Soldier Mom

by Alice Mead

Jasmyn is horrified when her single mother is called up from the army reserves to go to Saudi Arabia at the start of the Persian Gulf War. Her mother is gone two days later, leaving Jasmyn with Jake, her mother’s boyfriend and the father of her baby half brother. Suddenly Jas finds herself in charge of running the house and caring for the baby. Now there’s no time for practice with her school basketball team. Jas can’t understand why her mother has a job that forces her to leave her children. If only Jake were a more responsible adult. Feeling abandoned and overwhelmed, Jas wonders how much longer this can go on.

Genres: Young Adult

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Alice Mead is the author of many books for young readers, as well as a painter and human rights advocate. Though confined to a wheelchair, she lives independently in Maine.

Reviews

[Kaytlin Phillips · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whelp, I'll be keeping the raring at 3 stars... I thought I might enjoy this more now, but sadly, no.

Characters:
Jas is the MC, and she's a good kid, other than a slight attitude problem, which is understandable in the context of the story.
her baby brother Andrew is adorable! Her friend Danielle kind of annoys me by constantly hanging out with a girl that she knows bullies Jas.
Shawn is the sweetest!
Jake...well, he's trying to be a good step dad thing, but honestly, it is a hard character to like until a couple pages before the end.

Language:
The d word and d-word-it...and the name of God, Jesus, and Christ were used in vain a couple of times each.

Romance:
Shawn and Jas like each other... Jake is Jas's mom's boyfriend.

Content Warnings:
Mentions of Jake going to a bar and hanging out with 'the guys' after work. Mentions that he smells like cigarettes and beer. Jas wonders if he's drunk and then if he cheated on her mom. None of which is true, but the thoughts are there.

Overall:
Jas is a middle grader...but I wouldn't hand this book to most middle grade kids. Maybe 12 and up... but even then, I'm not sure.
My Nana got this for me out of a catalog (yes, she one of the few people who still order via mail out of a catalog) when I was 11...and honestly, read it several time before I turned 14 and didn't think anything about it.
Now, reading it as someone in their 20's have concerns with the content for young kids... especially public school kids who would know more than I did as a homeschooler about some of the content mentioned.

Anyway recommending 12+ but with parent supervision as there are two uses of the d-word.

[Lola · Rating 3 out of 5]

it doesnt really have a good ending

[M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eleven year old Jasmyn’s mom is in the Army Reserve; her father is a pilot stationed in Japan (but is either divorced from or never married the mom). When Jasmyn’s mom is called to active duty during the first Gulf War, Jasmyn and Andrew, her baby half-brother (age 10 months), are left in the care of Andrew’s father. Jake isn’t really ready for fatherhood at all—at first he’s terrible at it--much less taking full responsibility for a baby and an almost adolescent step-daughter who is furious that her mom left and guilty about feeling angry. Jake tries, Jasmyn tries, Jasmyn’s friends and coach try, the neighbors try, and in the end they all work out a manageable living arrangement, sharing chores and responsibilitie. Everyone is very believable in this book, and real, warts and all.

Given how many children are being left with family and friends while their parents are off to the Middle East these days, this is a very good book.

[Jhillegas2012 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book did a very good job of reflecting the life of a family that is faced with a mother going to war for the united states army. Jasmyn is a child of a single mother who is faced with all the challenges that come when her mother is called to Saudi Arabia. When her mother leaves she is very upset with her, but later figures out that it wasn't her fault. She has serious problems dealing with her step-brother and step-father. Also having school troubles and so on. Overall this was a good book and i would recommend it to anyone that enjoys books on how the war effects people.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a touching story. Almost every day I watch the news, I wish the world would just be at peace.

[Joslyn Page · Rating 3 out of 5]

Imagine if one of you parents got called to serve in the army at a moment's notice. The book Soldier Mom by Alice Mead is all about the journey that comes with this type of life. A young girl named Jasmyn is eleven when her single mom gets a call one night from her boss telling her that her mom will be deployed in the next few days. After her mom tells her that she has to be deployed they have to count on her moms boyfriend to take care of Jasmyn and her baby brother Andrew. When they go to drop her mom off Jasmyn doesn’t say anything to her because she is afraid that if she does she won’t stop crying. About two weeks later they get a call from her telling them the APO address so that they can send her letters while she is gone. Jasmyns mom’s boyfriend Jake and her are having a hard time figuring out how to take care of Andrew and make their schedules and activities work with when they need to pick him up. After a while they finally figure out how to make it work for both of them. When Jasmyn's birthday comes Jake completely forgets about it. During that day one of their neighbors that has never talked to them before gives them veggies for her birthday.
This book was important because throughout the book it showed how kids with parents in the military feel and how hard it can be to have to go through something like this. For me it has made understanding what it’s like to have this happen to someone more clear and easier to kind of understand. The reason why this book is valuable is that it shows how much someone can have to give up to adjust to these types of changes. Also it helps to realize that even though you may feel like no one cares about anything you do they still do like when Jasmyn’s neighbors who had made it feel like they didn’t like her they made her feel welcome and loved when her mom had to leave them. They helped her through some of what she was dealing with when she was all alone.
What I think the theme of this book is that we can overcome our obstacles and make new friends along the way. The reasons why I would recommend this book to others is because it can teach you new things and how with help you can get through anything.

[Madison · Rating 2 out of 5]

ok..

[Kelsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This reminded me a lot of my own childhood. My mother was in the Navy while I was growing up. So I really found myself in this novel. Great read for any military brat out there.

[Renee Parrish · Rating 3 out of 5]

Soldier Mom (1999) by Alice Mead, Pictures by Leslie Bowman, Fiction.

This realistic fiction about an 11 year old girl, Jasmyn, that feels abandoned by her mom as she leaves to serve in the Persian Gulf War, hits home with many children who have had to watch a parent get deployed overseas and not guaranteed to return. Jasmyn resents the fact that her mom is leaving her with her boyfriend, Jake, and father of her half brother, Andrew. Of course, the mother feels the guilt and worry of leaving the children behind, but her duty to serve our country must be top priority.
Jasmyn is middle school aged, and dealing with all of the crazy emotions and hormones that kick in about that time, along with having to accept her mother's deployment. She is also very involved in her basketball team at school, and becomes furious with her mother, and now with herself, for putting her extracurricular activities before her little brother's well-being. She knows that Jake can be irresponsible, and has never really been a good father to Andrew or Jasmyn either.
The reality sets in that Jasmyn is going to have to "step up to the plate" and take on some of the adult responsibilities while her mother is away. This is a huge task for her to take on, and will be a part of her life that will never be forgotten or looked over lightly. Jasmyn knows what the right thing to do is, even though she struggles with the idea, and wishes things had turned out differently. This is obviously a situation that will "separate the girls from the women."
In conclusion, this book is written by an author that truly advocates for children that have lost parents to war situations. Reading the book reveals the heartfelt passion she has towards the battles of families and having to watch loved ones leave to far away and dangerous places. Many children do not understand these circumstances, and may not until they are much older. There is a compelling lesson here in patriotism that is very important to try and help children recognize. Our freedom is not "free," and all those involved (children and parents alike), are the true heroes working and sometimes suffering to keep our opportunity of the "American Dream" alive!

[Jennifer Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can tell you two things that bug me right off: 1) It's written in present tense (not a fan, not saying that makes the book bad, but I just have a hard time focusing on books written in present tense) and 2) It's dialogue isn't natural. The opening chapters just don't have a smooth continuous flow.

Two pet peeves of mine in one sentence: "What the heck does that mean?" Jake says angrily.

1) We know how much I detest adverbs modifying a dialogue tag.
2) Jake ASKS he doesn't say. When someone is asking something the proper dialogue tag is "ask"

I know that's a little nit picky. There are a bunch of little things like that throughout the novel. I read worst, it's just the writing critic in my noticing all of them.

I'm surprised how long the mom is around. I'm only 1/3 in, but it's only been two days and Mom is leaving tomorrow. Seems a long time to have the Mom around, but we'll see how the rest of the book plays out. I really do wonder how much time she'll end up spending away. I say this because to have 1/3 of the book happen in the space of two days then the rest in a year/or longer span of time makes me wonder how it'll work.

Interesting - now that I've finished. The book really only covers a short span of time, then jumps to when her mother returns...I guess it worked. It was different than what I was expecting. Overall not bad though.

[Miss Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

gr 5-7 151 pgs


1990, Stroudwater, Maine. 12 year old Jasmyn "Jas" Wiliams is convinced her summer will be perfect when Coach picks her to be captain of the pre-season league for basketball. But when her mother, who's in the army reserves is called up to be sent to Kuwait, everything changes. Jake, Jas' mom's boyfriend is left in charge of her and her baby brother Andrew. Suddenly, Jas is in charge of picking up Andrew from daycare and watching him until Jake gets home. Does this mean she'll have to give up being captain?

Great book.

[Fariza · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jas just a rebellious daughter who being left by her mother with her mother boyfriend and her baby brother. Her mother was called for an urgent military aid.. This is a story how family being left had to struggle while the mother also had to struggle in a war in the middle of desert. All of them survive..

[Jesus Morales · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book talked about how life would be without a parent because they have gone to the army. Many people's stories in this situation may be different, but it gives a reader an understanding of how it would feel if they have not encountered it.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young girl tries to adjust to her mother's being called to active duty and sent overseas during the Gulf War in 1991.

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

easy quick read. nicely written story about a difficult time.

[Sisters Three · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two d-words and some uses of the Lord's name in vain.

Recommend for 12+