Recounts the difficulties of coming of age with a parent in prison.
By Jiordan Castle ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 15, 2023
At the age of 12, Jiordan Castle’s life was changed forever when her father was incarcerated for fraud. She had to carry the burden of this secret while also dealing with the typical issues of growing up, such as starting high school, managing more difficult schoolwork, and dating for the first time.
To make matters worse, her family had to move to a smaller house, forcing them to sell many of their possessions. Jiordan was concerned for her father’s safety and felt a sense of relief that she, her mother, and her half-sisters no longer had to endure his drug use, suicidal tendencies, and cruelty.
The author, who is white and Jewish, grew up on Long Island and wrote this verse memoir to fill a void in literature for children of incarcerated parents. The abrupt ending leaves readers with many unanswered questions, but the accessible poetry is appealing. Blank lines are used in place of words, inviting readers to guess what she is trying to say and drawing them into the narrative. Verse is an unusual and effective way to tell this story.
Pub Date: Aug. 15, 2023
ISBN: 9780374389772
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Review Posted Online: June 21, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2023