Jacob Have I Loved
by Katherine Paterson
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 2552)
Read in February, 2008
recommends it for:
Die-hard Katherine Patterson fans
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Read in April, 2008
recommends it for:
anyone
I read this beautifully written book in one sitting. It's the story of Louise, a young girl growing up in the shadow of her beautiful, talented twin sister. In the course of the book, Louise endures the youthful tribulations of falling in love (first with a man who's almost old enough to be her grandfather, then with a childhood friend who used to seem "second-rate" to her) and finding a place for herself doing "man's work" in the tiny, insulated island community in which she...more
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Read in June, 2008
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I remember loving this book as a kid, so I picked it up the other day. I'm not exactly sure why I liked it so much, because this time around I didn't find it nearly entertaining. Also I didn't feel sorry for Louise this time around; most everything Caroline got that Louise didn't was due to Louise's inability to speak up, or because her attempts to get something for herself completely backfired due to her passive-aggressive ways of doing so.
Also, I must say, I got a little wigged out when sh...more
Also, I must say, I got a little wigged out when sh...more
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Read in January, 1995
recommends it for:
teen girls and their parents
I highly recommend this book to teen girls and their parents. The central girl is foiled at every turn in her life by lack of money, lack of parental support, lack of beauty... and also by her overbearing and truly gifted sister. When she connects with her grandmother, listens to her and learns to let go of all these restrictions, to let go of any resentment, frustration or bitterness and to get out and do what she needs to do to live her own life, she does!
She finds peace, happiness and...more
She finds peace, happiness and...more
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Read in March, 1990
One day my somewhat eccentric fifth grade teacher Mrs. Gray saw me reading this book at my desk. It was probably my third time through the book, but to be honest had only read the bits that interested me. She wanted to know how I liked it. Our class had started reading "Bridge to Terebithia" that month so I think she thought I liked that work so much I wanted to read more Katherine Patterson. I didn't, I just liked the cover art and had found the sisters' story easy to relate to. I rer...more
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Read in March, 2008
Jacob Have I Loved, winner of the 1981 Newberry Award, explores themes of sibling rivalry, jealousy, and being torn between desire and duty. All her life, Sara Louise has been overshadowed by her prettier, talented twin sister Caroline who calls her the distasteful nickname “Wheeze”. Caroline’s singing voice allows for a life filled with opportunities, but what can Louise do other than help with crabbing and oyster fishing? When a mysterious sea captain comes to the island, Sara Louise hop...more
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Read in July, 2007
There's no use lying about it; I was deeply disappointed in this book. I absolutely loved Bridge to Terabithia, which I read about two years ago, so I had high hopes for this book. It was a small book, with a nice cover, and I liked the feeling of holding it in my hands. Basically, I would have enjoyed this book far more if I'd just held it instead of actually opening it and reading it. I started it in the car on the way up to Oklahoma City and finished it the next day. And I only really enjoyed...more
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Read in July, 2006
I spent the summer of 2006 trying to read all of the Newberry award winners and that's how this book wound up in my hands. I had read Bridge to Terabithia a couple of years before and really enjoyed it, so my expectations were high. I came away from it very disappointed. First of all, in my opinion the part where Louise becomes infatuated with the captain should be ommitted from the book entirely. It doesn't belong and it isn't appropriate for the age group this book was intended for. The ot...more
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Read in April, 2007
recommends it for:
YA, adults
I bought this book for my classroom, but it's more appropriate for older teens. Paterson (Bridge to Terebithia) tells the story of two young women growing up on an island off the SE coast. Sarah Louise, a thin-skinned tomboy, has to deal with intense feelings of jealousy as her sister Caroline seems to get everything, including the strange, serious boy Sarah befriends. Sarah's crazy, religious grandmother gives the book its title. Paterson was a Presbyterian missionary at one time, but the book ...more
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Read in April, 2008
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Read in May, 2008
My first time reading this...in preparation for the NY Chapter Betsy-Tacy Violent Study Club next Monday. Paterson is some tough stuff. Her books are no easy read, but they reward you with a grunt - not a sigh - of satisfaction at the end. (Or, in the case of Bridge to Terabithia, major tears.)
From the book blurb, I was expecting melodrama and an abusive family. But, although her home life isn't all sunshine, Sara Louise's problem is not her family. Her struggle for inner peace is with herself...more
From the book blurb, I was expecting melodrama and an abusive family. But, although her home life isn't all sunshine, Sara Louise's problem is not her family. Her struggle for inner peace is with herself...more
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Read in May, 2008
I have to say I wasn’t too sure about this book. I haven’t read any other Katherine Paterson although I did see the movie, Bridge to Terabithia. The summary just didn’t really grab me. However it wasn’t long into the book before I didn’t want to put it down. I felt pure anger towards Caroline and the parents for their treatment of Louise. I was enraged quite a few times during the book.
I liked the writing style and the story and look forward to reading more Katherine Paterson. I ca...more
I liked the writing style and the story and look forward to reading more Katherine Paterson. I ca...more
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Read in July, 2008
recommends it for:
no one!
Sheesh, I absolutely hated this book. It doesn't even give you the satisfaction of seeing Miss Perfect Goldilocks get hers in the end (or at least, seeing her admit what a hell she made for her sister).
I really don't get why this received the Newberry. I read it bc I felt I had missed something but now I wished I hadn't. Books tend to become part of your soul and this one gave (and continues to give) me the creeps! The most depressing story I've ever read in my life.
I really don't get why this received the Newberry. I read it bc I felt I had missed something but now I wished I hadn't. Books tend to become part of your soul and this one gave (and continues to give) me the creeps! The most depressing story I've ever read in my life.
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Read in March, 2008
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Read in June, 2007
I read this when I was little and loved it, but couldn't remember any of the details. It showed up on my student's summer reading list so I thought I'd read it again. It was just as good now as it was then. Wonderfully written, though perhaps a bit mature for 6th grade, it tells the story of a girl in the 40s growing up on an island in the Chesapeake. She's a twin, and spends the book trying to deal with being the less favored sibling, and a girl on a fishing island where there is little a g...more
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Read in January, 1994
I haven't read it recently, but just having finished "My Sister's Keeper," I'm wanting to re-read "Jacob Have I Loved," to compare how each author treats the theme of sisterhood, and how the forgotten sister's story plays out. Both book have very similar moments in which the main character sees a newborn, and gives, or wants to give, advice to the parents to pick up their babies and love them. As a mom with two (fortunately healthy) daughters and one son, both books have ha...more
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Read in July, 2008
I read this in school a long time ago, but I cannot remember a thing about it, so I am rereading it to refresh my memory of why I liked it so much.
UPDATE: This was a good novel, although a bit angsty throughout. Really, I am glad that I read it again because I didn't remember one bit of this book from when I had read it previously. Lots of interesting topics throughout as well, like self-worth, dementia in the elderly and just the horrible roller coaster that is puberty. A good read.
UPDATE: This was a good novel, although a bit angsty throughout. Really, I am glad that I read it again because I didn't remember one bit of this book from when I had read it previously. Lots of interesting topics throughout as well, like self-worth, dementia in the elderly and just the horrible roller coaster that is puberty. A good read.
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Read in January, 1987
recommends it for:
Young kids or Mothers
My mom read this book to me and my sister(when we were kids) while we were on a 12 hour drive. We feel in love with the book and both me and my sister have read it again. It's a really easy read and as dorky kids we could relate with Louise who is overshadowed by her more beautiful twin sister. Her sister seems to get everything that Louise wanted but in the end Louise makes a good life for herself. I think it's a good book for children or mothers who want to read to their children.
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