A Taste of Blackberries facts for kids
First edition
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| Author | Doris Buchanan Smith |
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| Illustrator | Charles Robinson |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's novel |
| Publisher | Thomas Y. Crowell Co. (now HarperCollins) |
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Publication date
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May 1973 |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 85 (paperback) |
| Awards | ALA Notable Children's Book, Georgia Children's Author of the Year, Georgia Children's Book Award, Georgia Author of the Year, Josette Frank Award, Zilveren Griffel |
| ISBN | 9780064402385 |
A Taste of Blackberries is a touching children's book written by Doris Buchanan Smith. It was published by HarperCollins in 1973. This story explores important feelings like friendship, loss, and how to cope when someone you care about is no longer there.
Contents
What is A Taste of Blackberries About?
A Story of Friendship and Loss
The book is told by an unnamed narrator. It begins with him and his best friend, Jamie, going blackberry picking. The story shares many adventures the boys have together. Some of these happen in the present, while others are memories from the past. These moments help you see their world and their special friendship.
Coping with Sadness
Suddenly, something very sad happens. Jamie passes away after an allergic reaction to bee stings. The narrator struggles a lot with this loss. He feels confused, sad, and lonely. The story shows how he slowly learns to deal with his feelings and accept what has happened. The book is set in a neighborhood near Washington, D.C., where the author grew up.
Meet the Characters
Main Characters
- Jamie: He is described as a "show-off and a clown." Jamie is full of adventure and clever ideas. Even though he can be a bit much sometimes, his best friend really looks up to him.
- The Narrator: This is Jamie's best friend and the one telling the story. He loves being friends with Jamie and enjoys all their fun times together.
Other Important People
- Heather: She has red-gold hair and is a close friend to both Jamie and the narrator.
- Jamie's Mother: She takes care of her family, which includes Jamie, his four-year-old sister Martha, and a baby brother.
- The Narrator's Parents: They look after the narrator and his older sister, who is away at summer camp. They also have an older son who is grown up.
- Mrs. Houser: She is Jamie's next-door neighbor. She is very strict about her perfect lawn. The neighborhood kids try to avoid her and her yard.
- Mrs. Mullins: She has a "secret garden" that most kids are not allowed to enter. The narrator feels special because he is allowed in, mostly because Mrs. Mullins is friends with his mother.
Why This Book is Important
Breaking New Ground
A Taste of Blackberries was one of the first children's books to talk directly about a child's friend dying. Before this book, it was not common for children's stories in America to deal with such a difficult topic. Hugh T. Keenan, a writer, said it "broke a taboo" (meaning it did something that was usually avoided).
Helping Kids Understand Loss
David Rees, a British author, compared this book to Charlotte's Web. He noted that A Taste of Blackberries is a story for young children where death is the main topic, and the characters are not talking animals. Rees believed the book's main goal was to write about death in a way that young readers could understand. He felt that Doris Buchanan Smith did this very well. He said that authors like Smith help children "cope and to grow." Many people consider A Taste of Blackberries to be one of the most important children's books about dealing with death.
Awards and Recognition
Doris Buchanan Smith won several awards for A Taste of Blackberries:
- The Josette Frank Award: This award is for books where children deal with difficulties in a positive and realistic way, and grow emotionally.
- The Georgia Children's Book Award
- The Children's Best Book Prize in the Netherlands (called the Zilveren Griffel)
- She was also named Georgia Author of the Year.
The book has been printed in English over 19 times. It has also been translated into Dutch, Danish, French, Spanish, and Japanese. In 1974, A Taste of Blackberries was nominated for the famous Newbery Medal. It was also named an ALA Notable Children's Book.
Jim Trelease, author of The Read-Aloud Handbook, wrote that this book "blazed the way" for many other books about grief that came after it. He added that few books have reached the same level of respect as A Taste of Blackberries.
