MY BROTHER IS AWAY

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.