My Brother Is Away by Sara Greenwood, Luisa Uribe
Published by Random House Studio on October 11, 2022
ISBN: 0593127161
Pages: 40
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads

This heartfelt picture book is based on the author’s personal experience of growing up while having a brother who was incarcerated. The young girl in the story reflects on the challenges and emotions of having her brother away from home. She fondly remembers the times before he was sent away when they would do things together like flying kites, listening to stories at bedtime, or riding on his shoulder in the moonlight. It was tough for her at times when people wanted to know where her brother was. Or when they talked about the bad thing that he did. The story never reveals any details about what her brother did.

The story closes with a much anticipated trip to visit her brother in prison, and ends on a hopeful note, with her brother’s love still as strong and her realization that other families are going through the same experience as her family. The author’s note provides background information on her experience with her brother in jail from the time she was in first grade to eighth grade.

A powerful story that will be helpful for anyone going through this themselves. The illustrations, rendered in Photoshop, are soft and muted throughout with the exception of the times when the young girl is remembering her brother. In these pages, the palette is bright and joyful. Aimed at readers aged 4 to 8 , this picture book will also be of interest to older readers and adults. A strong addition to both school and public libraries as there may not be many picture books on this subject.

Reviewed by Terri Bauld, Children’s Librarian, Louis T. Graves Memorial Public Library.