Come Sing, Jimmy Jo

by Katherine Paterson

Written by Newbery, National Book Award, and Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal winner Katherine Paterson

The Johnsons are becoming country music stars. They're on TV and the radio--and it's all because of James. His voice and his guitar playing bring the songs to life, and make the audiences beg for more. Most kids would love it. Not James. He's had to change his name to "Jimmy Jo," dress in clothes he hates, and turn into someone else. Will he ever be able to cope with the fame?

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Childrens, Realistic Fiction, Music, Historical Fiction, Novels

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1985

About the author

Katherine Womeldorf Paterson is an American writer best known for children's novels, including Bridge to Terabithia. For four different books published 1975–1980, she won two Newbery Medals and two National Book Awards. She is one of four people to win the two major international awards; for "lasting contribution to children's literature" she won the biennial Hans Christian Andersen Award for Writing in 1998 and for her career contribution to "children's and young adult literature in the broadest sense" she won the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award from the Swedish Arts Council in 2006, the biggest monetary prize in children's literature. Also for her body of work she was awarded the NSK Neustadt Prize for Children's Literature in 2007 and the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal from the American Library Association in 2013. She was the second US National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, serving 2010 and 2011.

Reviews

[Josiah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Family dynamics are a Katherine Paterson trademark, but rarely did she navigate a more complex arrangement than Come Sing, Jimmy Jo. Eleven-year-old James Johnson and his family live in rural West Virginia. They all have country music in their veins, though Grandma believes James and his sweet, high voice has the most potential. He loves to twang a song just for Grandma on his guitar, but won't perform onstage like his father (Jerry Lee), mother (Olive), and uncle, Earl. Stage fright keeps James from the public eye, but after he peeps out of his shell to sing a few times locally, a major offer comes from Tidewater, Virginia. A television show, Countrytime, wants the Johnsons to move to Tidewater and be their regularly featured act. Will James agree to shoot his shot if Grandma pleads with him?

James is displeased to learn Grandma is staying in West Virginia. How will he sing in front of television cameras without her? The Johnsons' agent, slick Eddie Switten, says they need stage names. To James's chagrin he becomes Jimmy Jo and Olive morphs into Keri Su. With the name change, his mother's personality seems to alter as well. From the first solo James sings on Countrytime his star is on the rise, and so is Uncle Earl's envy. Even "Keri Su" seems to resent James's easy popularity. Jerry Lee never harbored ill will a day in his life, but James feels trapped as the pressures of fame ratchet up.

School in Tidewater is stressful. James doesn't want the students and faculty finding out about his public persona. The teacher, Mr. Dolman, is austere, but James prefers that to special treatment. Eleazar Jones and Will Short are kids from class who treat James okay, but what if they learn he's Jimmy Jo from Countrytime? The worst changes come at home. "Keri Su" and Earl are getting uncomfortably close to each other; Jerry Lee and James are afterthoughts. Then a stranger appears around school, following James and claiming to be his biological father. That can't be true, right? Then again, Keri Su seems so disinterested in Jerry Lee. The family is falling apart, and James wishes he could go home to Grandma. Is stardom incompatible with his growth and happiness?

"The Lord don't give private presents...If he give you somethin', it's only because he thinks you got the sense to share it or give it away. You try to keep the gift to yourself, it's liable to rot. Remember how the Lord give the manna to those Hebrew children? They had to use it or pretty soon it start to crawl with the maggots."

—Grandma, P. 29

Having talent is complicated. It may be true that God doesn't hand it out for one's personal pleasure, to be kept from the world, but there are numerous ways to pursue one's potential. James gradually overcomes the stage fright, but is fame changing him? It's changing Keri Su and Earl for sure, causing them to treat him like a rival because their success isn't keeping up with his. Perhaps these competing interests can be harmonized, but just as likely, James isn't cut out for celebrity. Full development of his musical gift may turn out to look like singing gospel at his church, or performing exclusively for his parents and grandparents, and someday, his children. James is exploring how to make the most of his talent; the road may be rough, but he has a responsibility to his gift and the one who gave it.

"Nothin's ever pure...Joy and pain always show up in the same wrapper."

—Grandma, P. 95

Come Sing, Jimmy Jo is the poignant story of a country boy and his family thrust into the limelight. Relationships make life hard but are the only reason it's worth living. Katherine Paterson is one of the great children's novelists, and this book deepens the quality of her catalogue. I'll round my two-and-a-half star rating to three, and if you like your stories quiet and real, this one is for you.

[Tonia Kestner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably a 3.7. Katherine Paterson is a lovely storyteller.

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eleven-year-old James Johnson lives in Appalachia, where he is part of a musical family, but not a performer himself. While his parents and uncle perform bluegrass music regularly on stage, James has only ever really sung for his grandmother on the front porch. When he fills in as a back-up guitarist for The Family one night, however, James instantly appeals to the fans. Next thing he knows, he's being given the stage name of Jimmy Jo and a place in the bluegrass group as they begin appearing regularly on a country-western television show. Though Jimmy Jo finds that he enjoys the limelight, he is worried about leaving his grandmother behind at home and he feels desperate not to let the kids at his new school find out he's a star. Also troubling is his mother's growing jealousy of her son's fame, and the strange man who keeps turning up and telling James that he, and not the man who raised him, is his father.

Though I own a hardcover, I listened to a large portion of this middle grade novel on audio. This helped me get a feel both for the way the characters speak and for the music that they play, as the narrator sang many of the lines of song included in the text. Both the audiobook narration and the writing were excellent, as was the character development. James is a very sympathetic and believable kid, and his interactions with his family, his teacher, and his classmates all rang very true.

The only thing I didn't really like about this book was the question about who was James's true father. It didn't add much of anything to the plot other than conflict among the adults and unnecessary pain and sadness for James. This book had plenty of substance before this idea was introduced, and, as it was the second book in a row by this author where paternity issues played a role, it just felt like too much. James already had enough problems with his mother's jealousy; it adds nothing to the book to further strain their relationship.

I will say, though, that the ending of this book wraps up the story beautifull. The final paragraph is so good, I repeated it several times on the audiobook just to savor it a bit more. It's worth sticking with it through that paternity storyline to feel the full resonance of those ending lines.

This review also appears on my blog, Read-at-Home Mom.

[Cass · Rating 4 out of 5]

James Johnson is the shy 11-year-old son of a singing family which includes his mom, Olive, and daddy, Jerry Lee, uncle, Eddie, and grandpa. James stays at home with his grandma whose voice has gotten old while the rest of the Family go out to entertain and make a living. After Olive hires a manager for the group, they have a one night performance not to far from home so Jerry Lee asks James to go along. They include James in one song and a scout for a TV country music show hears them and offers them a regular weekly appearance on "Countrytime" TV show. Their lives change dramatically that night. James really doesn't want to travel and sing with them because he is so shy and he'd much rather stay with his Grandma. But there is no deal with out James. He also has to take the stage name of Jimmy Jo-which he hates and his mother insists he perform without his glasses. The Family moves to Tidewater where the show is produced, James is enrolled in a new school, and Grandma stays behind. James makes two friends in school-the nerdy smart rich kid, and the tall black gang leader. Both boys help James to cope with the teacher and the other kids in the class and James hates all that has happened to him and there's a bunch more to come.

[Liaken · Rating 5 out of 5]

After I read this book, I just laid on my bed and wept. It resonated too solidly with my own childhood broken heart, not because our circumstances were in any way similar, but because Paterson so perfectly captured the feelings of children who are hurting.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book isn’t as well known as other Katherine Paterson books, but I thought it was excellent and deserves to be more widely read. The main character is an eleven year old boy who lives in a dysfunctional family, with relatives mainly only interested in the money he can make for them in the family business than who he is as a person, or his thoughts and feelings. Lots of kids live with parents who don’t really want them, but even if a reader can’t personally relate, I thought it was excellently written. I thought the main character’s reaction were believable, and the relatives written with complexity — like real people they weren’t all good or all bad. Katherine Paterson was a teacher for a while, and her understanding of children shows in the various characters in this book.

Minor critiques: “The King” was very likable, but seemed more like a high school student than the 13 year old he was supposed to be. I also worry she tiptoed quite close to him fulfilling the role of “magical negro.” The bio-Dad gave up awfully quickly after pestering James for months to talk. The ending attempted to be happy, but that didn’t make sense given the justifiable emotional turmoil of the main character, and the fact that nothing had changed for the better within his family situation. They hadn’t even bought him a bed on which to put his mattress.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall a pretty good story but with a not-quite-sufficient ending. It felt abrupt to me and the resolution was a weak in the sense that he's able to dismiss a major revelation from his life and accept things about his mom and various life changes a little too quickly and easily. Maybe that is how an 11-year old's mind works; I'm not sure.

It's a good story and there are some interesting perspectives on racism buried in the story - for an early 1980's YA novel to acknowledge white privilege* was fascinating to me (not that it's called that).

There's also visible prejudice when we see the change in the teacher's attitude towards James. At one point his teacher's perspective shifts from thinking James is poor white trash to realizing James is a 'famous' t.v. star. Then the teacher starts treating James with respect and giving him the benefit of the doubt about things for which he had previously punished James. Hmmph.

It's sometimes a sad story, but I liked the descriptions of James's life with his grandmother and I'm glad he could see she had knowledge and wisdom even though others might judge her as a hillbilly or some such nonsense. She was an excellent character and someone I would want to know.

[Harper Kingsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this many times as an elementary school kid. I can't quite explain why I was so into the story, but something about it spoke to me. From the idea of a talented child asked to perform by his parents to that same child being thrust into a new life completely at odds to everything he knew.

[Felicity Fields · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've had this book since high school or middle school. I've reread it a few times, but this time I was struck at how well the author shows the story instead of telling it. We're with James all the way through, and with his worldview. It's also a wonderful book about a musician learnung how to use his gift.

[Heidi Busch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed listening to the audiobook version. Katherine Patterson is a great author and she allowed the characters to shine through her use of language. I think this would be great book for reading aloud to upper middle grades or even middle school students as part of a music or history class.

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as a kid soon after it came out. As an adult I still love it, and I'm really interested in the late 70s/early 80s regional country music television show and music circuit it describes. Why haven't the Coen Brothers made this into a movie yet?

[Kim Hampton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book as a kid, and absolutely loved it. I was afraid that I wouldn't like it as much as an adult, but I think I liked it even more because I understood it better. Paterson is a true storyteller and this would make a great movie.

[Hope Alden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Patterson truly has a gift of writing about flawed families and understands the intricacies of these dynamics. Her books are complex while being appropriate and enjoyable for children. This is definitely not one of her top books imo, but I do appreciate the themes and character development

[Amanda Kern · Rating 3 out of 5]

classic book. I have read this book multiple times. I really enjoyed it. The younger generation would enjoy it as well.

[Elise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall I liked this. It deals with pretty mature themes. I found the personalities and flaws of the adults to be very interesting (his mom isn't really a great mom, but his dad is).

[Elfinmox · Rating 5 out of 5]

This books is freaking amazing. I read it when I was a kid and it almost made me cry. It's so freaking good.

[Dee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked this book up on the sale table. Quick, easy read.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of good lessons, here. A nice boy with a sorry excuse for a mother has many obstacles, but a loving intuitive grandma helps him to be strong.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Surprising touch of Southern gothic

[Reving · Rating 5 out of 5]

https://revingsblog.blogspot.com/2018...

[Larena · Rating 4 out of 5]

C8:AGES 8+: No sex, nudity nor profanity, though it may have language considered socially offensive employed within the context of the story, and violence that is infrequent, discreet and of low intensity.

E:Easy: 3rd grade

Method: Physical Book

[Annelisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm usually a fan of Katherine Paterson, but this is one of her books that just didn't do it for me. The story is about a boy named James who lives in West Virginia. He stays with his grandmother, whom he loves dearly, while his parents, uncle, and grandfather travel as a traditional country band. James has a natural talent which hasn't been tapped into yet, until a manager comes home with the family and hears them singing. He convinces the family to take James on the road with them, claiming that his addition to the lineup will make the act even bigger. He's right; Jimmy becomes the star attraction of the group. But everything isn't as perfect as it seems. The family changes their names and backstories to sound more "authentic". Jimmy goes from singing "comfort songs" (usually religious in nature to more secular ones, the lyrics of which he doesn't always understand. He has trouble making friends and living life as a normal child. And it's clear that his mother and uncle are jealous of his success. All of this leads up to a revelation about the family (well, technically two), and ultimately Jimmy, that will change their lives. What will Jimmy do with the information, and will he be able to go on?
Paterson's writing is excellent, as usual. She really knows how to get into the minds of her protagonists. Although Jimmy has no problems expressing himself verbally, the audience learns much about his character through what he's thinking, and his overall impressions of other people. He's a very perceptive protagonist, one who is able to pick up on what's going on around him, even if he doesn't fully understand it. The tensions between the family felt very real, as well as the train of performing and maintaining the show business lifestyle. One really sympathizes with Jimmy as he struggles in school, and tries to be a normal child. His confusing emotions regarding the novel's climax resonate as well. I loved the relationship between Jimmy and his grandma, who was a bulwark in his life. I also loved the way that Paterson captured the intricacies and often frustrating nature of show business, including the way that the industry will manufacture or truss up someone's image.
My main issue with the book is that the novel's climax doesn't quite seem to match the buildup. She spends 3/4 of the book setting up this major revelation, one that the audience suspects but isn't quite sure about, and then resolves it in a way that seems unfinished. By the book's conclusion, I didn't feel satisfied, or that all of the loose ends were tied up. I understand that this is a book for young adults, but I feel like there was room to add more information, or even hints of it, that would have been more satisfying. For example, Jimmy's grandma was originally in the family band, but gave up her place for his mother. Why did she do that? How did she feel about it? Was there some opposition in the way that his mother ingratiated herself with the family? Everyone else in the group is from Jimmy's paternal side; we never hear anything about his mother's family. This potential source of conflict is never fully explored, and perhaps might have provided more insight into the family dynamics. Jimmy would have been able to pick up on these cues, so there wouldn't have been any problem showing the answers to these questions through his eyes. Perhaps making the book a little longer might have helped. This is not a terrible book, but it could have been much better.

[Susan Katz · Rating 4 out of 5]

As Jimmy Jo Johnson's grandmother tells him early in this book, "The Lord don't give private presents. If he give you somethin', it's only because he thinks you got the sense to share it," a philosophy sadly lacking in this country during the Bush years. Jimmy Jo's gift is singing and picking, and the novel reveals the upsets generated in his family, and in his own self-image, by Jimmy Jo's becoming a new, rising country music star. Certainly Katherine Paterson has a gift, and it's a blessing to us all that she's shared it in such varied and wonderful books. This one is another winner!

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jimmy Jo has the gift of music. At first, he's afraid to sing in front of anybody but his Grandma encourages him, so he sings in front of his family, then eventually in front of people. He becomes a star, but he has to change himself. He moves from West Virginia to Virginia with his family, goes to a new school and becomes isolated in school. This book kept me reading into the late hours, and was definately heartbreaking in parts. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys Katherine Paterson.

[Elaine D · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't remember a whole lot about this book except that I hated it! This was the first required reading that I actually used the "read-the-first-and-last-page-of-the-chapter-just-to-get-by" method. Seriously. I was 12 years old and very ashamed that I was using that method for a school assignment, but it's true. NOT a good book for me. haha

[Zoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

We listened to this in the car as we drove around southern California visiting family. I loved it and happily, so did the kids. It's about a family of country music singers, focusing on the youngest member of the family. The writing is excellent: never trite or cute.

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is now historical fiction.... but it wasn't originally written as such. A poignant, beautifully written novel that portrays a young coming-of-age character caught up in his family's country singing career (and ensuing struggles with fame) back in the early '80's.

[Amber the Human · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hrm. I did like this. James is a very likable character. Paterson is easily able to make us connect with the characters. The story was a little overwrought though. A little like one of the soap operas that James' grandmother watches. Still, it's well-written for how over-dramatic it is.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Katherine Paterson - and a good book even if you're an adult. Read it!

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

A slight departure from some of Paterson's more common themes. I like it.