Paper Things - by Jennifer Richard Jacobson (Paperback)

About the Book

Leaving with her brother when he decides he can no longer stay with their guardian, Ari endures a life of homelessness that challenges her schoolwork, friendships, and the promise made to her mother that she and her brother would stay together.

Book Synopsis

"Will engender empathy and understanding of a serious and all-too-real problem. Jacobson's story is poignant but never preachy." -- School Library Journal (starred review)

When forced to choose between staying with her guardian and being with her big brother, Ari chose her big brother. There's just one problem -- Gage didn't actually have a place to live. How can Ari keep up with school, her best friend, and middle-school applications when she's "couch surfing" -- a night here with Gage's friend in a tiny apartment, a night there with Gage's girlfriend and her two roommates -- and even, when necessary, sneaking into a juvenile shelter? Told in an open, authentic voice, this nuanced story of hiding in plain sight may have readers thinking about homelessness in a whole new way.

Review Quotes

This novel will engender empathy and understanding of a serious and all-too-real problem. Jacobson's story is poignant but never preachy.
--School Library Journal (starred review)

Jacobson elevates her book beyond "problem novel" territory with an engaging narrator who works hard to be loyal to her brother--and to her mother's memory. Small moments pack big emotional wallops... A tender exploration of homelessness.
--Publishers Weekly

Powerful... It is well written, with a moving plot, and is told in an authentic voice that pulls the reader in. ... Jacobson tells a story that is authentic and relatable to a wide audience of readers. This novel is a definite must-purchase for a library's collection.
--VOYA

Ari's plight vividly illustrates the myriad consequences of homelessness, and the adults around her who should be picking up on the numerous clues to her situation seem oblivious. Her perceptive first-person voice neatly captures her conflicted loyalty to Gage but also to Janna, as well as her valiant attempts to make an impossible situation work out. ... A thoughtful and moving exploration of homelessness.
--Kirkus Reviews

In this poignant view of one child's experience with homelessness, Jacobson deftly shows how easily it can happen, an insidious downward spiral with heart-wrenching consequences.
--The Horn Book

Through Ari's resiliency, Jacobson introduces readers to the precarious and frightening life of a homeless elementary-school student who holds fast to her dreams and the only family she knows. It is her mature sense of her own needs that informs the adults who love her and helps them to understand how they might build a future together.
--Booklist

Paper Things treats honesty, compassion and generosity as things we can never have too much of in life. Here's hoping it inspires more of the same in its readers.
--BookPage

Ari's struggle to stay afloat as the bottom drops out of her world is compelling...readers will be glad to see her successfully negotiate her divided loyalties and find a safe home.
--Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Jacobson's realistic fiction novel provides a rich context for dialogue about recognizing the signs of homelessness and providing resources to students and families.
--Literacy Daily

The novel is ideal for a booktalk featuring strong characters.
--School library Connection

About the Author

Jennifer Richard Jacobson is the author of several books for children and young adults, including the middle-grade novel Small as an Elephant and the Andy Shane early chapter books, illustrated by Abby Carter. She lives in Cumberland, Maine.