Jerry’s Window

By Y K Willemse
Reviewed by Heidi Gray

Jerry’s Window is Yvette’s most recent dive into middle grade fiction after her young adult epic fantasy fiction series The Fledgling Account. Jerry’s Window is a hilarious page turner depicting all the imaginative and creatively naughty deeds of 10-year-old Jeremy Ronden. From teasing teachers, jamming a bus door with bubble-gum, flooding the laundry to surf the suds and storming a party with a stink bomb, Jerry is always coming up with new pranks. When will he go too far? Can anyone break through to him before it’s too late?

Jerry is the naughtiest kid in Queensland, and he wholeheartedly embraces his antisocial identity. While he tells himself it’s because it’s more fun than being good, at the heart is a cry for attention. Unfortunately, he is such a monster that the real monsters living underground decide to come for him. Jerry is so scared to be taken by the monsters that he promises to be good. But fear isn’t enough to make a permanent change in Jerry. After returning to his usual antics, Jerry is almost stolen by the monsters. In the nick of time, Jerry is saved by his parents and discovers that the most powerful motivation for change is unconditional love.

Jerry’s Window is an entertaining read for 7-11 year olds. It is rich with creativity and themes of facing monsters, finding your identity and family dynamics (like Jerry’s adoptive family). Underlying the light tone is a lesson about how feeling a sense of belonging and love can ground a kid, enabling them to function as regulated and happy children. Jerry’s journey and triumph over his monsters is uplifting and leaves readers with a sense of joy and satisfaction. The sparkling happy boy we find at the end is a simple, yet powerful reminder of redeeming love.

Wombat Books 2024