Common Sense Media Review
By Joly Herman
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Emotional tale of girl's struggle with her family history.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
In JUST LIKE JACKIE, it's maple tapping season, which means that Robinson Hart and her grandpa are going to be splitting a lot of wood to ready for the syrup boiling. Robbie looks forward to this almost as much as she enjoys playing third base. But a few things are getting in the way. One, she's in trouble because her grandpa has to pick her up from school after she's punched Alex Carter (her class nemesis) in the nose so hard that he bleeds everywhere. Two, grandpa is forgetting where he's putting things like his tools and his flannel jacket. And three, Robinson has to finish a family tree project that's shaking her up pretty badly. Robbie's going to have to learn to keep her cool if she wants to avoid suspension, or worse. Luckily she's got some people who are willing to fight for her well-being and her future with her grandpa.
Is It Any Good?
This gripping emotional tale of a kid's struggle to figure out her family history packs a punch. In Just Like Jackie, author Lindsey Stoddard successfully gets into the head of an 11-year-old who's showing signs of cracking under pressure. Robbie's unique situation and sure voice takes the driver's seat right away. Her mettle, her determination, and her sheer uniqueness make her a fascinating, if a little frightening, heroine. She's a force. But she has to be -- her grandpa's getting mixed up more often, and Robbie's not always able to help him. The family tree project at school is hitting a serious nerve, and on top of it all, she's the only kid who stands up to the class bully.
The boundary-busting role reversals and gender bending in this story are admirable, but can feel a touch over-the-top.Yet the story's moral is admirable: We come in all shapes, sizes, ages, and orientations. Stoddard drives home the point that humans, as unique as we are, work best as a cohesive group. Much like the maple trees that make up a forest in Vermont.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the role of the family tree in Just Like Jackie. What would your family tree look like? Lots of branches and roots? A split tree like Oscar's? Why is it so hard for Robbie to make her family tree?
Sports mean more to Robinson than they do to the average sports fan. She uses baseball stats to keep her temper in check. Do you have any media icons or sports heroes who help you through tough times? Who are they?
Robbie says that sometimes she thinks she's so messed up that people think she's a burden, or that they "might wish she belonged to somebody else." Feeling abandoned and out of place is really hard on her. How does she manage? What coping tools help her feel better?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Coming of Age
- Topics : Friendship , School ( Middle School )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : HarperCollins Children's Books
- Publication date : January 2, 2018
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 18
- Number of pages : 256
- Available on : Paperback, Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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