The King of Jam Sandwiches

by Eric Walters

Overview

Key Selling Points

• In The King of Jam Sandwiches , ayoung teen is afraid to let anyone know what is going on at home.
• This book examines the effects of mental illness, poverty and parental neglect.
• This is a very personal story for Eric Walters, informed by his own experience.
• Eric Walters has written over 100 books and is an avid presenter visiting thousands of students each year.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781459825581
Publisher:	Orca Book Publishers
Publication date:	08/04/2020
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	320
Lexile:	530L (what's this?)
File size:	5 MB
Age Range:	9 - 12 Years

About the Author

Eric Walters is the award-winning author of more than 100 novels and picture books. He is a tireless presenter, speaking to over 100,000 students per year in schools across the country. A Member of the Order of Canada, Eric lives in Guelph, Ontario.

Eric Walters is a Member of the Order of Canada and the author of over 125 books that have collectively won more than 100 awards including the Governor General’s Literary Award for The King of Jam Sandwiches. A former teacher, Eric began writing as a way to get his fifth-grade students interested in reading and writing. Eric is a tireless presenter, speaking to over 100,000 students per year in schools across the country. He lives in Guelph, Ontario.

What People are Saying About This

Kenneth Oppel

“Harrowing and heartfelt.”

Teresa Toten

“You’ll cheer our hero on while your heart aches for him. This is an original and deeply moving personal journey.”

Richard Van Camp

"The King of Jam Sandwiches is a book that can save lives and promote courageous conversations about mental health with our parents or caregivers and ourselves.”

Editorial Reviews

A character-driven story that will teach you to never judge a person by their appearance, but instead remind you to keep an open mind and more importantly, an open heart.

Canadian Children's Book Centre (CCBC) Canadian Children’s Book News

The King of Jam Sandwiches pulls us into the unforgettable friendship of hard-working Robbie and tough-as-nails Harmony in an exceptionally honest survival story that is also compulsively readable and emotionally gripping. Walters has written a heart-wrenching novel about what it is like to grow up amidst poverty and mental illness, one that speaks to contemporary young readers and offers them hope.”

Governor General's Literary Award Peer assessment committee: Catherine Austen

This book is perfect for middle and high school libraries. It is one of Walters’ best as much for its topic, characters, plot and theme as for its portrayal of mental disorders and alcoholism.

Must Read Literature

A superb middle grade novel that focuses on the effects of poverty and mental illness on children and their families. Not only is it a realistic portrayal, but its being written in a nonjudgmental and compassionate way allows children to better understand a very serious topic. Highly Recommended.

CM: Canadian Review of Materials

Realistic, compelling and often heartbreaking, and told with compassion. It's a keeper!

Sal's Fiction Addiction

A character-driven story that will teach you to never judge a person by their appearance, but instead remind you to keep an open mind and more importantly, an open heart.

Canadian Children's Book News

You’ll cheer our hero on while your heart aches for him. This is an original and deeply moving personal journey.

Teresa Toten

"The King of Jam Sandwiches is a book that can save lives and promote courageous conversations about mental health with our parents or caregivers and ourselves.

Richard Van Camp

Harrowing and heartfelt.

Kenneth Oppel

★ 07/01/2020

Gr 3 Up—Robbie doesn't have the most stable home life, not since his mother and grandparents died when he was younger. His father is either so depressed he can barely function, or so delirious that he disappears for hours, or even days, at a time. But Robbie knows how to take care of himself, and how to stretch the little bit of money he has to make sure he's got clothes and food. When his homeroom teacher asks Robbie to help show the new girl Harmony around school, they immediately butt heads but evolve into good friends. Robbie and Harmony form an unlikely friendship and learn to look forward to the future. This book will tug at the heartstrings and tickle the funny bone, all while maintaining a brisk pace so as to entertain even a reluctant reader. With lovable characters, plus a close look at difficult and different living situations, this novel will appeal to a wide audience; all readers will find something, or someone, to connect with. VERDICT This warm tale is definitely one for the keeper shelves. Highly recommended for most middle grade sections.—Amanda Toth, Lane Lib., Hamilton, OH

School Library Journal

2020-05-17
Two teen survivors of dysfunctional parenting build a supportive friendship.

Robert, 13, who’s endured his widower father’s violent mood swings and erratic behavior for years, barely remembers his mother. Robert’s dog is his companion and protector. Robert likens his dad’s temperament to an elevator that rises high and drops low, with intermittent bouts of normalcy. He either ignores Robert or demands perfection. Robert’s meager lunches are jam sandwiches; his father’s hoard of nonperishable foods is off-limits. When new student Harmony, 14, in foster care while her alcoholic mother’s in rehab, lashes out at Robert, he wins her trust by covering for her. As their friendship progresses, Robert repeatedly rescues Harmony from sabotaging her chances for a stable, successful future. Robert himself, a top student who’s skipped a grade, is well liked and athletic. Recruited for the basketball team, Robert’s so valuable he’s allowed to miss practices and keep his part-time job. He feeds and cares for his father, whose severe mental illness (readers may identify bipolar disorder) goes unnamed and apparently untreated. While Harmony bears psychic scars from her upbringing, accomplished, self-reliant Robert’s already a winner; readers’ sympathies are wasted on him. Robert’s narration unfolds with wry, self-deprecating humor, showcasing his stoic patience (though little emotion) and masterful achievements. What readers don’t see is the struggle to achieve his goals. His hero’s journey ended before this story begins.

An entertaining journey frustratingly underexposed. (author's note) (Fiction. 10-14)

Kirkus Reviews