The True Colors of Caitlynne Jackson

by Carol Lynch Williams

Caity and her sister Kara get along pretty well, considering their home life. By sticking together and staying out of their mother's way, they manage to make it to school on time, get meals together, and protect one another from their mother's terrifying and seemingly random verbal and physical attacks. A few sympathetic friends, like Brandon from next door, make a big difference. But when their mother storms out of the house with a suitcase and doesn't come back, they have to face a new reality--they can't cope entirely on their own for long. Yet, as Caity comes to realize, there is a lot they can do to take control of their future. This sensitively written novel deals frankly with parental abuse, but is ultimately about the resilience and resourcefulness of young people who beat the odds.

Genres: Young Adult, Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Carol Lynch Williams is the author of more than 30 books for middle grade and young adult readers. Her novels include The Chosen One, Never that Far, Messenger and Never Said. Her most recent book is the novelization of the movie Once I Was a Beehive. Carol has an MFA from Vermont College in Writing for Children and Young Adults and teaches creative writing at BYU. She runs Writing and Illustrating for Young Readers, a week-long writing conference for the not-faint-of-heart writer (www.wifyr.com). As well she is a mentor for those who want to write for kids and teens. Her best creative effort, however, are her five daughters.

Reviews

[Jojobean]

This book was good. It was a quick read.

The book is about two sister, Caity and Cara, who have to live with their mother's physical and verbal abuse. Caity is almost 13 and Cara is 11.

The mother was a real piece of work. She had constant mood swings. She was mean a lot more than she was nice. She was a nasty fat blob. She was always yelling at the girls and hitting them, leaving bruises on their bodies. She constantly talked down to them and made hurtful comments. She was especially twisted because sometimes she would be nice to the girls then get mad and beat them up. The beating scenes were hard to read and they were very violent. This mother needed to get arrested and get the s*** kick outta her fat a**.

Caity is the older sister and whose pov the story takes place in. Her home life is horrible to say the least. She is kind of dirty, with unwashed hair and stains on her clothes. Its not her fault but it's sad. She is very good at sports and loves to play baseball and swim. She is also an awesome artist. She takes care of her sister Cara as best she can. She protects Cara from her mother's attacks, pushing Cara away and taking most of the blows. She cooks for Cara when there's food and cares for her. Caity is afraid of her mother but at the same times loves her and hopes things will get better. She always thinks that thinks would be different but they never are. She desperately wants her mother's love but never got it. Instead she got her mother's anger and fists. Its sad to read how Caity and Cara have to tiptoe around their mother and stay out of her way. The reader can really see the way Caity changes in the book. She goes from being a scared girl in the beginning to becoming a brave fighter who knows what she wants and refuses to let her mother bully her anymore. She fights against her mother for a better life.

Cara is the little sister who had to grow up way to fast with the mother that she has. She has never had a mother figure in her life. The closest person to a mother she's had is Caity and Caity herself is still a kid. Cara is dirty as well with unwashed tangled hair and dirty clothes but it doesn't bother her like it bothers Caity. Cara loves to read and is a great swimmer to. The feeling I got from Cara is that she doesn't love or like her mother at all. She is not like Caity who tries to get their mother's love. She steers clear of the woman and has often shown that she'd be glad if her mother was gone. She doesn't care what her mother does as long as shes not yelling or hitting her or Caity. Its a very sad situation she had to go through at a young age.

I really liked the girl's grandma, Nana who is Caity's mom's mom. Caity's mom and Nana don't have a very good relationship and Nana had no idea how bad the situation at Caity's home had gotten. Nana is funny, kind, loving and quirky. She loves the girls very much. I can's say more about her without giving anything away but she is a very wonderful caring lady.

This book is a good quick read that deals with a very hard issue. I think older elementary school age children and middle grade children would benefit from reading this book so that they can learn about what some people live with. Its a good introduction to this kind of fiction/genre.

This review is also posted on Spantalian's Book Reviews

[Sandra Strange]

This novel handles a touchy subject--physical and emotional abuse by a parent--in an engaging novel for mid level readers. Caitlynne, twelve, and her younger sister, Cara, manage together, staying out of their mother’s way most of the time. When they’re not successful at avoiding her, the blows and abusive remarks hurt them. When their mother stocks up a few supplies and leaves them for the summer, or longer, the girls have to survive on their own. Positive, but a little young for high school kids.

[Christy]

About the Author: Carol Lynch Williams, a two-time winner of the Utah Original Writing Competition, is the author of several books for children, including two novels about the Orton family of New Smyrna, Florida: Kelly and Me and Adeline Street. A starred School Library Journal review of The True Colors of Caitlynne Jackson praises Williams as she "again demonstrates her f

[adjective]

Very well and accurately portrayed. Read it as a child when in a situation like this and it resonated; reread it recently and it resonated even more. I almost feel like Williams must have personal experience with this to have put it in words so well, but either way kudos to her for tackling this subject yet managing it in a way that still makes sense to someone of the main characters' ages.

[Diane]

Caitlynne is in 7th grade and loves school, because it’s a safe place. She also loves baseball. But Caitlynne finds it hard to make friends. Even her best friend, Kathy, is sometimes afraid to come to her house. You see, Caitlynne and her sister, Cara, lead an uncertain life, based on the moods of their abusive mother.

Then something incredible happens. One of the guys she plays baseball with, Brandon, unexpectedly asks Caitlynne to the school dance. At first, she thinks it’s a joke, but suddenly all the attention from the popular crowd is directed toward her, so maybe it’s legit. And amazingly, Caitlynne’s mother agrees to let her go to the dance. Could things really be turning around? But when her mother changes her mind at the last minute and won’t let her go, Caitlynne is devastated. Then, her mother leaves altogether, leaving only a little money for the sisters to live on and no indication whether she’ll come back. Now it’s up to Caitlynne to figure out how she’s going to take care of her sister on her own.

[Kim Hampton]

This story is about two sisters who are abused by their mother. I felt like it wasn't long enough and it needed more details, but it was a good book.

[Christy]

Still slaps.

[Kaitlyn]

I read this when I was in elementary school, I am almost thirty and I still think about this book.

[Kami]

- This was another lovely book by Carol Lynch Williams. It was heart breaking, but full of tender moments.

- This story made me feel like I need to ration my food.

- It also made me want to hug my daughter and tell her I love her!

- There were moments in this book that made me think of my little sister. There were times where we had to comfort and protect each other.

- That Nana is a SAINT!

- I feel humbled, and I feel very blessed. I have a good family, and I have the opportunity to create a good environment for my children.

- I felt scared for Caity and Cara every time they went skinny dipping. I thought something bad was going to happen.

- I can't even begin to understand how a mother could abuse her children. When my daughter was born, I was filled with an overwhelming sense of love and will to protect her.

- Carol Lynch Williams knows how to bring out strong emotions in her books, and this one is filled with them!

[Girldefyingravity]

I spent the day doing nothing but reading and this was another quick read that really made me feel so strongly for the main character. I say it was a quick read, but at the same time, it was an incredibly difficult read due to the intensity of the situation that Caity and her sister Cara are forced to deal with. Carol Lynch Williams really makes you FEEL (had to be capitalized) for the narrator and how come through incredible odds. Again, I felt such a wide range of emotions for Caity. I was terribly sad for the abuse she suffers from at her mother's hand, happy as she makes new friends, pride at her ability to make incredibly grownup decisions and take care of her younger sister. If your child wants to read this book, PLEASE read it with them or make sure you are available to discuss the difficult parts. regarding the lives these children have to live.

[KidsFiction Teton County Library]

Teton County Library Call No: J Williams C
Susan's Rating: 4 Stars

I picked this book up because I absolutely loved A Mother To Embarrass Me (so did my girls). This book is definitely not as light as the other one. I read it in one day though as it was very engrossing and touching about two young girls who's mother has definite mental (and/or alcohol issues) and how they cope with the abuse they are subjected to.

[May]

I absolutely love this book. It gives hope to a person, such as Caity, to keep on going with life. It also makes you realize that there is always a solution except for death. Beautiful story..beautiful

[Andrea]

Caitlynne and her little sister live with an abusive mother. One summer their mom leaves them on their own and have to fend for themselves.

[Cathy]

Can't remember much, but I did like it quite a lot.

[Lisa]

Two pre-teen sisters are raised by an abusive and neglectful mother. Carol Lynch Williams has an interesting and easy to follow writing style, which make this compelling book a quick read.

[♦•kαtìε bαñαñα εpps•]

it was a great book:) it is sad though but i would still recommend this book to anybody!!!:) i loveeeeed it..:P

[Shar Abreu Abreu]

This is one of my favorite books - and the reason I started writing. I love Caitlynne and her journey.

[Ruth]

Caitlynne and her sister have to deal with their violent mom. When she leaves them both alone, they go and try to find a long lost relative. Not bad for middle school fiction.

[Kayleigh]

2.5 stars

[Charlotte]

Enjoyed this book, you sort of feel the pain which the girls did. 2 very strong charecters :)

[Julie]

It was a good book. I thought it was kind of sad though. The mother was definitely bi-polar.
~J

[Nichole]

YA novel. One of my all-time favorites. I love Carol!

[Valynne Maetani]

This book is emotionally rough at times, but I love Carol Lynch William's writing.

[Shanna (shannasaurus_rex_reads)]

I read this book in 6th grade, and I still think about it to this day.