Jacob Have I Loved is the story of Sara Louise "Wheeze" Bradshaw and her struggle to find her identity seperate from her twin, Caroline. In the book, Caroline is the golden child, a talented singer who is adored by everyone while Sara Louise is the "forgotten" child. Sara Louise struggles throughout the book with the favortism that she sees begin directed towards her sister. She must also learn to deal with her spiteful, somewhat crazy grandmother. For a time being, she shuts herself of from others while she works as a man with her father on his boat, the Poria Sue. She eventually leaves Rass, and finds herself.
Bibliography
Patterson, K. (1980). Jacob have I loved. New York, NY: Harper Trophy.
My Impression
I chose to reread this book because I read it for the first timenearly twenty-five years ago, when I was eleven or twelve. There were only two things that I remembered about the book: I remember the extreme anger I felt about Sara Louise's treatment, and I remember enjoying the book. It was very interesting to read it again as an adult. The book did not inspire in me the same type of anger it did as a child. As a child, I identified with Sara Louise and how her family treated her versus how they treated her younder sister. As an adult, I, like Sara Louise, have grown to understand who I am and am comfortable with myself. I really enjoyed reading this book and would highly recommend it to others.
To Read or Not to Read: If you have time, pick up this book. It is a good solid read.
Professional Reviews
School Library Journal
"Gr 5-9-Katherine Paterson's acclaimed novel (HarperCollins, 1980) tells of Sara Louise, a girl with a twin so beautiful, talented, and charming that Sara can find no real place or identity for herself either with her family or on the small island in the Chesapeake Bay which is her home. While Sara Louise spends her days in the shadows helping her father with the crabs and oysters that are their livelihood, Caroline becomes a star performer in island concerts, wins a scholarship to Julliard, and eventually claims Sara Louise's fishing buddy as her adoring fiancee. Set during World War II, the story builds slowly to a powerful and believable climax in which Sara Louise realizes that she can come out of the shadows by leaving her family and the island behind. Narrator Christina Moore is more than equal to the difficult task of telling the story from Sara Louise's viewpoint by sounding resentful at times, but never resorting to an unbroken bitterness that would become grating. Her Sara Louise is understandably human with energy, intelligence, and wit that causes listeners to side with and believe in her. The island setting has more than its share of salty, Bible pounding characters, and Moore is able to capture them. All libraries will benefit from owning this outstanding telling of a remarkable tale." - Carol R. Katz
Katz, C. R. (1998, October 1). [Review of the book Jacob have I loved, by K. Patterson]. School Library Journal, 44(10), 80-81. Retrieved from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com.
Library Uses
This book could be used as a read aloud or in a book display.
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