“I’ll throw the ball real slow and easy, and we’ll take as long as we need until you can hit it,” Ray said. … I got into my very best batter’s position. He threw the ball. I swung for everything I was worth, I swung with all my might, and I hit the ball into next week. I know because I heard the crash.
In the long, long ago, Arby Jenkins by Sharon Hambrick was among my favorite books. The relatable character and humorous narration make it an entertaining read for the middle-grade audience. But my recent rereading of it proved that a teenager could even enjoy it.
Table of Contents
Plot
Arby Jenkins has seven weeks until his sixth-grade graduation—but he never knew how worrisome those seven weeks could be. Not only does he have to deliver the Honor Address in front of the entire school, but for graduation, his name—his full name, Rutherford Beauregard Jenkins—will be read out loud for everyone to hear.
He also has to deal with his World War II oral report, an inevitably disastrous season of Spring Ball, and the one-armed Mr. Watson. And his best friend, Ray, has chickenpox. How will Arby ever survive the next two months?
I may be biased because of my past liking of Arby Jenkins, but I found the plot charming and fun. None of the things Arby has to fight through are that bad, but Hambrick paints them in such a way that they seem like life-ending tragedies—at least, to Arby.
Characters
Given the low page count of the book (my copy only has 117), the characters are not exceptionally deep. Arby and his neighbor, Mr. Watson, are the only ones given much development, but the other characters have quirks that make them memorable.
I constantly found myself smiling at the rambling narration of Arby, who tells the story in a reminiscent way. Perhaps one reason I liked the book was because his way of seeing the world was much like my own.
Theme & Content Warnings
Arby Jenkins contains some good themes, such as courage, friendship, and forgiveness. These are prominent and guide the story. However, the themes are not based on a Christian foundation.
Hambrick mentions several times Arby going to church or doing his devotions, and he goes to a Christian school. But whenever the themes come up, they aren’t talked about based on Scripture. So while a Christian company published this book, and the author is a Christian, it isn’t necessarily Christian fiction.
Overall
Arby Jenkins is a fun, light, clean read that a middle-grade audience would most enjoy. There is nothing deep about it, but it could lead to some good family discussions. The events of the plot will likely be relatable to many readers and the characters feel real.
And as always, thanks for reading, and I’ll write you in the next one!
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