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Miracle's Boys — Content Guide for Parents

By Jacqueline WoodsonPrentice Hall (School Division)2000ISBN 9780131166196
Miracle's Boys

Themes present

Violence
Racial/cultural content
LGBTQ+ themes

Not found

Scary contentReligious themesProfanityClimate changeSexual identityGender roles

Content themes

Factual summary of themes present in this book. No opinion — just the facts.

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Religious themes

PRESENT

Contains references to prayer and church attendance. A minister character plays a supporting role in two chapters.

About this book

Jacqueline Woodson snagged the 2001 Coretta Scott King Author Award for Miracle's Boys, a moving tale of one family's struggle to make a better life for themselves despite overwhelming odds and terrible tragedy. Woodson is no stranger to award-winning fiction. Among the many awards she has received for her novels are two prior Coretta Scott King Honors.The story of Miracle's Boys is told by 12-year-old Lafayette Bailey, the youngest of three brothers living in New York City. They are orphans, living under the care of the oldest brother, Ty'ree, 22, a whiz kid who was forced to give up on his dream of attending MIT so he could work full time and keep his family together. The boys' diabetic mother, Milagro (Miracle), died of insulin shock two years ago, and their father died before Lafayette was born, succumbing to hypothermia after his heroic rescue of a woman and a dog from a frozen lake. The middle brother, Charlie, 15, has been away at the Rahway Home for Boys for the past two years, serving a sentence for armed robbery. But now that Charlie's back home, it's all too clear to Lafayette that things will never be the same.Charlie isn't the same tenderhearted and caring boy he used to be. Newcharlie, as Lafayette now calls him, is bitter, angry, and mean. It's bad enough that the boys are struggling to survive against crushing poverty, oppressive grief, and the ever-present threat of gang violence. Newcharlie's penchant for finding trouble may prove to be a fatal chink in their already rusted armor, leading to a breakup that would send Lafayette and Charlie off to foster homes. In addition, each of the boys is toting a ton of emotional a collection of guilty secrets, private demons, and mind-numbing fears. Their journey out of the darkness is a step-by-step process toward an uncertain future, and the only thing helping them along is their hope, their dreams, and their love for one another -- "brother to brother to brother."Woodson's talent for peeling away emotional layers and exposing the raw, unadulterated truth is both riveting and refreshing. Young readers should delight in the moving but funny voice of Lafayette as he deals with his grief, anger, and sense of alienation. And the story's gritty prose and complex characters provide a level of clarity and commonality that should speak well to readers from age nine on up.--Beth Amos

Frequently asked questions

  • Is Miracle's Boys appropriate for a 7-year-old?

    The book addresses themes of violence in the context of the characters' lives, including the impact of losing family members and the struggles they face in their environment. However, specific instances of violence are not detailed in the search results. The book does not contain genuinely frightening content. It deals with serious themes, but there is no indication of horror or elements that would cause fear or distress.

  • Does Miracle's Boys have violence?

    The book addresses themes of violence in the context of the characters' lives, including the impact of losing family members and the struggles they face in their environment. However, specific instances of violence are not detailed in the search results.

  • Does Miracle's Boys have scary content?

    The book does not contain genuinely frightening content. It deals with serious themes, but there is no indication of horror or elements that would cause fear or distress.

  • Does Miracle's Boys have religious themes?

    No religious content in the book itself. Search results reference other works and films with religious themes, but there is no indication of religious practices or beliefs in 'Miracle's Boys'.

  • Does Miracle's Boys have racial/cultural content?

    The narrative includes characters of African-American and Puerto Rican descent and addresses issues related to race, particularly in the context of the criminal justice system and societal challenges faced by the characters.

  • Does Miracle's Boys have profanity?

    No profanity is indicated in the book. The search results do not mention any use of strong language within the narrative.

  • Does Miracle's Boys have climate change?

    No climate themes are present in the book. The search results do not indicate any environmental or climate-related content.

  • Does Miracle's Boys have sexual identity?

    While the book addresses themes of sexuality, there is no explicit sexual content mentioned in the narrative. The focus is more on the characters' emotional and familial struggles rather than sexual themes.

  • Does Miracle's Boys have gender roles?

    The book features male protagonists and does not actively discuss or critique gender roles. While it may touch on familial responsibilities, it does not promote or challenge traditional gender roles explicitly.

  • Does Miracle's Boys have lgbtq+ themes?

    The book includes a storyline where the mother of the main character explains that she is gay and in love with a white woman. This aspect of the narrative addresses LGBTQ+ themes directly.