Who’s Jerry? by T.M. Jackson Book Review

From an early age, stories are the way that we take in information. They teach us about worlds, lifestyles, and situations that we may not encounter in our daily lives. Other times, they closely represent our lives or daily conflicts. When those conflicts seem scary or singular to our experience, they can make us feel less alone and more informed about what’s happening. Author T.M. Jackson took both types of readers into account when creating her picture book, Who’s Jerry?, a story about a young girl who is confused, scared, and neglected by her mother’s mental illness.

Who’s Jerry? plot summary

Imani comes home from school one day excited to see her mommy, but her mommy doesn’t want to see her. She tells Imani that a man named Jerry told her that Imani is trying to hurt her.

Imani is upset and avoids her mommy. A teacher notices that Imani is sad and not doing well in school. He calls Imani’s daddy who has been away on a work trip, and he picks her up from school and then takes Imani’s mother to the doctor.

Imani learns that her mommy has schizophrenia. Her mommy returns home happy to see Imani and with medicine that will keep her from acting strange and talking to Jerry.

Writing about mental illness for children.

Jackson was tasked with portraying a very scary topic in a digestible format for young readers. Her approach focuses on readers who may be going through this with a parent or other relative. The book hits all of the right emotional beats at the right times. It’s sad and scary as well as happy and hopeful.

Jackson is also careful not to paint Imani’s mother as a villain, even when she says and does strange and scary things. Jackson shows her in the many moods brought on by her illness: withdrawn, threatened, paranoid, etc.

Imani, meanwhile, attempts to remain positive around her mother. However, the confusion of the situation leaves her unsure of what to do besides avoiding her mother when she is hysterical and comforting her when she is sad. Readers can easily put themselves in Imani’s place, questioning what they would do or what they actually do if/when their parent exhibits this strange behavior.

It’s scary to think about but necessary to prepare for. Mental illness doesn’t suppress itself just because a child is there. This story shows that it’s important for kids to speak up and get help for themselves and their parents.

The narration and reading level

Who’s Jerry? is the perfect length for early readers who have learned the mechanics of sounding out whole sentences. Each page contains several sentences of narration and dialogue working together to tell the story. It does a good job of exploring Imani’s inner monologue as well as giving a voice to all of the outside characters and their perception of the situation.

Naturally, Imani is reluctant to share her feelings or disclose what’s going on at home to the adults around her. Luckily, she has an attentive teacher who shows her, and readers, that it’s okay to share personal struggles with a trusted adult.

The illustrations

The illustrations by Darwin Marfil really help to convey the multiple shifts in tone that occur throughout this story.  The characters are drawn in a round, kid-friendly style. Their facial expressions are clearly representative of their emotion. Even Imani’s little dog appears to keep up with the emotional changes that occur from page to page.

The pictures contain all of the bright colors of a picture book but are dimmed down to portray the seriousness of the situation. Imani’s mother appears to be hiding in the shadows throughout the book until she returns home from the hospital.  Shadows eclipse Imani as well until her dad arrives to take care of Imani and get help for her mom.

I also like the little details that Marfil adds to the characters and stories. Every piece of clothing that Imani wears in the book includes a heart design.  She also wears the same dress to school the day after her mother’s first outburst.

Imani’s hair is also a bit out of place from her trying to do it herself. It’s one of the few external clues that hints at her situation. It’s also an activity that she and her mom bond over. However, once her dad arrives to take care of her, her hair becomes neater.

Then, there are background characters and props that help tell the story. A mom and daughter at the bus stop seem afraid when Imani’s mom runs outside to put a pot on her head per Jerry’s instructions. Their reaction reinforces the idea that this behavior isn’t normal. There’s also the sad detail of the amount of time that passes on the calendars before Imani and her mom are reunited.

Readers will likely have a lot of questions after seeing this book. The illustrations can help parents explain the situation and the many moving parts of a very complicated topic.

My recommendation

I recommend Who’s Jerry? to school-age readers, whether the situation pertains to them or not. I think it’s important to be able to recognize mental illness early so that they know how to detect it and get help for others and themselves.

It helps to know that strange behavior in adults needs to be treated the same way as a physical illness. The person acting out needs to get help. Getting help isn’t punishing the parent or child. It’s making things better for the future.

Educating all children on this topic also keeps them from avoiding, making fun of, or gossiping about their peers who are dealing with this situation at home. This will cut down on a lot of added conflict and shame. So, while it may not be the most gentle read, Who’s Jerry? is an important one. Its happy ending can provide hope for readers who have not reached their happy ending yet.

Also check out: Tips for Writing About Addiction and Other Sensitive Topics for Young Children

Buy it!

Buy a copy of Who’s Jerry? Here, and help support local bookstores! This is an affiliate link, and I will earn a commission on any sales.

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