Jacob Have I Loved: A Newbery Medal Winner?A Compelling Young Adult Classic about Individuality, Dreams, and Overcoming Family Expectations?An Engaging Summer Read for Young Adults

By Katherine Palmer Peterson and Katherine Paterson

Book Overview

Katherine Paterson's remarkable Newbery Medal-winning classic about a painful sibling rivalry, and one sister's struggle to make her own way, is an honest and daring portrayal of adolescence and... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0064403688
• ISBN13: 9780064403689
• Release Date: May 2020
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.43 lbs.
• Dimensions: 7.6" x 0.5" x 5.1"

Customer Reviews

Beautiful, but Sad

This is one of my all-time favorite books. It has beautiful description of not only the settings, but her feelings. Its always one bad thing after another. And the ending, I just can't! It's 100% a must-read.

The saddest book I've ever read

This is one of my favorite books. I cried harder while reading it than anything else I've ever read or seen, but it's ultimately very uplifting and sweet. This is the story of Sara Louise and her twin sister Caroline, who grow up ona a tiny fishing island in the 1940s; specifically, it is the story of Sara Louise's resentment of her talented, pretty sister, and of her struggle do discover who she is apart from Caroline's shadow. Caroline is not really cruel, or even very selfish; she is one of those shining, talented people who do everything well and whom everyone loves, and who come to take it for granted. Without meaning to, everything Louise wants seems to come to Caroline. The way Louise deals with this and, ultimately, transcends it is a truly hertwrenching and uplifting story.

Incredibly riveting novel

I highly recommend this novel. It deals with difficult, but very real and raw emotions between siblings. The author Katerine Paterson is one of the best story tellers that young people of this generation can read and understand. The story has everything! A tale of family relationships, and rivalry between twins, set in the 1940's era in the Chesapeake Bay. I enjoyed this book for it's dramatic intensity, fullness of the characterizations, believability, and honest dealing with many teen issues. Also, it took place in a locale that we don't usually read about. I will never forget these characters. Paterson is a wonderful writer. I read this book to catch up on children's lit for the age group I will be teaching this coming school year. Fifth graders on up should really read this book. They will certainly come away enriched. I discovered Paterson after reading her riveting "Bridge to Terabithia", another must read.

Excellent book for children who feel misunderstood

Jacob Have I Loved is an excellent children's story that is loosley based on the biblical account of Jacob and Esau. It is about the turbulent relationship between a pair of twin sisters. Louise, who is the narrator and the character of Esau, is unable to recognize her own talents because she is constantly comparing herself to her beautiful and gifted sister Caroline. Katherine Paterson's book is well written and very understandable. One of its main strengths is that it is written from Louise's perspective. Because Louise is the narrator, the reader is better able to understand why she is so jealous of Caroline. Another strength is that Paterson explores other relationships in Louise's life besides just the one between her and Caroline. The story focuses on how the sisters' parents, grandmother, friends, and neighbors react to Caroline and her sister. These other relationships affect the way Louise views herself and her sister as much as what Caroline says and does. Every child should read Jacob Have I Loved, especially those who resent their siblings because they think their sisters or brothers are smarter, more attractive or more talented then they are. The story will allow children in that situation to empathize with Louise and better understand that they have talents that they may have not yet recognized. Paterson's book was intended for children, but it would be a good book for parents and teachers to read also. It will help adults to understand children who may have not yet reached their full potential and are jealous of those who have.