Come Sing, Jimmy Jo

by Katherine Paterson

Book Overview

Written by Newbery, National Book Award, and Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal winner Katherine Paterson

The Johnsons are becoming country music stars. They're on TV and the radio--and it's all because of James. His voice and his guitar playing bring the songs to life, and make the audiences beg for more. Most kids would love it. Not James. He's had to change his name to "Jimmy Jo," dress in clothes he hates, and turn into someone else. Will he ever...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0140373977
• ISBN13: 9780140373974
• Release Date: January 1995
• Publisher: Puffin Books
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.0" x 7.7"
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7

Customer Reviews

An Overlooked Treasure

I stopped to read the reviews here and decided to add my own. My grandmother gave this book to me when I was about 12 and I took one look at it and stuffed it away on the bookshelf. I was busy reading books like Sweet Valley High and a book about some hick kid in West Virginia did not appeal to me at all. But being the voracious reader that I was, I pulled it out one day out of boredom and much to my surprise, it's become one of my favorite books. I still put it out to this day and read it (I'm 31.) For a book about some of the most down home, country, even 'hillbilly' people you'll ever read about, it has a surprising touch of dreaminess and whimsy and is just full of characters that draw readers into their world. I just loved James' grandmother, and felt his heartache when they were separated. She was a character and a 1/2...I defy anyone to read about her and not dream of meeting such a woman someday, smoking her pipe, telling it like it is in her thick accent, and loving with all her might. James is living in rural West Virginia with his grandmother while his family, who have their own classic country and western band, tour and try for their big break. James has a beautiful voice as well, but only likes to sing for his grandmother. His family returns for a visit one day, and invite a manager to come see them perform. The manager likes them, but is mostly taken with James and agrees to sign them-but only if James is included. James goes to live in the city with his family, where they get a regular spot on a live music show that airs once weekly. At school James just tries to blend in, hoping no one will know that he's a tv 'star'. At home his family situation is becoming tougher and tougher. Although very close to his father, James misses his grandmother, and his mother and uncle seem to care more about the show and their hopefully impending fame. His invisibility at school is made harder by a teacher who takes a great dislike to him, and his struggle to make sure no one knows his true identity, which is made even harder by a stranger that begins to follow him. Luckily, amidst all the turmoil James has some truly special people in his life, his grandmother, who exudes her influence even from afar, his father, who loves him unconditionally, and a new 'friend', Eleazer Jones, the King of his school. There is a lot of humor too that livens what could have been a tough read. If you are in doubt, don't be. Read this book-you won't regret it.

Come Sing, Jimmy Jo Johnshon

Katherine Paterson's book, "Come Sing, Jimmy Jo" tells a wonderful story, and really brings the characters to life. In this novel there are many triumphs and truths to overcome for one small, eleven year old boy. Jimmy Jo Johnson is really, James Johnson, a boy who was raised on a farm in West Virginia by his grandmother. Here he develops a gift of music. At the age of eleven he is a wonderful singer and guitar player. His family is in the business of singing and because of him they get a chance to play for a TV show. After Jimmy Jo and his family find some sort of fame, things start to change. How his family members really feel about his success, and their singing careers. All in all, this book is a great book, which shows the true characters and feelings that often exist in family's who sing together. Jimmy Jo Johnson goes through a lot, with his mother, school, and when he finds out some interesting news. Jimmy Jo really finds out the people he can trust, and how life in the city really works. As his life changes, so does he, and along the way he discovers many things. I think his hidden friendship with Eleazer Jones is one of the best parts of this book. End the end things work out for him, the best they can when any family faces problems. So without trying to give the whole book away, this was a very good read, and the author did a wonderful job, showing the real-life of this boy and his singing family

Come Sing, Jimmy Jo

I liked the book by Katherine Paterson. It shows how a young kid is able to go through hard times on a farm and become a good player of the guitar to play in front of large groups. In this story the kid has hardships because of his loss of confidence of playing in front of people. As a hardship there are many lawyers that get into the story making his life horrible by making contracts and other confusing things to a country boy. At the middle he starts to get in fights that start to make him discouraged on playing again in front of people. This story touched my heart to every last guitar pluck.

A must read book

Come Sing Jimmy Jo is about an 11 year old boy that sings at gigs and performs on national television. He has a lot of problems at home and at school. The best part of the book is when James's (Jimmy Jo) Father calls him and tells him that he is his real father. So, if you ever find the book in the library read; it is a great book.

An excellent story!

"Come Sing, Jimmy Jo" was about an eleven year old star who sings with his family. I thought it was a really great book mainly because it was actually a fictional story and while reading it, it seemed very real to me. The author presented an amazing use of vocabulary in the book, also. I really enjoyed the way the book detailed greatly on the way James (Jimmy Jo) was feeling at certain times, such as his sense of stage fright and how angry he got when Keri Su and Earl stole his and his daddy's song. My favorite part would have to be when Eleazer Jones took him out in the boat. I thought it was a nice thing for him to do. I also enjoyed learning about the close relationship between Jame and his grandmother. All in all, it was a great book.