Harbor Me, by Jacqueline Woodson

My brother, Henry, was the runt of his litter. We have the same parents, but I was born in the first batch of puppies, and he was born in the second. Not only does that make me the older sister (and smarter, of course, in every way), but it means we had different experiences in our dog youth. One result of that difference show itself in our eating habits. Henry eats from a special dish made with extra shapes within the bowl to force him to eat more slowly. As the runt, I imagine he was the last to get to Momma for food, and that has made a lifelong impression on him - not a good one, necessarily...he eats like he has never eaten before, and like he may never get to eat again! The special dish helps him slow down so at least he tastes some of what he is eating...how much is debatable!

I share all of that as a way to introduce you to the latest book by author Jacqueline Woodson.  The book, Harbor Me, will make you read slowly, just like Henry's dish makes him eat slowly. You cannot read this book quickly, it just will not allow it. The words are not long or difficult, the book itself is less than 200 pages. But the story has such a richness, such a depth to it, that it forces you to read slowly. The characters, their situations, the exchanges between them as they meet for their weekly ARTT sessions....it all is put together so perfectly, and so descriptively, that you have to read slowly. The story is like a really rich, thick, homemade ice cream; you want to keep every bite in your mouth as long as possible until you just have to swallow it - and then you can't get the next bite into your mouth fast enough!

The only thing I wasn't sure of about this story is how mature main character Haylie's reflections and thoughts are. She is written like a 50-year-old wise woman, but in the story she is in the 6th grade. It seemed a little like Woodson was telling some of her own story, perhaps, in this book, but that isn't a bad thing. Whether that is true or not, if you have any liking whatsoever of realistic fiction, I highly recommend this book! Or any book by Woodson, for that matter...she is a master writer, and she shines in Harbor Me. Wow. 5 paws!

         Henry in front of me at home!