The King of Jam Sandwiches - by Eric Walters (Paperback)

About the Book

Thirteen-year-old Robbie never knows from one day to the next if there is going to be enough to eat or if his father will even come home.

Book Synopsis

★ "Tug at the heartstrings and tickle the funny bone...This warm tale is definitely one for the keeper shelves. Highly recommended."--School Library Journal, starred review

Thirteen-year-old Robbie leads a double life. It's just Robbie and his dad, but no one knows that his dad isn't like most parents. Sometimes he wakes Robbie up in the middle of the night to talk about dying. Sometimes he just leaves without telling Robbie where he's going. Once when Robbie was younger, he was gone for more than a week. Robbie was terrified of being left alone but even more scared of telling anyone in case he was put into foster care. No one can know. Until one day when Robbie has to show the tough new girl, Harmony, around school. Their first meeting ends horribly and she punches Robbie in the face. But eventually, they come to realize that they have a lot more in common than they thought. Can Robbie's new friend be trusted to keep his secret?

The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.

Review Quotes

★ "Tug at the heartstrings and tickle the funny bone...This warm tale is definitely one for the keeper shelves. Highly recommended."

-- "School Library Journal (SLJ), starred review"

"A character-driven story that will teach you to never judge a person by their appearance, but instead remind you to keep an open mind and more importantly, an open heart."-- "Canadian Children's Book Centre (CCBC) Canadian Children's Book News"

"The King of Jam Sandwiches pulls us into the unforgettable friendship of hard-working Robbie and tough-as-nails Harmony in an exceptionally honest survival story that is also compulsively readable and emotionally gripping. Walters has written a heart-wrenching novel about what it is like to grow up amidst poverty and mental illness, one that speaks to contemporary young readers and offers them hope."

--Governor General's Literary Award Peer assessment committee: Catherine Austen, Cary Fagan, Shenaaz Nanji

"The King of Jam Sandwiches is a book that can save lives and promote courageous conversations about mental health with our parents or caregivers and ourselves."--Richard Van Camp, author of The Lesser Blessed

"You'll cheer our hero on while your heart aches for him. This is an original and deeply moving personal journey."--Teresa Toten, Governor General's Literary Award-winning author of The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B

"Realistic, compelling and often heartbreaking, and told with compassion. It's a keeper!"-- "Sal's Fiction Addiction"

"This book is perfect for middle and high school libraries. It is one of Walters' best as much for its topic, characters, plot and theme as for its portrayal of mental disorders and alcoholism."-- "Must Read Literature"

"A superb middle grade novel that focuses on the effects of poverty and mental illness on children and their families. Not only is it a realistic portrayal, but its being written in a nonjudgmental and compassionate way allows children to better understand a very serious topic. Highly Recommended."-- "CM: Canadian Review of Materials"

"Narration unfolds with wry, self-deprecating humor...An entertaining journey."-- "Kirkus Reviews"

"Harrowing and heartfelt."--Kenneth Oppel, award-winning author of the Silverwing trilogy

About the Author

Eric Walters is the award-winning author of more than 100 novels and picture books. He is a tireless presenter, speaking to over 100,000 students per year in schools across the country. A Member of the Order of Canada, Eric lives in Guelph, Ontario.