Mattie Rollins thinks that she has everything under control. She has plans to do well in high school so that she can get a good college scholarship and make a new life for herself and her family. It’s a noble goal, and not one she plans to give up on anytime soon.
That means no friends and definitely no boys. (Even if they are kind of cute.)
Unfortunately, things don’t go according to plan, when Mattie and her family end up homeless and living out of their mom’s car. They’re forced to adapt to their new circumstances despite having the odds stacked against them.
However, things become even more dire when Mattie’s mom mysteriously vanishes, leaving the girls no choice but to track her down and rescue her.
Sleeping in My Jeans is a book about the experience of homelessness as a young adult and all the ways that things can go wrong. It portrays the characters’ situation with dignity and respect, addressing the complexities in a way that readers will understand without watering things down.
In an interview, the author stated that she was inspired to write the book so that students could read it and feel less alone after having students who were homeless in her classes.
I hope that kids read this story and think, okay, there’s other kids out there struggling. Whether it’s economically or not, they aren’t the only kid that doesn’t have the perfect family. Family is the main theme of this book; it’s holding them together.
I highly enjoyed reading this book. Every development in the plot had me eager to turn the page and find out what was going to happen next. The way that the tension is carried throughout the story feels appropriate for what topics and themes are being addressed.
This book is recommended for ages 13-17, but I think that older readers will also find a lot of value in reading it. Those younger than the recommended age range may not understand all of the social context involved, but should still be able to enjoy the story and understand the main themes.