Sleeping in My Jeans

by Connie King Leonard

Sixteen-year-old Mattie Rollins has it all figured out. She'll ace her advanced high school courses, earn a college scholarship, and create a new life for herself and her family. There's no time for distractions—no friends, no fun, and especially no boys.

But Mattie's brilliant plan crumbles after first becoming homeless, forcing her family to live in the confines of their beat-up station wagon, Ruby, and then the mysterious disappearance of her mother. With life against her at every turn and fewer options every day, Mattie and her kid sister must learn how to live—not just survive—in their uncertain circumstances while racing to discover the truth behind their mother’s disappearance. Mattie will have to find the strength to keep searching for her mother and to keep her dreams alive before they both slip away forever.

Genres: Young Adult, Teen, Realistic Fiction, Contemporary

240 pages, Paperback

First published November 13, 2018

Reviews

[Stephanie Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully written story of a family who, because of circumstances beyond their control, become homeless and have to survive while living in their car.
What stood out for me:
The resourcefulness of the two sisters was amazing, considering their ages. The intense love they had for each other was touching.
I would recommend this for Y.A. readers and older; some of the scenes could be disturbing for young readers.
Memorable Quotes:
(Pg.26)-“Rain takes on a whole new dimension when my home is a car and my tennis shoes are so wet my feet and toes feel like ice cubes.”

[Kat Petersdorf · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Sleeping in my Jeans” by Connie King Leonard was a heartbreaking YA book about the struggles that impoverished family face, especially when they become homeless.
This book handles a lot of critical issues that our youth currently face including, but not limited to; domestic violence, homelessness, income vs. college, and the constant strife of seeking perfection to better one’s life. What made this book, so heartbreaking was the relatability to it. I have faced all of these categories within my life, and I felt the emotional impacts were captured to the letter.
Starting with domestic violence, I’ve faced this as a child growing up. Not to expand too deeply into details, my birth-father was exceptionally physically and sexually abusive to myself and my mother until at age five I went to the police. To this day, it still emotionally impacts my mother and me. After he left, while on a visit to my aunt’s for Easter, our home mysteriously burned down. My whole life was uprooted, and I was living in a room with my mother and brother trying to share a single bed until we were able to find a home.
So many people face domestic violence, and often when the victims are able to leave, they are faced with a world that is unreceptive of them, like Mattie’s family who found themselves living in their vehicle, “Ruby.”
I too have been homeless in my life. When I found one of my adult relationships was with someone emotional and fiscally abusive, I chose to leave him. This left me without a place to turn, so I was living on the streets in Portland. I was lucky that my grades and SAT’s afforded me the ability to enroll at Portland State University, where I was able to get loans and scholarships so I could live in a dorm. Those six months without a home were the longest six months of my life.
I think what really made the novel amazing, though, was Mattie. Her spirit was what captured me because I found it so relatable. That struggle to get into the best classes, to get the best grades, to apply for every scholarship. She was willing to fight tooth to nail to get out of her situation and be afforded the option to get a better job and take care of her family.
Her spunk and her determination make her a formidable protagonist that any teenager could idolize.
If I were posting this review on one of my blogs, (Kat Pet Reads or Rose City Book Club) I would expand into a summary of the story as well, however, since this is a review on the product page, it would result in additional repetitive reading.

[Krystal Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't write a lot of these reviews, but I really feel that this one should be required reading for anyone in education or who works with groups of young people (especially populations would are considered "at risk").

This book is so heartbreakingly realistic about the struggles of a pair of sisters when a turn of events (domestic violence) leave them homeless. Their mother is working two jobs and going to school, which leaves the girls to fend for themselves after school everyday which they do by going to the library. Even there, they need to move around each day so that the librarians don't catch on that they are there without a parent. The book follows the high school age sister, Mattie, as she goes from a 4.0 student concerned with getting good scholarships to a girl who is worried about her next meal, how she can shower so nobody at school learns she is homeless, and where they can park their car at night safely. Homework and grades are still important to her but the struggle is much more extreme.

The book addresses issues of homelessness, as well as domestic violence and human trafficking.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book broke my heart repeatedly, it felt very realistic.

[Rory Miner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. I immediately had my mom read it, as a teacher at a high school where her students often struggle with similar situations. I really enjoyed this story, the way you can picture it. The struggles in the car, the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. The way she has to just go to school like normal when her world is falling apart! Mattie is fierce. Ruby is her own character. We even get some public library love! This was a crazy quick read with how invested I was, especially as the story progressed. Without spoiling, the ending made this book. I was on the edge of my seat. One of my top recs from Ooligan Press (so far!).

[Sandym24 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was uncomfortable to read at times because of the subject matter , a young single mother of two girls who find themselves homeless. The characters were lovable and the story is important as many of their issues are a problem for so many in our society.

[Misty Wilson read.fine.print · Rating 5 out of 5]

#bookreview #readfineprintreviews I really enjoyed this 2018 book Sleeping in My Jeans by Connie King Leonard. In it, sixteen year old Mattie, her mom, and her little sister Meg battle homelessness.
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It’s a situation so hard for me, or a young adult, to fathom: a family balances precariously on a tiny paycheck and affordable housing, wobbles slightly when too many bills pile up, and then finally crashes and has to seek out shelter anywhere they can. This story shows you how easily it can happen.
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We want to close our eyes to the plight of people living on the street. We like to act like they deserve whatever happened to them, they are lazy, maybe we even think they want to be there. This story will help you open your eyes and see them in a different way.
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I have struggled in the past with how to help the homeless in my city. Beyond helping my church with a free meal that we provide to over 200 people every Friday, a few years ago I decided to do something else that would help get my kids involved. I will talk about it in my story today, and maybe you will want to do it with your kids too.
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This book is perfect for a young adult, I would say 8th grade and up. There isn’t any language or sex but keep in mind there are some truly terrifying incidents of abuse and street violence. This book would give a typical American young adult a glimpse into how difficult life can be for some teens. It portrays how not every kid can hop by McDonald’s for a coke or use unlimited data on their phone or even get warm at night.
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The issue of sex trafficking is also addressed in a way that isn’t graphic, and since this is another issue that kids need to be aware of, I recommend this book and a frank discussion about it with your own teen.

[denali 💛 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sleeping in My Jeans was a quick, important read. This was a book that surprised me - though the writing is fairly simple and easy to read, there was still quite a lot of powerful emotion packed into this story. Homelessness is a difficult topic to approach, and having had a friend who did live in her family's car for over a year, I thought Connie King Leonard did a wonderful job portraying the realistic, gritty and emotional life of this family.

I'd recommend this book to lovers of YA contemporary novels who want an honest, raw read. The only thing that stopped this book from being five stars was that I sometimes felt the pacing was a bit too fast when I wanted to stay in a moment for a bit longer.

[Ari Mathae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mattie's story was so touching and consistently heartbreaking. Mattie, her mother, and her sister struggle with houselessness after fleeing a domestic violence living situation, surviving in the family's car. This is such a hard and important topic, living in Oregon, and I'm honestly glad I read this book. The author navigated some really difficult topics and delivered a great story. ›

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, important topic. Boring title (unfortunately). Nonetheless, I would recommend this read to teens as it's a fast-paced melodrama of a young teen's life on the streets. The mother-daughter relationship isn't fully fleshed out satisfactorily, and the ending is highly unbelievable, but for young readers seeking drama, this is it.

[Dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this book. A heart-wrenching reminder that we'll never truly know what someone else is experiencing. Leonard writes hopelessness and fear (and the feeling of a high school crush) so well. She made me completely invested in the story of the Rollins girls. Another awesome and very important YA read.

[Mim · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not sure why I had this YA book on my kindle, must have seen it on sale. It's a great concept -- a book about what it's like to be a homeless high schooler trying to hide your reality, but the execution was just meh. Not very well written, and ridiculous ending.

[Courtenay · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. A really tough read. Compelling, gripping, tense, heartbreaking. If you have never been homeless before this book seems to paint a pretty complete picture of what it might be like for a 16-year-old to survive on the streets, wondering where her next meal will come from, whether she'll run out of minutes or power on her phone, money in her pockets, what to do with her 6-year-old white sister, how to accept help, who to trust and who not to. 240-pages packed with tension and grit. I was surprised to see it was published from a small indie press, Ooligan, which I'd never heard of before. I would have thought one of the big houses would have snapped this one up. Not for the faint of heart, but a great story for those who care about today's youth and the direction this world is headed.

[Karen Carroll · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read. Good lessons. So many families live in situations where they are one step away from homelessness. Glad the book ended with Rita, Mattie and Meg in a place moving forward. But, for many families, their story doesn't end the same way.

[ashnyamz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love plot twist books

[Harrison Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grew up very privileged. I've lived my entire life in the suburbs, with a loving family, three meals a day, and a nice warm bed. So reading this was rough at times because I can never know what it's like to have the hardships the main characters have.
I constantly felt for the characters. I felt sorry for Mattie with her desire for a good education and a stable life for her sister and mother. I felt bad for Meg and tried imagining how I'd take these situations if I were only six years old. And I felt awful for the mother, Rita, with life constantly putting her down when all she wants is a nice life for her family. I practically found myself wanting to help them even though they're just fictional characters.
Stories like this make me feel for the characters physically as well. I get cold whenever stuff like living in a car during the winter is brought up. As someone who's lived in Portland, Oregon my entire life, I related to the setting.
Overall, this is a great book, if not sad. I recommend this to anyone who likes a good read, especially to those who feel like they should be more grateful for what they have.

[Claire Meyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was heartbreaking, realistic, and finishes with a bang. The suspense builds slowly, but the end is well worth the wait and will keep you glued to your seat. Though the book does succumb to some tropes and clichés, the story includes some unique twists and always keeps you guessing about what will happen next and what the characters' true natures are. The main draw of this book for me, was how exciting it was and how much it exposes the reality of homelessness. It's full of romance, heartbreak, mystery, and action.

[Shalyn Blacksten · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an important story! It was the perfect read to pass the time on a rainy PNW weekend.

My favorite aspect of this book is its characters. Mattie is such an honest and self-aware narrator, and watching the heartbreaking circumstances that force both of the girls to grow up brought tears to my eyes due to the realism of the writing. I do wish we had seen more of Rita and seen her relationship with her daughters fleshed out more. However, I could also understand that when a parent works as hard as she does to provide, not to mention while undergoing severe stress and dire circumstances, meaningful interactions may be fewer and farther between (and therefore just not as visible in the week or so in which the bulk of this story is set).

I went through so many genuine emotions while reading this book and feel highly satisfied with the ending after a whirlwind of tension and suspense. In life, especially when dealing with trauma, there is no perfect ending; things just move on and you make progress, and I thought this book portrays that very well. Oh, and I love how instead of the prince on a white horse, it's Meg who ends up being the emotional support that Mattie needs in the aftermath of her crisis.

Homeless youth and families deserve much more of our collective attention, which makes me so grateful this book exists to introduce YA readers to the realities people face when they are let down by our systems, pushed to the margins, and ultimately often forgotten. I hope this book has made a difference and that it will continue to do so.

[Mary Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This YA fiction novel is realistic, heartbreaking and beautiful. It tells the difficult story that too much our nation has experienced. Homelessness. From the point of view of Mattie, a teenage girl who has had to grow up to fast, we learn of the trials that she, her mother, and younger half-sister must go through as they try to maintain normalcy while living out of their car. Each day without a roof over their heads feels more risky and precarious than the one before. As the family begins to experience more dangers of the shelterless life, they feel more of a drive to get off the streets.

Then Mattie attracts the attention of a boy at her school who has never had to worry about being impoverished or possibly taken by social services. As her feelings develop for him she begins to feel more shame over her own lifestyle, and tries to keep it hidden. But a secret can only stay a secret for so long and soon it all comes out.

The stakes get higher and they face more perilous dangers as the book continues when Mattie and her sister are left to fend for themselves when their mother disappears.

Sleeping in My Jeans is a fantastic novel than can teach others to be aware of those around them. I would highly recommend it to any teacher who wishes to educate their students about being aware of others circumstances. Although Mattie's story is dark and riddled with danger it also offers hope to those who may be experiencing similar circumstances or can relate to her story.

[Brennah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sleeping in My Jeans is an absolute fantastic read. I was truly impressed with the ways Connie King Leonard manages to hit the various themes of homelessness, family conflict, and being a troubled teen. I couldn't help but immediately fall in love with Mattie Rollins and her ability to stay strong enough for both her mother and younger sister as they fight to survive in homelessness and continue their search for a better life.

Leonard takes the reader through the journey of a young high school student, Mattie Rollins, as she remains determined to finish out school, maintain good grades, and eventually make it to college. Mattie hopes to encourage and lead her younger sister, Meg, to a better life and makes even the smallest sacrifices to stay true to her self, even if this means avoiding outside relationships. Mattie stays hesitant when Jack, a fellow student, starts talking with her and a friendship buds. Mattie's mother faces troubles in domestic violence from a boyfriend, which causes the family to move and inhabit their car.

The Rollins family continues to run into hardship when one day Mattie's mother doesn't return from work. Mattie immediately recognizes that something isn't right, and her mother could be in serious trouble. She takes the matter into her own hands. Visiting hospitals and talking with her mother's workplace, Mattie and Meg continue to solve the mystery of their missing mother. The novel ends reuniting with their abducted mother. With so many twists and turns on a plot that deals with very real and serious issues for today's young adults, the story is incredibly compelling.

Needless to say, I couldn't put the book down!

[Cameron Kelly-Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick read with easily digested chapters, this is a book you can get through in one sitting and enjoy it. Its representation of living as a homeless teenager is well thought out and includes a lot of the intricacies of homeless life that many portrayals miss. It didn't beat anyone over the head with that issue either, it engendered empathy and understanding through exposition. The other issue, it was a bit of a blunt object and somewhat contrived. However, it was no more complex and idiosyncratic than real life, so whatever feelings might pull one out of the fiction are easily quelled.

It wastes no time in explaining the invincibility of teenagers, nor the fact that they are not. Instead opting for exposition and narrative drive that places the point deeply instead of lecturing. it touches on many of the unseen issues of homeless life and covers how homeless individuals are even a detriment and detractor to each other because of the insecurity it creates. Definitely worth your time and money. Buy a copy and put it on the shelf to keep.

Leonard is new to YA, but has written children's books in the past, hopefully she can produce some more work in this area that is as compelling as her initial outing.

A note on Ooligan Press, who produced the title. A non-profit teaching press that has a commitment to sustainability and green initiatives, it specializes in local works in the Pacific Northwest. So not only is the book and author solid expositions of social education in an entertaining wrapper, the physical product is a work that teaches as well.

[Emma Wolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely could not put this book down. It reels you in with some of the expected elements of a YA book: teenage girl preoccupations, a crush on a boy, etc. But as a whole, this book is a stunning and honest examination of homelessness that leaves the reader reflective. Having lived in Eugene for four years, I am incredibly aware of the massive homeless problem the city faces, and given so many people live in that reality, it can be all too easy to make it a faceless problem. What Leonard does is give the reader three concrete characters to latch onto: Mattie, Meg, and their mom, Rita. All three women have desires, wants, big hearts, and an undying commitment to love and protect one another. Multiple examples of the dangers faced by homeless women are explained in alarming detail throughout the book, as well as common retorts and ridicules that unaware, extremely privileged people are too quick to think about homeless people. I felt immense empathy and care for Rollins girls throughout the whole story, and was left with personal convictions, a fresh perspective, and an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the basic things I take for granted in my life every day. Leonard’s writing is sharp, gripping, and emotional, and this is an important read for any age group.

[Emily Frantz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do not typically read YA, but this book does a great job of discussing poverty, racial discrimination, domestic abuse, homelessness, and human trafficking. The story begins with 16-year-old Mattie finding herself living out of a car with her mother and 6-year-old sister, Meg, after a domestic abuse situation. Mattie is a straight A student, desperately focused on trying to earn a scholarship so she can afford to attend college. The normal teenage struggles of boys, grades, and friends are all exacerbated by her finding herself suddenly homeless. Mattie is mixed race (her father was black), while both her mother and her little sister are white. Since Mattie must babysit her little sister while their mother tries to find a place for them to live, Mattie discovers how racial discrimination makes being homeless even more difficult. Then, after a dangerous encounter with some thugs in the night, Mattie’s mother goes missing. Mattie must protect herself and her little sister on the street while trying to find her mother. All in all, this book shines a light on vulnerable populations that often get ignored or lost in the cracks by society through a relatable character.

[Melinda Crouchley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an incredibly fast paced read with a set of strong but sensitive characters who are struggling on the lowest rungs of poverty. The descent that Mattie and her family take from housed to homeless and in peril is swift, but the story takes time to explore the fallout this has in Mattie's social and educational world.

The only sticky point for me was the climax. The entire rest of the story was so incredibly, viscerally rooted in exploring poverty and Mattie's increasingly desperate attempts to escape it. The climax pulled sharply away from that reality and left me a bit puzzled.

However, the resolution was pitch-perfect and plunged straight back into a real world scenario. Having worked with individuals and families in poverty, this book truly struck a chord. I would highly suggest it as reading material for young adults who haven't experienced this kind of situation firsthand.

Mattie's voice and how she uses her senses and emotions to explore the world, the mystery of her mother's disappearance, and the strength she shows in overcoming incredible obstacles are the true power of this story.

[Bryn Kristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

16-year-old Mattie finds herself with her mother and 6-year-old sister without a place to live. Mattie is a straight A student, on track for college scholarships, since she believes a scholarship is the only way she could afford school. She struggles with some of the typical teen issues like boys and grades, and then with so much more, like living in a car. Mattie is mixed race, (her father was black) but her little sister is white. As their mother frantically searches for a place to live, Mattie is left to babysit. At the public library, since it’s a dry, safe, public space. Mattie meets a boy she really likes, but she is afraid of following her mother’s footsteps, getting pregnant as a teen and living a life of poverty. Mattie soon learns that being homeless can be very dangerous. She makes a few rash decisions, but stays strong and heroic for her little sister.
Mattie is a very sympathetic character who shows us the hardships of poverty, racial discrimination, and homelessness.

[Carli · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. Sixteen year old Mattie finds her life upended when she, her little sister, and her mother are suddenly homeless and living in their car. As she strives to hold things together while her life is falling apart, her mother mysteriously disappears. Mattie has to stay strong for her sister and let a cute boy at school in to her life as she searches for her mom.
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While the subject matter is heavy and parts of the story are frightening, I can see middle school readers being drawn to this one. I rolled my eyes a lot at the way Mattie handled her mother’s disappearance, but I did want to see it through to the end and think younger readers will be forgiving of the flaws. Recommended for grades 7+.

[Mimi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a young adult novel focusing on the problem of homelessness. The mom and her two daughters are living with mom's boyfriend when the story opens. Domestic violence at the boyfriend's house sends mom and the girls out on the street where their only option is sleeping in their car. This book is a work of a fiction but the author did want to shed light on the dual problems of homelessness and sex trafficking which she researched (especially in the West Coast area where the story takes place.) This is a well written book with a good story line. It does make one understand how easy it is for some families/individuals to fall into homelessness. More needs to be done to offer a safety net for these vulnerable people.

[Marisa Thalberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

For our Mother / Daughter book club. This was a tough read and the conversation we are going to have will surely be too. This is not YA fluff - the teenage heroine, Mattie, and her spunky 6 year old sister Meg are being raised by a single mom who is physically assaulted by her boyfriend with whom they live - and the three of them soon find themselves homeless, living in their car. Mattie is a young woman who is driven to rise above her circumstances, which prompts early thoughts about what it takes for some students to simply show up for school let alone excel. As the book progresses, though, her circumstances become more and more harrowing, with the specter of human trafficking thrown in to up the intensity. Glad my 12 year old isn’t reading this one on her own!

[Sydney Kiest · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll be honest, I don't ever read YA books. With that being said, this book did a great job of keeping me captivated. This story is suspenseful and mysterious, and I found myself wanting to keep turning the page. The best thing about this book is that it tackles important and somewhat taboo topics: houselessness and domestic violence. Sleeping in My Jeans is the story of a teenage girl who is forced out of her home when her mother walks away from her partner after a domestic dispute that turns physical. The characters must navigate day-to-day life all while surviving on the streets - and in their station wagon, Ruby. I think this book is an important read not only for all teens, but is important for adults as well. I definitely recommend.

[Haley]

the reason I chose this book is the title of the book stood out to me. This book is very unique because its about a girl who had everything planned out for her future and had a home, but one day he mom got in fight and they lost everything and the only thing they had was each others love. While she was going throw this horrible tragedy in her life a boy starts to talk to her and won't leave her side. Her mom is struggling to keep her job and go to school and on top of that has to find a home for them to sleep. While her mom is working and going to school she has to stay at the library with her sister until real late.