This was a wonderful story about the need for acceptance, love, and sacrifice written by a woman from Cedar Falls, Iowa. Jeremy is struggling as an elementary age boy starting a new school year without "those shoes" that everyone else seems to have. He is a sweet young man who lives with his Grandma--there is a picture in a frame sitting on a table of him with a man and woman--in a small urban apartment. Money is tight, as it is for many in our country right now, but he still wants to be like everyone else. Those shoes are everywhere in the illustrations, be it in J's drawings, billboards, classmates' feet, or newspaper. I like that Grandma tried to get him those shoes by taking him to a thrift store--now that the economy is like it is, many Americans find themselves turning to different places to shop. I have taught in several schools around the country that required uniforms and this book gives us a reason in favor of kids wearing them. If everyone is dressed in basic colors, having those shoes is not a concern and students can focus more on important things.
In elementary school, all the girls around here used ESPRIT bags for school. I mean everyone except, it seemed me. I had gotten a similar style bag at a ballet performance that I really liked until I discovered I wouldn't have a coveted ESPRIT bag. I didn't get teased or anything, but I look back on it now and it seemed important at the time. This story is very timeless, but especially relevant in hard economic times. The illustrations by Noah Z. Jones go along with the text seamlessly.
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