Miracle's Boys

      This book is a 2001 Coretta Scott King Award Winner

Exposition: This story takes place in the ghettos of New York City. It is told in the first person voice of young Lafayette who lost his mother a year or two ago. Lafayetee was the one that found his mother dead and that haunts him.  The story begins by introducing us to Lafayette's brother, Charlie, recently released from a correctional facility. Charlie is not the same brother from when he left which is why Lafayette refers to him now as Newcharlie. Ty'ree is the oldest brother with the disposition of a saint. He gave up his dream of attending MIT to raise his brothers since their father has also died.
Conflict: Each of the brothers has their own cross to bear. Lafayette blames himself for his mother's death since he was home the day she died. Charlie battles his own demons trying to find his place in the world after his recent release from juvie. Ty'ree, now the full-time caregiver of his two brothers, struggles with holding down a job, providing with what little money he earns, and giving up his dreams to go to college.
Rising Action: As Ty'ree and Charlie strive to maintain a brotherly relationship, Charlie slips further into the world of bad choices. If he breaks the law again then the state will ship Lafayette to his aunt's house leaving their family broken. The brothers are keeping secrets from each other about their parents deaths. We soon learn that Ty'ree was at the park the day his father fell into the lake and died of hypothermia. And we learn that Mama was not dead yet when Lafayette found her the morning she died.
Climax: Ty'ree and Lafayette have bonded during the three years Charlie was in the correctional facility. Charlie, trying to find his own place, befriends a young man that brings him to a gang initiation. Bad choices find Charlie back at the police station, beat up and accused of stealing a car.
Falling Action: When the brothers arrive Charlie swears he didn't know the car was stolen and a police officer shows him mercy by releasing him to Ty'ree. When the brothers arrive home they have a sense of family once again. They know that they only have each other.
Resolution: This particular situation seems like it is one in a long line of stories for these three boys. They realize that life, their lives, are full of struggles, pain, love, and family. For now, they have learned the lessons that brothers stick together and although their parents are gone they will indeed honor their memory by remaining a family.

Two Strong Literay Qualities: The dialogue between the characters reveals their unique personalities. For example, Charlie, is a bitter, hard young man recently released from juvie.
"Your brother is talking to you, man." Aaron said.
"Yeah--I hear you. Later, Milagro killer."
"Oh shoot." Aarron laughed. "That's cold, man."
"It's true," Charlie said. (p. 14.)
He is meanly calling Lafayette his mother's killer.
Unexpected insights is the second literary quality. Toward the end of the book when the brothers realize the need for each other, Charlie waves his hand over his brother's and exclaims, "This is art though, ain't it?" "Sometimes I feel like our lives are one big piece of art--it's everything." (p.129.)


Woodson, J. (2000). Miracle's boys. New York: G.P. Putman's Sons.