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Reviewed by: Lisa Rice, Middle School Librarian Title: The Death and Life of Benny Brooks: Sort of A Memoir
Author: Ethan Long
Publisher: Christy Ottaviano Books: Little, Brown and Company
Year: 2023 Good for Grades: 4-9 Genre/Type of Book: J fiction, death & dying, emotions
Content Warnings, or things that other School Librarians should be aware of: cancer, parent who dies, separation/divorce
Recommended for a school library: Yes Reason(s) for choosing the book: The title was interesting, the "sort of" a memoir, and as I skimmed through it, I loved the fun pictures.
If you were tasked by the publisher with writing a short quote for the back cover of this book, what would it be: "You don't need to fight, you need to focus." -Mr. Rodgers to Benny, page 206
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Review:
Benny is not happy. His parents have not been getting along and his mom just left, leaving Benny, his older brother, Jake, and his younger sister, Libby, alone with dad. His siblings seem to be ignoring the issue, but Benny cannot and is having a hard time dealing with life. Dad sits him down to tell him that he has signed Benny up for counseling. Benny thinks it is really his parents that should be at counseling as they yell way more than he does. Dad then says that his doctor has found a lump on his lungs and will need a procedure in the next few days. Benny's dad has smoked for the last 25 years and has horrible coughing fits that Benny knows cannot be good. And the prognosis after dad's doctor appointment is not anything we would want to hear.
I loved this book, and it is one of those books who will find its right reader at the right time. My heart broke for Benny and cringed when he made some choices and cheered when he made others. I hated going down the path with Benny's dad as he gets bad news and worse news and struggles to keep the family going, the best way he knows how. I cried in some parts, especially the end.
I loved Benny's friends who, no matter how Benny treated them, took the high road and supported Benny and forgave him. Theo is Benny's best friend and has the home life you want for Benny, and all our students. The loving support Theo gets lets him be the best friend you'd want for Benny, especially at this time in his life. Throughout the book, Benny gets help from people (whether he wants it or not) and he seeks out people to help him. He gets many coping strategies to help him deal with life, from his therapist, his teacher, from Theo, his little sister, and even Benny's own reflections on what works for him (ironically, not many come from mom or dad). There were lots of good examples that I would feel comfortable sharing with students. They don't all work perfectly, but Benny struggles along the best he can. There are many ups and downs along the way. I hated that this was a "sort of" memoir.
This might be one of those books you let your mental health staff know is in the library. It made me laugh, cry, and I loved the hopeful moments. The pictures added to the story and were the perfect amount. One of the big influences for Benny is Mr. Rodgers, a teacher that Benny thinks he hates. Mr. Rodgers reaches out and is there for Benny, in a way that we all can be for our students.
Number of party hats:
Find resources for The Death and Life of Benny Brooks at Teachingbooks.net
For more information about this book, see the Publisher's Website