Module 4: Newbery and Printz Award Winners

Jacob Have I Loved by Katherine Paterson

Paterson, K. (1980). Jacob have I loved. New York: Harper Trophy.

Summary

Louise has always resented the angelic, perfection that is her twin sister Caroline. She feels that she is constantly overshadowed and pushed aside by not only her family, but also the rest of their small fishing town. Louise only wants to be appreciated for herself, not her value in comparison to Caroline. As she moves through adolescence and seeks her own individual identity, Louise makes new friends and begins to understand more about those around her. She soon learns that although she can be her own person, she will never escape the effects of her sister's existence because they are inevitably intertwined as twins.

My Thoughts

I really enjoyed Louise's character because she is real and struggles to find the parameters of her own identity as she moves through adolescence. Although at times you want to tell Louise to appreciate the fact that she has a sister who is kind, it is also easy to sympathize with her desire to escape the constant comparison to Caroline. The desire to be your own person appreciated for your unique qualities is something everyone experiences, so Louise's struggle to live under the shadow of her perfect, talented sister is easily appreciated. There were many poignant moments in this book, but I really liked that even though her life ended up going a completely different way than she thought, Louise was ultimately happy. I'm not sure how this book could be used in a library setting other than as an example of an award winner or perhaps as part of presentation on books about family and relationships, especially sisters.

Review

Gr. 7—up. In this story set on an island in the Chesapeake Bay in the early 1940s, Louise, the strong and independent narrator, is jealous of her sickly fraternal twin, Caroline. Louise struggles through adolescence and eventually discovers happiness as a midwife, wife, and mother in a story that parallels the biblical tale of Jacob and Esau. Scales, P. Booklinks, 2006.