Miracle's Boys

How many children experience something that completely changes them or someone they know very well? Kids today are in the same situations as the boys in Miracle’s Boys. Some have lost their mother or father, have seen a friend or family member be sent off somewhere and return as a different person, and other similar situations. Events such as these have a great affect on children and young adults. Lafayette’s brother,Charlie, has changed, but he does not understand why. He compares what his brother Charlie used to be like before and after attending Rahway Home for Boys. He doesn’t like Newcharlie because he no longer cares. It is difficult to understand what exactly Rahway did to Charlie. I like how the main character calls Charlie a stranger. That is perfect for the situation. He knows it is his brother, but his personality and behavior have changed. Apparently Charlie used to be a nicer guy, but now Charlie finds anything to criticize, such as their dad saving a woman and her dog. “Saving a dog and a white woman is a stupid way to die. Only thing in the world you need to save is your own self” (p.17). This represents Charlie’s new personality, which causes more problems in the family. In chapter 1, Lafayette gives a good image of how Charlie has changed. He compares him to what happens when their great aunt breaks open ripe watermelons. “When we get home, she always takes it out back and breaks it open against a rock, then scoops out the heart of it—the sweetest, reddest part- and hands it to me. I stared out the window. Somebody had done that to Charlie: scooped out his heart and sent the empty bitter rind of him on home” (p.6). I love this because I can picture the watermelon with nothing after its insides are removed. What an excellent image!I realized that many of the events that occur in the book Charlie and Lafayette used to do before Charlie when to Rahway. Lafayette has many flashbacks to better times with Charlie. What I discovered is Charlie denies what Lafayette says he used to do or be like, but Charlie shows in his face that he knows it is all true. Lafayette can’t even make comments in order to correct Charlie because he knows he will get a harsh comment back. I would recommend this book to young adults, especially for read in a classroom because it presents good topics to discuss such as Charlie and what the three boys go through. It was a great book!