Jacob Have I Loved

Paterson, Katherine. (1980). Jacob have I loved. New York: Avon Books.

Reading Level: Grades 6-10

Summary:
Sara Louise (called Wheeze by most) Bradshaw has lived all her life on a tiny island off the shore of Maryland. She has always had to compete with her golden twin sister, who seems to be more popular, more talented, and more loved. Set in the 1940s, Jacob Have I Loved is Louise's story of the trials of being the other sister, of being a girl in a man's world, and of finding your own identity while living in the shadow of someone else's.

Comments:
This book is infuriating, but in a good way. Anyone who has siblings will find something in this book to relate to, and even people without siblings will find it difficult not to feel some of the rage Louise feels towards her sister. Paterson creates many scenes where Louise's sister Caroline isn't really doing anything wrong, but seeing the situation through Louise's eyes, the reader feels that Caroline is purposefully being malevolent. Louise's grandmother is also quite the evil character. She was the one character in the book who was unbelievable; no grandmother could ever be that mean!

Another interesting aspect of the book is Louise's crush on a man old enough to be her grandfather. The island has such a small population that Louise has to make fantasies about her and the mysterious old man. The painfulness of her crush is tangible, and the knowledge that the situation is impossible creates tension. The reader gets the feeling that Louise is being stifled in soul and in potential on the tiny island, and it is a relief when Louise finally leaves. The bad feelings between Louise and Caroline are never resolved, which was a bit of a disappointment. In the end, the fact that Louise is finally comfortable with herself and her own life shows that we are responsible for the way we feel, and only once we accept ourselves will others value who we are.

Rating: 4/5