Hemingway Tradition

April 1, 2003
Gr 9 Up-After a summer of attempting to cope with his father's suicide, Shaw, 16, and his mother move cross-country to Winnipeg to begin a new life. He gets off to a good start when he becomes friendly with Jai Dhillon, fellow volleyball teammate, and Tess, a girl in his English class. Shaw's mother exhibits uncommon wisdom in allowing him the latitude to work through his feelings at his own pace. At the beginning of the book, Shaw is angry and confused, particularly when he learns that his father, a famous author, was gay; finally, he is able to channel his negative aggression into positive actions. At the urging of Tess, he begins to use his writing talent to publish articles for the school newspaper. This book portrays true, if sometimes raw, emotions, and Shaw's character growth is impressive and believable. Students who are forced to confront loss and grieving will find comfort in the fact that they are not alone.-Sharon Morrison, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Durant, OK

Copyright 2003 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.