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Jacob Have I Loved by Katherine Paterson
Summary
Sara Louise Bradshaw lives on Rass Island on the Chesapeake Bay with her beautiful twin sister Caroline, her parents, grandmother and best friend Call. Sara is strong and proud and often contributes to the family's income through her hard work. Her sister, on the other hand, is considered artistic and of delicate health, constantly getting more attention from everyone, except Call. When World War II breaks out, Sara gets the opportunity to work as a waterman with her father, but this alone does not fulfill her dreams. Sara will need to face leaving the island before she can find a true place for herself in the world.
244 pages, 5th grade and up
Discussion questions
Spoiler alert! Some of the questions contain key elements of the plot. Do not read if you don't want to know what happens!
- The author chose to open the book with a chapter that describes Rass Island and the life of the watermen. Why do you think she decided to do this? What importance is it to the novel?
- Have you ever spent a considerable amount of time on an island? What was it like? Did you have any of the same feelings that Sara did?
- What was your first impression of Caroline? Did it change at all through the course of the novel? How do you think she sees the family?
- Describe Grandma. What is she like? How do you think she got to be the way she is?
- How does Sara's relationship with Call change over the course of the novel?
- Why do you think Sara goes through a period of time obsessed with hands? (page 147) What do hands symbolize to you?
- Was Sara in love with the Captain? Why do you think she was having those feelings about him?
- How does Sara react to being called "Wheeze?" How does she react to being called Sara Louise? Which does she prefer?
- What does the title of this book refer to? (page 178). What does it mean?
- Why do you think Sara calls her life fishing with her father the happiest days of her life?
- Do you feel that Call and Caroline betrayed Sara? Why or why not?
- What does Sara's mother say to her that allows Sara to feel free to leave the island?
- Sara choses to move to a mountain-locked valley to be a nurse-midwife. Why do you think she chose that profession and that location? What does Joesph mean when he says, "'God in heaven's been raising you for this valley from the day you were born"?
- What is the significance of Sara giving life to the newborn twin baby girl? Why do you think the author ended the novel with that story?
Snacks: If you are brave, try oysters! If not, try the cornbread that was a staple on the Bradshaw table.
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