Jerry's Window by Y. K. Willemse

Ten-year-old Jerry Ronden is convinced his parents don't love him and so to get their attention, he sets off firecrackers in his parents' bed, deploys stink bombs in his own house, and soaps the aisle of the school bus. Jerry knows his behaviour is unacceptable and his parents don't know what to do about it, but he seems unable to help himself especially as his imaginary friend Willy tells him he is okay just as he is. But Jerry's mischief making days are numbered when he discovers a window beneath his mum's washing line. Eyes glitter behind the window, and a voice calls to Jerry. He doesn't have to wonder long who could be speaking to him.

After a day full of his antics at school, the monsters climb out of the window and try to kidnap Jerry and drag him underground. Terrified, Jerry screams he will be good forever. The monsters run away, unable to stand being around a good child. Jerry now knows the monsters only come after children who behave like monsters themselves. They only kidnap misbehaving kids and pull them underground, locking them in cages and feeding them until they decide the little troublemakers are ready to be eaten. This doesn't sound like a bright future to Jerry, so he tries very hard to improve his behaviour. Eventually, he just can't do it anymore. In a relapse, he steals a lollipop.

As the monsters drag him to the window in the ground, Jerry believes it is all over - he doesn't deserve to be saved, and as his parents don't love him, there is little hope. But Jerry is in for a surprise...

So many familiar themes weave their way through this story as Jerry tries to navigate his relationships with his adoptive parents, accept himself for who he is without having to resort to anti-social behaviour and find his place as he emerges from childhood into the wider world that expects better of young boys. Although the monsters add an element of fantasy, this is contemporary realistic fiction which will mirror the lives of many as they begin to understand that there is no perfect, storybook family - just those muddling along as best they can, all making choices and decisions that might not be the best in the long run but are the best at the time. It's also a reminder to look beyond the behaviour to the cause because, for all his misbehaviour, Jerry just wants to fit in and be loved.

Themes: Family.

Barbara Braxton