relatable;
unexpected plot twists keep the action moving; and the current of
sadness running through the book is realistic.
-- "Horn Book""In her customary way, Ellis addresses unpleasant
realities most people ignore. . . But Ellis adds a spirit of
creativity and steely hardiness that Jake and his friends have
developed to survive and stay emotionally whole. The story takes a
refreshingly comic, nicely improbable turn as the kids make off
with the bus, pillage a church lunch, dodge police and finally,
through their own ingenuity, find a way to bring their plight to
the attention of the state governor. Ellis doesn't bow to an easy
ending, but celebrates kids' resourcefulness and resilience in a
story that's both sad and comic."
-- "The Toronto Star"
"Highly Recommended."
-- "CM Magazine" "In her customary way, Ellis addresses unpleasant
realities most people ignore. . . But Ellis adds a spirit of
creativity and steely hardiness that Jake and his friends have
developed to survive and stay emotionally whole. The story takes a
refreshingly comic, nicely improbable turn as the kids make off
with the bus, pillage a church lunch, dodge police and finally,
through their own ingenuity, find a way to bring their plight to
the attention of the state governor. Ellis doesn't bow to an easy
ending, but celebrates kids' resourcefulness and resilience in a
story that's both sad and comic."
-- "The Toronto Star"
Gr 4-7-Jakeman is strong and bold, his powers sharp, like the barbed wire that surrounds him. When pushed, he pushes back. He defends the innocent and rights the world's injustices. Fortunately for his nemeses, however, Jakeman only lives between the covers of 11-year-old Jacob Tyronne DeShawn's notebook. Jacob could use a little Jakeman in his life. His mother is in prison, and he and his 16-year-old sister have been shuffled between several foster-home placements. But at present they are on a 10-hour bus ride with other children, all visiting women behind bars. Each child is afraid, masking that fear with anger, silliness, song, or silence. But this journey doesn't end when visiting hours are over. On the return trip, with the social worker hospitalized with food poisoning and the bus driver deserting them, the children must make it back to the city on their own. Interspersed within the narrative are Jake's frequent letters to the governor pleading for a pardon for his mother; all have gone unanswered. As the children band together, they find a way to confront the man, and Jake finds the courage to speak his mind and embrace his inner hero. Ellis explores important, often uncomfortable questions. Is a child's future predetermined by his circumstance? What can, and should, society do? The author's approach to this difficult topic is sensitive and age-appropriate. These are children society calls "damaged," but each youngster is resilient, full of potential, and still hopeful. Readers won't soon forget them.-Tracy H. Chrenka, Forest Hills Public Schools, Grand Rapids, MI Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.
"Highly Recommended."
-- CM Magazine "Ellis explores important, often
uncomfortable questions. Is a child's future predetermined by his
circumstance? What can, and should, society do? The author's
approach to this difficult topic is sensitive and age-appropriate.
These are children society calls "damaged," but each youngster is
resilient, full of potential, and still hopeful. Readers won't soon
forget them." -- School Library Journal "This remarkable
book centers on a bus load of inner city black and latino kids
traveling by bus to spend Mother's Day visiting their moms, an
aunt, and a grandmother who are in prison. Gives a taste of the
real thing. Chilling." -- The Midwest Book Review "Ellis
tackles some big issues - the interactions between the jailed
mothers and the children are poignantly, heartbreakingly described
- and the characters' feelings of fear, anger, and despair won't be
lost on readers. . . Ellis's generally light touch makes the
characters relatable; unexpected plot twists keep the action
moving; and the current of sadness running through the book is
realistic. -- Horn Book "In her customary way, Ellis
addresses unpleasant realities most people ignore. . . But Ellis
adds a spirit of creativity and steely hardiness that Jake and his
friends have developed to survive and stay emotionally whole. The
story takes a refreshingly comic, nicely improbable turn as the
kids make off with the bus, pillage a church lunch, dodge police
and finally, through their own ingenuity, find a way to bring their
plight to the attention of the state governor. Ellis doesn't bow to
an easy ending, but celebrates kids' resourcefulness and resilience
in a story that's both sad and comic." -- The Toronto
Star
-Ellis explores important, often uncomfortable questions. Is a
child's future predetermined by his circumstance? What can, and
should, society do? The author's approach to this difficult topic
is sensitive and age-appropriate. These are children society calls
-damaged, - but each youngster is resilient, full of potential, and
still hopeful. Readers won't soon forget them.-
-- School Library Journal
-This remarkable book centers on a bus load of inner city black and
latino kids traveling by bus to spend Mother's Day visiting their
moms, an aunt, and a grandmother who are in prison. Gives a taste
of the real thing. Chilling.-
-- The Midwest Book Review
-Ellis tackles some big issues - the interactions between the
jailed mothers and the children are poignantly, heartbreakingly
described - and the characters' feelings of fear, anger, and
despair won't be lost on readers. . . Ellis's generally light touch
makes the characters relatable; unexpected plot twists keep the
action moving; and the current of sadness running through the book
is realistic.
-- Horn Book
-In her customary way, Ellis addresses unpleasant realities most
people ignore. . . But Ellis adds a spirit of creativity and steely
hardiness that Jake and his friends have developed to survive and
stay emotionally whole. The story takes a refreshingly comic,
nicely improbable turn as the kids make off with the bus, pillage a
church lunch, dodge police and finally, through their own
ingenuity, find a way to bring their plight to the attention of the
state governor. Ellis doesn't bow to an easy ending, but celebrates
kids' resourcefulness and resilience in a story that's both sad and
comic.-
-- The Toronto Star
"Ellis explores important, often uncomfortable questions. Is a
child's future predetermined by his circumstance? What can, and
should, society do? The author's approach to this difficult topic
is sensitive and age-appropriate. These are children society calls
"damaged," but each youngster is resilient, full of potential, and
still hopeful. Readers won't soon forget them."
-- School Library Journal
"This remarkable book centers on a bus load of inner city black and
latino kids traveling by bus to spend Mother's Day visiting their
moms, an aunt, and a grandmother who are in prison. Gives a taste
of the real thing. Chilling."
-- The Midwest Book Review
"Ellis tackles some big issues - the interactions between the
jailed mothers and the children are poignantly, heartbreakingly
described - and the characters' feelings of fear, anger, and
despair won't be lost on readers. . . Ellis's generally light touch
makes the characters relatable; unexpected plot twists keep the
action moving; and the current of sadness running through the book
is realistic.
-- Horn Book
"In her customary way, Ellis addresses unpleasant realities most
people ignore. . . But Ellis adds a spirit of creativity and steely
hardiness that Jake and his friends have developed to survive and
stay emotionally whole. The story takes a refreshingly comic,
nicely improbable turn as the kids make off with the bus, pillage a
church lunch, dodge police and finally, through their own
ingenuity, find a way to bring their plight to the attention of the
state governor. Ellis doesn't bow to an easy ending, but celebrates
kids' resourcefulness and resilience in a story that's both sad and
comic."
-- The Toronto Star
"Ellis explores important, often uncomfortable questions. Is a
child's future predetermined by his circumstance? What can, and
should, society do? The author's approach to this difficult topic
is sensitive and age-appropriate. These are children society calls
"damaged," but each youngster is resilient, full of potential, and
still hopeful. Readers won't soon forget them."
-- "School Library Journal"
"This remarkable book centers on a bus load of inner city black and
latino kids traveling by bus to spend Mother's Day visiting their
moms, an aunt, and a grandmother who are in prison. Gives a taste
of the real thing. Chilling."
-- "The Midwest Book Review"
"Ellis tackles some big issues - the interactions between the
jailed mothers and the children are poignantly, heartbreakingly
described - and the characters' feelings of fear, anger, and
despair won't be lost on readers. . . Ellis's generally light touch
makes the characters relatable; unexpected plot twists keep the
action moving; and the current of sadness running through the book
is realistic.
-- "Horn Book"
"In her customary way, Ellis addresses unpleasant realities most
people ignore. . . But Ellis adds a spirit of creativity and steely
hardiness that Jake and his friends have developed to survive and
stay emotionally whole. The story takes a refreshingly comic,
nicely improbable turn as the kids make off with the bus, pillage a
church lunch, dodge police and finally, through their own
ingenuity, find a way to bring their plight to the attention of the
state governor. Ellis doesn't bow to an easy ending, but celebrates
kids' resourcefulness and resilience in a story that's both sad and
comic."
-- "The Toronto Star"
"Ellis explores important, often uncomfortable questions. Is a
child's future predetermined by his circumstance? What can, and
should, society do? The author's approach to this difficult topic
is sensitive and age-appropriate. These are children society calls
"damaged," but each youngster is resilient, full of potential, and
still hopeful. Readers won't soon forget them."
-- "School Library Journal" "This remarkable book centers on a bus
load of inner city black and latino kids traveling by bus to spend
Mother's Day visiting their moms, an aunt, and a grandmother who
are in prison. Gives a taste of the real thing. Chilling."
-- "The Midwest Book Review" "Ellis tackles some big issues - the
interactions between the jailed mothers and the children are
poignantly, heartbreakingly described - and the characters'
feelings of fear, anger, and despair won't be lost on readers. . .
Ellis's generally light touch makes the characters relatable;
unexpected plot twists keep the action moving; and the current of
sadness running through the book is realistic.
-- "Horn Book" "In her customary way, Ellis addresses unpleasant
realities most people ignore. . . But Ellis adds a spirit of
creativity and steely hardiness that Jake and his friends have
developed to survive and stay emotionally whole. The story takes a
refreshingly comic, nicely improbable turn as the kids make off
with the bus, pillage a church lunch, dodge police and finally,
through their own ingenuity, find a way to bring their plight to
the attention of the state governor. Ellis doesn't bow to an easy
ending, but celebrates kids' resourcefulness and resilience in
astory that's both sad and comic."
-- "The Toronto Star"
"Ellis explores important, often uncomfortable questions. Is a
child's future predetermined by his circumstance? What can, and
should, society do? The author's approach to this difficult topic
is sensitive and age-appropriate. These are children society calls
"damaged," but each youngster is resilient, full of potential, and
still hopeful. Readers won't soon forget them."
-- "School Library Journal""Ellis tackles some big issues - the
interactions between the jailed mothers and the children are
poignantly, heartbreakingly described - and the characters'
feelings of fear, anger, and despair won't be lost on readers. . .
Ellis's generally light touch makes the characters relatable;
unexpected plot twists keep the action moving; and the current of
sadness running through the book is realistic.
-- "Horn Book""In her customary way, Ellis addresses unpleasant
realities most people ignore. . . But Ellis adds a spirit of
creativity and steely hardiness that Jake and his friends have
developed to survive and stay emotionally whole. The story takes a
refreshingly comic, nicely improbable turn as the kids make off
with the bus, pillage a church lunch, dodge police and finally,
through their own ingenuity, find a way to bring their plight to
the attention of the state governor. Ellis doesn't bow to an easy
ending, but celebrates kids' resourcefulness and resilience in a
story that's both sad and comic."
-- "The Toronto Star"
"In her customary way, Ellis addresses unpleasant realities most
people ignore. . . But Ellis adds a spirit of creativity and steely
hardiness that Jake and his friends have developed to survive and
stay emotionally whole. The story takes a refreshingly comic,
nicely improbable turn as the kids make off with the bus, pillage a
church lunch, dodge police and finally, through their own
ingenuity, find a way to bring their plight to the attention of the
state governor. Ellis doesn't bow to an easy ending, but celebrates
kids' resourcefulness and resilience in a story that's both sad and
comic."
-- "The Toronto Star"
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