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When Jeff Comes Home

(2004, Fiction - Contemporary Fiction, Written by Catherine Atkins)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 13, age appropriate for kids over 16; suggested age 13.
  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    Heartbreaking story of boy freed after kidnapping.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 13–16

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Jeff's behavior is erratic and disturbing, though for good reason. The behavior of his schoolmates toward him after his ordeal is appalling.
  • Violence:

    Jeff is kidnapped at knifepoint. He is whipped and forced to perform sexual acts to get food and stay safe, none of which is described.
  • Sex:

    Jeff has been molested, though no details are given other than kissing. When Ray makes Jeff take off his wet clothes, Ray has a "bulge" in his pants. Nude photos of Jeff are found.
  • Language:

    Occasional use of four-letter expletives, and various epithets for homosexual.
  • Consumerism:

    Several products mentioned by name.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Some teen drinking.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About When Jeff Comes Home

Parents need to know that this book is less about the kidnapping and molestation than about the emotional aftermath. Parents will have to decide whether they want their kids exposed to this. Though not graphic and done as tastefully as possible given the subject matter, it's still very powerful and disturbing.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about how difficult it is for Jeff to heal after his ordeal. Why can't he just put it behind him? How does the public reaction -- the media, his peers -- make it more difficult for him? A discussion about staying safe is always worth having, though it's hard to see how anyone could have prevented what happened to Jeff.

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Ohio
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    OMG! I felt like I was there! This Book Drew Me In....

    Wow this is the first real book that i really got into and i Loved It! I was so drawn to all of the drama and good plots and wow the way that this book had a good naration and the fact that also the narrator who was this 16 yr old had thoughts so you could relate and know exactly what he was thinking so it basically put you in his thinking shoes WOW GREAT GREAT BOOK!i'm gonna go and buy a copy of it or sumthin it was that good.....

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