The Jacket

While looking for his little brother in the school hallway, sixth grader Phil spies the back of Jimmy's jacket--he's the only kid in the world with a jacket like that. But when Phil reaches who he thinks is Jimmy, he's surprised when it turns out to be a kid he's never seen before--a black kid. In the events that follow, Phil will be forced to examine his own racist thoughts and how they play out in his life. Illustrations.

Phil is on a mission. His absentminded little brother forgot his lunch money. All kinds of thoughts are running through Phil's mind as he searches for Jimmy in the throngs of fourth and fifth graders crowding the school hallway:,.".if I'm late for math today, then I might not be allowed to take the test -- and then I could flunk math I might even flunk sixth grade and get left back "

Then Phil spots Jimmy's one-of-a-kind jacket and rushes to the corner of the hallway. Except the person wearing it isn't his brother; it's some black kid Phil's never seen before -- wearing Jimmy's jacket Phil makes an accusation, tempers flare, and both kids wind up in the principal's office.

How will Phil react when he finds out how Daniel came to be the owner of this unique jacket? Will Daniel be able to forgive Phil for an accusation that was based on racial prejudice? What will each boy learn about the other, and most important, about himself?