Miracle's Boys

Module 2

Woodson, Jacqueline. 2000. Miracle’s boys. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons. ISBN 0-399-23113.

Summary: Lafayette lives with his older brother Ty’ree and his middle brother Charlie. Charlie has spent some time in a youth correctional center for robbery and has come back hard and bitter – at the ripe age of 14. Their parents are both dead and the boys struggle to survive emotionally and physically without them. Lafayette misses his parents and doesn’t understand why Charlie is so angry and isn’t the same person he was before. His brother Ty’ree has put his dreams on hold to provide for his two younger brothers. The story presents many problems but gives us hope that these brothers have something powerful that can help keep their family together.

Critical Analysis: This book addresses fully the pain, struggles and real life hardships of three young men who have lost two of the most important people in their lives. Any child who has lost a parent can relate. It also gives us a vivid picture of poverty, and it isn’t sugar coated.

What sets this book apart as an African American story is a series of cultural markers. The language they use is a clear marker and we get a taste on the very first page: “Brothers is the baddest. . . “ Throughout the book we get a taste of phrases and slang used within the African American community. The boys' mother Milagro (Spanish for "miracle") is Puerto Rican, so the boys are mixed race, but they have grown up in a largely African American culture.

The brothers live in a poor area of the city. The fact that Charlie has been in a correctional center is a sad but true fact for many young people in those neighborhoods. Poverty often leads to crime. References to gangs is another marker. Young African American males living in poor neighborhoods are often tempted to join gangs in order to have a sense of belonging.

Other cultural markers are found in Lafayette’s descriptions of his brother’s and his own appearance. He describes Charlie as having “ . . . jet black curls that girls go crazy for.” (p. 3). He describes himself this way: “My eyes are more black than brown and my hair’s more kinky than curly.” (p. 38)

Strong family ties are a cultural marker in the African American community. The boys’ love for their dead parents is obvious. Their description of their father helps us to see that the stereotypes of the absent father in the African American community are not always the norm. Ty’ree and Lafayette are close and even though Charlie has given them trouble, they don’t give up on him. Even so, they want him to understand the consequences of his behavior. Their Aunt Cecile is the epitome of family love and loyalty as she comes to stay with them and even offers to let them live with her. In the African American community, relative caregivers are very common, especially in the older generations. Ty’ree assumes the role of the head of the family and gives up his dream of college to keep his brothers together.

While the events of this story give it a discouraging mood initially, we begin to see the strength that comes from family love. While we see clearly how difficult life is for a segment of our society, we also see something good being made out of what this family has been given.

This sometimes heart-wrenching story ends up with a glimmer of hope. It is recommended for ages 11-14.

Review Excerpts
“The book lyrically relays Lafayette's evolving feelings, leading the reader to the surprising end. Once again, Woodson demonstrates her unique mixture of extraordinary writing and story,” (Children’s Literature, 2000)

“Woodson's portrait of an inner-city family in a tough, contemporary world shows how much of a miracle it truly is when human beings are able to cobble together an existence with pride and all the love they can muster together, even when all the odds seem against them.” (The Five Owls, May/June 2000 ,Vol. 14 No. 5.

Connections
After reading this book, give the students a writing assignment. Have them write a sequel to the story which takes place ten years later. What do they think happened to all the brothers? Did Ty’ree go to college? Did Charlie stay out of trouble? What about Lafayette? Stories don’t always have a happy ending and we don’t have a promise of one in this book but children will get a chance to create their own ending.