Rating: 4/5
Illustrations By: Jack E. Davis
I really enjoyed reading "They'll Believe Me When I'm Gone" because it represents the wild imagination of a young child. This story is about a young boy named Max and his fantasies about moving away and living on another planet with his new alien family. While he verbalizes his nearing departure they dismiss his "overactive imagination". I think that students could really connect to this book especially when Max describes all of the horrible things that he has to endure while living with his Earth family. I think that many students can relate to aggravating older siblings and parents who don't always understand. However, this book reassures the value of family when Max decides that he only wants to visit his alien family for two weeks rather than forever. The author demonstrates, through the language of the book, the strong connection that Max and his family really do have. I think that in the classroom this book could be used as an indirect form of venting for frustrated students. However, the concluding pages of the book reinforce family values and the concept of supporting the ones you love even if they do occasionally get under your skin. I think this would be a good book for a parent and child to read together. The parents in the beginning of the book are not portrayed as supportive and aren't very encouraging of Max's imaginative side however, as the book continues on Max and his parents make a connection that reinforces Max's decision to stay on Earth.
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