In Jesse’s Shoes
In Jesse’s Shoes by Beverly Lewis was published in 2007, but this lovely book is still relevant for young people today. Told from the viewpoint of a girl with an older autistic brother, In Jesse’s Shoes might help children gain insight into the world of mentally disabled siblings, schoolmates, or neighbors.
Allie’s brother, Jesse, embarrassed her. Other children ridiculed Jesse because he didn’t act his age. Also, he said and did strange things.
Like the main character in this book, I grew up with an older brother with a mental disability. I was the closest in age to him. Other children didn’t tease me as they did Allie.
However, others often teased my brother, thinking he didn’t understand. He understood, and it hurt him. The other children also mercilessly mocked our younger siblings because of our brother’s differences.
Allie wonders why God didn’t give her a “normal” brother. When I was around ten or twelve, I wondered the same thing. I missed having the close relationship some of my girlfriends experienced with their older brothers.
In the story, Jesse helps Allie learn to “walk” in his shoes. Then she defends her brother to those who teased him.
I wish it were as easy in real life as it is in this story to stop the unkind comments from other children. However, this book would be a good starting point to discuss how to understand and act toward others who are different.
When I grew up, I thanked God sincerely for making my brother exactly the way he is. He has been one of the greatest blessings to our family and to everyone he knows. I’m proud of him. He still has his disability, but he’s a better and kinder person than most “normal” people I’ve met.
I caution parents about using In Jesse’s Shoes with children who are too young to understand the unkindness Jesse and Allie experience. The story would be better for school-aged children rather than the younger picture-book ages.
Read In Jesse’s Shoes and discuss it as a family, especially if you have a disabled child and your children wonder why God didn’t give them a “normal” sibling. Maybe they, like Allie, can learn to “walk” in their sibling’s shoes.
© 2022 Jeanne Dennis
Jeanne Dennis is the award-winning author of several books, including Annabella’s Crown, a parable to help children understand about our relationship with God, whose love is unconditional. Visit her website here.
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Thanks for sharing this, Jeanne! We need more book like this.
This sounds like a wonderful and much needed book. Thank you for sharing.
Love the idea of this story!
I remember when my kids were in elementary school, they each had several students in their class with autism. It was hard for them to understand why rules were different for these children— even many of the parents didn’t understand, making life hard for both the teacher and for the parents of the children. When I went to the teacher and asked if we could have someone come in and explain what autism was and how it affected the children, both in wonderful and hard ways, the teacher told me no because it would “label” the child. That frustrated me because I knew the children were already labeled— as “naughty”. One day I found myself on a field trip with one of the moms of a child with autism and I talked it over with her. She immediately said she wanted to go in and talk about it with the class. And she did.
It was amazing the difference. That particular class was in 3rd grade at the time. Two years later at their 5th grade graduation, when the students with disabilities walked across the stage, the entire grade level stood up in immediate standing ovation. There wasn’t a dry eye among the adults.
I’m so glad there are more good books—and this time Christian—covering this important topic.
Thanks for sharing it