The True Colors of Caitlynne Jackson [Turtleback]

During the first disturbing chapters of this novel set in Florida, Williams (Kelly and Me; Adeline Street) graphically describes the abuse of two sisters by their apparently psychotic mother. Mrs. Jackson's behavior is never predictable; still, it comes as a shock to the reader as well as to 12-year-old Caitlynne and 11-year-old Cara when she storms out the door with her suitcase and typewriter to write a "blockbuster bestseller." Left with 43 dollars and a fresh batch of bruises, the girls feel relief when their mother is gone. But when the money is spent and Cara nearly drowns in a swimming accident, Caitlynne realizes they need adult help. Without a phone and inspired by the characters in the novel Homecoming, they set off on a day-long bicycle trip to their grandmother (who, according to their mother, doesn't even like them). This tale of abandonment and survival effectively expresses the gradual strengthening of Caitlynne's spirit, yet portraits of some important minor characters, including the grandmother, are as vague as the two-dimensional characterization of the children's monster-mother. The author is more successful at conveying the bond between two sisters in trouble. Scenes showing the girls' attempts to soothe each other's physical and emotional wounds add a strong undercurrent of tenderness to this often harrowing drama. Ages 10-14.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Grade 5-8. Caitlynne, 12, is not sure whether to breathe freely or panic when her physically and emotionally abusive mother packs the car and takes off, leaving her in charge of her 11-year-old sister. Caitlynne, watching the single taillight of the old family car in retreat, makes the best of the situation despite her fear. By contrast, Cara, 11, is lighthearted and looking for fun. When their slim resources evaporate, the two are desperate and find help from their grandmother. Adding the only incongruous note to the plot, their ferocious mother tracks them down and must be apprehended just as they begin to feel secure. The stark, punishing environment from which the girls escape fosters endurance and clear values, reflected by the sustaining relationship of the sisters as well as Caitlynne's evolving artwork. The book is packed with visual imagery, from the blinking taillight to the calming waters of the mosquito-infested lake on which they live. As she did in Kelly and Me (Dell, 1995), Williams again demonstrates her facility at mood and character development. For suspense and emotional wallop, compare this novel to Marilyn Sachs's The Bear's House (Avon, 1989). Truer colors are hard to come by.?Carolyn Noah, Central Mass. Regional Library System, Worcester, MA
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Gr. 6^-10. It's fortunate that Caitlynne and her half-sister, Cara, are so close because they share the mother from hell. After the bizarre, domineering woman pays the utility and rent bills for three months, she abandons the girls for the summer so she can work on her writing without them. Left without an adult, Caitlynne (who feels responsible as the older child) battles numerous fears, gradually learning, with the help of a remarkably understanding boyfriend, to enjoy being strong and resourceful. Williams delineates her characters with great delicacy and weaves her theme of growth through hardship into a skillfully constructed text. The abusive, mentally ill mother is frighteningly intense, and the sadly inadequate reactions of relatives when faced with the raging woman ring true. Susan Dove Lempke --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Williams (Tsubu The Little Snail, 1995, etc.) captures the easy rhythms of Florida speech and a vivid lakeside setting--a balm to her heroine's troubled spirit--in this story of abuse and survival. Caitlynne, 12, does the best she can, but she'll never be accepted by the popular girls, one of whom says, ``I'm not trying to be mean. . . . But if you'd just try and keep clean you'd look nicer.'' Popularity, though, is not a true priority for Caitlynne; she is too busy trying to navigate around her unpredictably abusive mother who lashes out verbally and physically at Caitlynne and her sister, Cara. Despite the abuse, Caitlynne loves her mother; she begs her to stay when she prepares to go away for a few months to work on her novel. How will Caitlynne take care of herself and Cara on the little money her mother left? Worse, will she and Cara be separated if the authorities find out their mother is gone? The strength of the novel is Caitlynne herself: Her connection to nature, affection for her sister, and budding romance with baseball-buddy Brandon combine to see her through the tough (really tough) spots. When she realizes she's in over her head, Caitlynne courageously goes for help. Her story is gracefully written and hard to put down. (Fiction. 10-14) -- Copyright ©1996, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Caity and her sister Kara get along pretty well, considering their home life. By sticking together and staying out of their mother's way, they manage to make it to school on time, get meals together, and protect one another from their mother's terrifying and seemingly random verbal and physical attacks. A few sympathetic friends, like Brandon from next door, make a big difference. But when their mother storms out of the house with a suitcase and doesn't come back, they have to face a new reality--they can't cope entirely on their own for long. Yet, as Caity comes to realize, there is a lot they can do to take control of their future. This sensitively written novel deals frankly with parental abuse, but is ultimately about the resilience and resourcefulness of young people who beat the odds. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Carol Lynch Williams, a two-time winner of the Utah Original Writing Competition, is the author of several books for children, including two novels about the Orton family of New Smyrna, Florida: Kelly and Me and Adeline Street. A starred School Library Journal review of The True Colors of Caitlynne Jackson praises Williams as she "again demonstrates her facility at mood and character development... Truer colors are hard to come by."


Her most recent novel, If I Forget, You Remember, is a moving intergenerational story that stresses the bonds that hold families together through difficult times--a help since over 19 million Americans have a family member with Alzheimer's disease. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.