Catching Up on Books I've Missed--and a Review

I am completely fascinated by the world of children's literature, and, in fact, these titles are a majority of my daily reading now (with the exception of professional literature or research articles).  Each day I am adding to my virtual and physical shelves to keep up with my passion to read them.  Many of these are soon-to-be published or new,  but a small number of them are older titles that I missed along the way (either because I was a child and didn't know of them, or so busy as an adult that I didn't make time to read them). 

This past weekend, I carved out some time to do a bit of  "catching up" of missed titles. I began with a tiny book that left a big impression. 

The result is the following review. 

Smith, Doris Buchanan. A Taste of Blackberries. New York: HarperCollins, 1973. ISBN 0690805128

A young boy and his fun-loving best friend Jamie spend their days picking blackberries and hopping the creek together.  One afternoon, Jamie and the narrator of the book (a boy who remains nameless) agree to gather unwanted beetles off of grape vines to help a neighbor (paid by the jar). But in the middle of the work, tragedy strikes. Suddenly, the boy is without his friend, and he must deal with feelings he doesn’t understand.

A majority of the plot consists of the boy’s narrative through the aftermath of the tragedy. Events prior to the tragedy seem especially poignant afterwards because readers experience the thoughts and questions as the boy voices them.

Though the boy's friendship with Jaime is the center of the story, minor characters show more about their personalities. Jaime’s relationship with his little sister Martha reveals his loving side. Characters such as Mrs. Houser, a neighbor, are there to listen and offer words of wisdom: "Honey, one of the hardest things we have to learn is that some questions do not have answers." With the help of his parents, the boy processes his feelings in his own time and at his own pace.

Told in an honest, childlike voice, the mood is somber and quiet. The boy's conversation with Jaime’s mother at the end is especially meaningful, and a basket of berries he gives her becomes a symbol of his acceptance. 

A brief but deep book revealing the world of one child coping with grief, A Taste of Blackerries also portrays the importance of friendship in a child's life.

Middle grade, 64 pages.