Grover G. Graham and Me

by Mary Quattlebaum

Ben Watson has been shuffled from foster home to foster home since he was 5 years old. Seven homes in six years. He’s gotten used to blanking folks out, leaving them behind, and waiting for the day when he can leave foster care forever. Now, at the age of 11, Ben’s just arrived at home number eight. But he’s finding it hard to blank out the Torgles, his new foster parents, and their house full of strays: the 7-year-old twins, Kate and Jango, and the baby, Grover G. Graham. Grover’s just over a year old and always getting into trouble, but Ben can’t help liking the little guy — especially since Grover was abandoned by his teenage mother, just like Ben was. The only difference is that Grover’s mother, Tracey, is still trying to get custody of her child. But Ben is convinced Tracey will abandon Grover again. So when he gets the chance to escape from the system, Ben takes it. And he takes Grover with him.


From the Hardcover edition.

Genres: Fostering

192 pages, Paperback

First published November 13, 2001

Reviews

[Tyler Dewolfe · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book Grover G Graham and me is a children’s book. The author is Mary Quattlebaum. The main character is Ben Watson. The setting is foster homes. The conflict was nobody wanted Ben and he has been in foster homes for 7 years. In my opinion this book is very well written. The book is very sad throughout the book but turns happy in the end. The positive aspect in the book is that a family finally wanted been and he is not in foster homes anymore. The negative aspect is that no families wanted Ben and he was in foster homes for so long. I highly recommend this book if you are interested in adoption or just looking for a good book to read. This book met my expectations it was very interesting and kept me reading. Overall this book was a very good story and the author is amazing.

[Norlene Knepp · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a sweet story about two boys in the foster system. It would be good for children ( ages10-15?) familiar with adoption and foster care to read in order to understand the perspective of a child in the system. It has a partially happy ending, but not in an unrealistic, perfect way.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a favorite of mine in Elementary school, so I reread it. It’s a quick read, but it’s a good one. Ben Watson is placed in his 8th foster home. There, he grows close with other foster kids, twin girls and a baby boy, Grover. Grover’s young mom wants custody of her son again, but Ben doesn’t trust her, due to his own story. He tries to protect Grover. Throughout the novel, the author describes Ben’s deep emotions well in language young readers would understand. He tried to keep his mind and emotions blank and doesn’t want to get too attached. His time at the Torgles teaches him about letting love in and extending grace, and, how this can be hard, especially with his past trauma, but still worthwhile. You will fall in love with the characters and your heart will break for them. Ben tells his story well, intertwining determination, humor, and depth, and it’s worth the read.

[Adena · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ben Watson has been shuffled from foster home to foster home since he was 5 years old. Seven homes in six years. He’s gotten used to blanking folks out, leaving them behind, and waiting for the day when he can leave foster care forever. Now, at the age of 11, Ben’s just arrived at home number eight. But he’s finding it hard to blank out the Torgles, his new foster parents, and their house full of strays: the 7-year-old twins, Kate and Jango, and the baby, Grover G. Graham. Grover’s just over a year old and always getting into trouble, but Ben can’t help liking the little guy — especially since Grover was abandoned by his teenage mother, just like Ben was. The only difference is that Grover’s mother, Tracey, is still trying to get custody of her child. But Ben is convinced Tracey will abandon Grover again. So when he gets the chance to escape from the system, Ben takes it. And he takes Grover with him.

[melydia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ben Watson is just arriving at his eighth foster home, which is his first experience with foster siblings. He unexpectedly bonds with one-year-old Grover G. Graham, to the point where he resents Grover's teen mother. This is more or less a slice-of-life story. It was pretty predictable, following the traditional plot arc, and honestly I probably wouldn't have even finished it were it not so short. However, Quattlebaum's books for younger readers are mostly awesome, particularly Pirate vs. Pirate. So check that out instead.

[Breezy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this book back when I was in middle school (I believe that is when), I remember enjoying it but can't really say much more about it.