Nola didn’t think twice about bringing some popsicles from her fridge to the boys next door in her duplex.
After all she was getting one for herself and Brian, Canaan, and Kevin Swift were her very best friends. But even if they weren’t, that’s just the way things were in her neighborhood: everyone looked out for everyone. Kids sometimes ate meals in their friends’ homes. There was never a mention of need, or that the reason you’re inviting someone over to eat is because you know it may be better that they’re not home that day.
I instantly recognized this neighborhood in Kody Keplinger’s book, The Swift Boys & Me. That was my neighborhood growing up! My childhood street was full of kids with humble circumstances, but we didn't really talk about that out loud. Instead we all helped one another. My next-door neighbor, Maria, fed me often—even though she had five kids of her own. She did it, not because there wasn’t enough food in my kitchen, but because she just wasn’t sure there was. After all, in her eyes, I was muy flaca (very skinny).
Truth is, we never really know what’s going on in the homes of kids we see often. Maybe things are peachy, or maybe they’re not. For the Swift boys in Keplinger’s book, things are not. Their home goes from faulty to broken overnight when their father leaves, never to return. The boys find themselves processing the loss, each in his own way.
Nola is desperate to help—but finds she is near powerless to do so. The youngest, Kevin, has stopped talking all together; Brian, the oldest, has gone to stay with a friend. And Canaan, her closest friend of all, has begun hanging out with the mean kids trying to find a place for his anger. It’s something they all—including Nola—must walk through together.
One evening Nola finds Kevin in the backyard pretty forlorn. Without batting an eye, she goes out to him and says, “Hey, I was hoping to find you here . . . Mama made too much for dinner . . . You wanna come over and eat with us? We ain’t got room in the fridge for more leftovers.” It’s a small fib, but a huge help. Kevin eats and even helps with the dishes. For a night—all is right at “home.”
Why This Book
The Swift Boys & Me is a great family read (and popular in classrooms) since it opens up discussion on how kids can best help their friends in difficult times. Might as well chat about the book while making something to put in the freezer to share—like homemade popsicles.
Book: The Swift Boys & Me by Kody Keplinger
Ages: 10-14
Pub Date: May 27, 2014
Pages: 272
Kirkus Review: "A fine, honest and heartfelt coming-of-age tale."
RECIPE: Homemade Fruity Popsicles
The pops featured in these photos of mine are made with good-quality fruit juice with no added sugar or colorants. Perfect for hot summer days when kids are home. Use the tips below for the most successful pops and share often. Enjoy!
Potential Ingredients
Fruit and vegetable juices with no added sugar or colorants, blended whole fruit, yogurt or nut-butters, or your favorite smoothie ingredients
Tools of the Popsicle Trade
Popsicle molds, popsicle sticks, popsicle maker, blender, spouted measuring cup, plastic wrap, plastic freezer bags
Popsicle Making Tips
Choose popsicle molds or makers that suit your budget, freezer space, and the age of your popsicle eaters. Look for molds that do not tip easily in the freezer, and follow the instructions carefully. Some molds must be dipped in water to release the pops; some do not. Some are small and perfect for kids under five, and some are great for big kids. Some have their own sticks included with the molds, and some take regular popsicle sticks. Do some research and find what works best for you.
One of the best things about making your own popsicles is that you have an opportunity to control the ingredients. You can add more nutrients to kids diets by blending in vegetable juices like carrot or beet, or keep sugars in check by choosing no-sugar added juices.
When using whole fruit, be sure to blend it first. Placing in slices of whole fruit or berries can look very pretty when the popsicle is freed from the mold. However, popsicles tend to break more easily with whole fruit. Blend your fruits instead before freezing for a sturdier pop.
Anything you want to put in your kids’ smoothies can be made into pops. Add a little yogurt or nut-butters (if you’re sure their friends have no nut allergies). The sky is the limit.
Remove the pops all at once from the molds and freeze instead of removing them one at a time. This is especially handy if your mold must be dipped in water. Just remove all the popsicles from their molds and lay them on a small pan or plate lined with plastic wrap. Cover with more wrap and freeze again for 30 minutes. Do not stack. This will set the pops more fully so that they can be stored all together in a plastic freezer bag.
Recipe, article, and images by Elise McMullen-Ciotti a.k.a. The Galavant Girl. Originally published for Scholastic's Cooked Up from a Book blog.
© 2020 Elise McMullen-Ciotti
