*My Brother Is Away by Sara Greenwood

My Brother Is Away offers an empathetic glimpse into what it’s like, from the child’s perspective, to have a brother (or sister) off in jail.

*My Brother Is Away by Sara Greenwood and illustrated by Luisa Uribe. Random House Studio, 2022. 40 pages.

Reading Level: Picture Books, ages 4-8

Recommended For: Ages 4-8

“My brother doesn’t live here. He’s far away.”

This gentle book opens with an image much like the cover along with the words I just quoted. But where is the brother? Readers don’t know until several pages in that “any lie is easier than the truth.” The girl’s brother is in jail. He did something wrong. But his sister and parents still love him, and they are going to visit him soon! They haven’t seen him in a long time. The girl starts to wonder if he’ll recognize her. Will he remember the fun times they used to have? Will he still love her?

Incarceration affects every family member left behind, including younger siblings. It’s hard for children to watch siblings leave, even if it’s just off to summer camp. How much more so when their older brother or sister leaves for jail, perhaps having done something that the younger child doesn’t even know or understand?

My Brother Is Away offers an empathetic glimpse into what it’s like, from the child’s perspective, to have a brother (or sister) off in jail. I appreciate the text in this book so much. Nowhere does it imply that the brother shouldn’t be in jail; he’s not a victim. Rather, he’s serving his time for something he did wrong, but his family still loves and cares for him. And he still loves them (despite his sister’s fears). The art is a perfect complement to the text with a simple retro vibe that just “works.” One especially effective page shows a double image: the top half is bright and cheery as the siblings fly a kite, while the bottom half is gloomy and dark—just the girl is shown.

This picture book offers a much-needed way to discuss the effects of incarcerated family members, whether of your own or of children your child knows. Odds are good that one of your child’s friends is dealing with this, perhaps even someone in your church. We don’t like to talk about these issues in the church, but they’re important. Ministering to the least of these, loving the needy—these families are just that! Highly recommended.

Overall Rating: 4.75 out of 5

• Worldview/Moral Rating: 4.75 out of 5
• Literary/Artistic Rating: 4.75 out of 5

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