The Boy on the Porch
By Blair Jackson,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Wonderful story of mute boy mysteriously left on farm.

A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this book.
Where to Read
Community Reviews
Based on 1 parent review
Life lessons
Report this review
What's the Story?
A young childless couple living on a farm wake one day to the sight of a 6- or 7-year-old boy sleeping on their front porch. A nearby note asks them to care for \"Jacob\" until they are able to come back and get him. The couple, John and Marta, quickly discover that Jacob is mute, but they learn as the days pass that he has an uncanny affinity for music, and he also seems to be able to communicate with the many animals around the farm. While John and Marta do everything they can to make Jacob's life happy and to provide a loving home, they know he'll probably not be with them for long, and they feel it's their responsibility to search for whomever left Jacob with them. What should they tell their neighbors and people in town about how this unusual but remarkable child came into their care? What will happen if and when the writer of the note returns for Jacob?
Is It Any Good?
This wonderfully told story is, at its core, a mystery: Who is the boy on the porch, and where did he come from? Sharon Creech does a superb job of building tension as the story progresses, balancing vignettes of the boy's happy life on the farm with scenes of the anxious search for his identity.
The chapters are short and the prose simple and straightforward -- much like the humble country people it depicts. Yet there's also a realistic complexity to the main characters, and it's easy to relate to their shifting emotions as situations and circumstances change. This is a great book for young readers, who will enjoy both the story and the mostly fond depiction of rural life (in an unspecified year).
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about John and Marta's decision to keep the details about Jacob's identity -- or what little they know about him -- from their friends and people in town. Should they have told the sheriff the truth right away?
The only modern conveniences mentioned in the book are cars and telephones. Do you think it would be hard to live in a world with no televisions, computers, or cell phones? Would you like to visit or live on a farm?
If a boy like Jacob showed up at your house to stay for a while, what would you teach him? How would you communicate with him?
What do you think happens to Jacob after the main story ends? What effect do you think Jacob has on John and Marta?
Book Details
- Author: Sharon Creech
- Genre: Family Life
- Topics: Cats, Dogs, and Mice, Friendship, Horses and Farm Animals
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books
- Publication date: September 3, 2013
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 8 - 12
- Number of pages: 151
- Available on: Paperback, Nook, Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: July 12, 2017
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Read
Our Editors Recommend
Books About Families
Best Movies for Family Movie Night
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate