My Brother Is Away

September 15, 2022
A child lives far apart from their incarcerated older brother. The narrator peers into their older brother's empty bedroom with a despondent look. "Sometimes I stand in his quiet room and pretend he's not really gone." Grappling with the weight of his incarceration amid questions from curious classmates, the child experiences anger, embarrassment, and pain. But their bond is a strong one, and memories remind the protagonist of happier times: a contented smile as the pair snuggled up and read together, arms flung wide with joy during starlit strolls together. The juxtaposition of these different sentiments helps to illuminate the narrator's reality, particularly when they and their parents make the long drive to see the child's brother in prison. When they finally reconnect with a warm embrace, the main character realizes that other kids are also in the visiting room, reuniting with their incarcerated family members. Greenwood (who in an author's note says that she grew up with an incarcerated brother) describes these experiences in simple, poignant language ideal for a range of readers. Also noteworthy is Uribe's moving artwork; both detailed and restrained, the illustrations bolster the sensitive plot. In the author's note, Greenwood offers readers reassurance: "If someone you love is in prison, I want you to know you aren't alone, either." The child and their family are light-skinned. (This book was reviewed digitally.) An accessible, validating narrative about the impact of incarceration within families. (Picture book. 4-10)

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Starred review from December 16, 2022

K-Gr 3-A necessary picture book that will tug at heartstrings, inspire empathy, and fill an important gap in children's literature. A child details the wonderful relationship she has with her brother, who plays with her, tells her stories, and flies kites with her. These lyrical passages alternate with spare statements revealing that her older brother is far away because he's in prison. Greenwood's narrative expertly shifts tones as the girl toggles between past and present, every line filled with nuance and heartache. The protagonist has to deal with awkward and accusatory conversations with classmates, the stark emptiness of his room, and her own anger at what he did. However, he continues to be her brother, and this picture book emphasizes the humanity of those who are incarcerated and their families. When the family visits the brother, the girl is initially nervous and unsure, but is soon reunited in a deeply felt reconciliation. Uribe's art is the perfect complement-the joyous and fanciful scenes featuring the siblings in the past are filled with sweeping landscapes and small acts of tenderness. These are adeptly balanced with matter-of-fact spreads set in the present. The brother's face is always angled so that readers never see him fully until their first embrace. The narrator appears to be white. The families visiting their relatives in prison are of different races. VERDICT A strong companion to Matt de la Pe�a and Christian Robinson's Milo Imagines the World, this quiet, powerful book belongs in every collection serving children.-Shelley M. Diaz

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Starred review from October 1, 2022
Grades K-3 *Starred Review* This story, narrated by a little white girl, begins with her saying that her brother is far away and that he doesn't live with her family anymore. She misses him terribly; he used to carry her on his shoulders and read her books, and he taught her how to fly a kite. Readers don't find out where her big brother is until a classmate announces on the playground, ""I saw your brother on the news . . . He did something bad."" The narrator storms home, angry and confused about her situation, blaming her brother and wondering why he did what he did. Her parents are reassuring, and soon they drive very far to visit him. The girl is nervous, but when the door opens, they run together and hug. The girl notices other kids like her, and realizes that she's ""not the only one whose brother is away."" An author's note explains that this book is based on her childhood, when her brother was incarcerated. Her reassuring concern is evident through the minimal, carefully chosen text, and the expressive and understated illustrations in a muted palette perfectly capture the sad, confused tone. This empathetic book addresses a topic that's relevant to a significant number of children yet rarely covered in children's books.

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