Twelve-year-old Jonathan Quail lives in a Philadelphia neighborhood with his parents, a younger sister, and a baby brother until the night that his father is killed when he leaves the city bus that he drives to protect a woman from an abusive man. Jonathan's mother is unable to cope both financially and emotionally with the loss of her husband and the responsibilities of raising her three children. Jonathan and his sister and brother are placed in a foster home by the child protection agency.
Readers will be able to relate to the challenges that Jonathan faces as he journeys from his biological home to foster home and then, due to conflict with another student at his new school, to a group home run by the juvenile probation service. Jonathan finds both resistance and assistance from new schools and classmates, and from new surrogate parents and siblings. His self-confidence and coping skills are strengthened through his encounters with peers and from the encouragement and guidance provided by his various caretakers. As he matures, he also finds solace and excitement from building relationships with girls his age.
Climbing The Ropes was written to provide insight and hope to a young boy who was encountering similar experiences to Jonathan's. Consequently, young people who are involved with the various child protection and probation agencies as well as children who reside with their biological parents will find from reading Climbing The Ropes valuable understanding about improving their interpersonal relationships, and an appreciation for the frustration and satisfaction experienced by the youth workers who daily strive to provide love, structure, and guidance to children in their care. Youth counselors would also find the book helpful with clients from this point of view.
Readers will be able to relate to the challenges that Jonathan faces as he journeys from his biological home to foster home and then, due to conflict with another student at his new school, to a group home run by the juvenile probation service. Jonathan finds both resistance and assistance from new schools and classmates, and from new surrogate parents and siblings. His self-confidence and coping skills are strengthened through his encounters with peers and from the encouragement and guidance provided by his various caretakers. As he matures, he also finds solace and excitement from building relationships with girls his age.
Climbing The Ropes was written to provide insight and hope to a young boy who was encountering similar experiences to Jonathan's. Consequently, young people who are involved with the various child protection and probation agencies as well as children who reside with their biological parents will find from reading Climbing The Ropes valuable understanding about improving their interpersonal relationships, and an appreciation for the frustration and satisfaction experienced by the youth workers who daily strive to provide love, structure, and guidance to children in their care. Youth counselors would also find the book helpful with clients from this point of view.
