The Jacket (book)
.jpg) First edition | |
| Author | Andrew Clements |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Subject | Racism |
| Genre | Children's fiction |
| Published | 2001, Boston Globe (serialization) 2003, Atheneum Books |
| Media type | Print, ebook |
| Pages | 89 pages |
| ISBN | 0756914345 |
The Jacket is a 2001 children's book by author Andrew Clements.[1] It was first published in 2001 as a serialized story that ran in the Boston Globe and was later published in book format on August 1, 2003 through Atheneum Books.[2][3] The work centers upon a young boy that discovers that although he doesn't identify as racist or discriminatory, he does have deep-seated and unconscious prejudices that prompt him to immediately suspect the worst about a black student at his school.
Clements based the book's premise around a similar situation that occurred in his life, where his brother mistakenly believed that an African-American boy had stolen his jacket and confronted him over the theft.[2] Since its release, the book has been utilized in classrooms as a way to illustrate different types of racism.[4]
Synopsis[edit]
Schoolboy Phil has never viewed himself as racist, but he's forced to rethink his stance when he accuses Daniel of stealing an imported jacket. Daniel, who is African-American, was given the jacket as a gift by his grandmother, who works for Phil's mother as a housekeeper and had received the jacket as a hand-me-down. Phil immediately begins to rethink his actions, wondering if he would have treated the situation differently if Daniel had been white instead of black. Tortured by self-doubt, Phil looks at his immediate surroundings and is saddened when he realizes that he has likely been influenced by his father, who is openly bigoted.
Reception[edit]
Critical reception was mostly positive.[5][6][7] Publishers Weekly praised The Jacket, commenting that while the book lacked subtlety, it "pointedly delivers a timely message and can serve as a springboard for dialogue about tolerance and self-honesty".[8]
References[edit]
- ^ Kathy East, Rebecca L. Thomas (2007). Across Cultures: A Guide to Multicultural Literature for Children. Libraries Unlimited. pp. xi, 274. ISBN 9781591583363.
- ^ a b Zipp, Yvonne. "Made-up stories of real life". Christian Science Monitor. CS Monitor. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
- ^ "The Jacket (review)". Booklist. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
- ^ Smith, Robin (Sep–Oct 2008). "Teachers I remember". Horn Book Magazine. 84 (5): 549. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
- ^ STEFANSKY, KRYS (June 4, 2002). "PAGE TURNERS.(DAILY BREAK)". The Virginian-Pilot (subscription required). Archived from the original on November 15, 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
- ^ Larner, David (January 1, 2003). "The Jacket (review)". New England Reading Association Journal (subscription required). Retrieved 14 May 2014.
- ^ "The Jacket (review)". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
- ^ "THE JACKET (review)". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 14 May 2014.