A story of overcoming youthful angst and a dysfunctional family that delivers a relatable protagonist.
A teenager faces high school and parent problems in this coming-of-age YA novel.
Like all teens, Sully has some issues. Though he is an avid runner, he lives across the street from the best miler in the state, so Sully is always overlooked. His father has just declared bankruptcy; his mother is institutionalized; and the only girl who he knows has a crush on him is a child. And then there’s the ex-convict Spriggs down the street, the one who just got out of jail and is out for blood and revenge against Sully and his flailing family. Why? Sully’s dad fooled around with Spriggs’ wife while he was imprisoned. As things get worse in Sully’s life—his mother, for instance, refuses to see him while she’s in the psychiatric ward, and the family’s financial position gets even more tenuous—the teen must navigate high school and quickly mature into an adult to just deal with everything. Things aren’t “ill,” as he always says, but somehow, some way, Sully has to rectify the situation. Will everything work out so the teen can focus on the one thing he loves the most—his mile time? And will he stop rebuffing his father’s efforts to bond? Sully comes off as a jerk, but the same can be said of most teens. He’s disdainful of his parents, mostly because they don’t fit into the “perfect” family narrative he sees around him. Tays (Wannabe Distance God, 2012) certainly knows running, and even nonathletes should get swept away in the feeling of what it’s like for competitors to devote themselves to the sport. The syntax of the work, though, leaves a bit to be desired—Sully says “ill” as “his word,” and it sounds like the way an adult thinks a teen would speak and not the way he would actually communicate. Sully is awkward, and the work’s illustrations don’t flatter him. They are rudimentary and too small for the page; the book would be better off without them. Still, Sully should appeal to teens who feel the world just doesn’t understand them.
A story of overcoming youthful angst and a dysfunctional family that delivers a relatable protagonist.Pub Date: Nov. 16, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-5368-7123-4
Page Count: 164
Publisher: CreateSpace
Review Posted Online: May 5, 2017
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A lengthy yet endearing treat for young sports fans.
Elementary-school teacher and former sports reporter Petrucci weaves a poignant tale of a young boy with a cleft palate, who finds respite from the harsh realities of small-town life by playing baseball.
Twelve-year-old Nicky Palmieri is the leader of the Kelsey Avenue Crew, a neighborhood sandlot baseball team. Since he was born with a cleft palate and underbite which caused hearing and speech difficulties, however, he endures ridicule from the other students at Stiles Elementary School. Nicky undergoes several operations, all unsuccessful, and the school bullies refer to him as the “Lip” or “Elephant Man.” He battles his tormentors in the lunch line and is punished by a seemingly heartless principal for telling the truth about the brawl. Upon arriving home, Nicky is reprimanded once again, by his parents, for fighting in school. He determines that telling the truth consistently gets him into trouble, and thus invents lies to protect himself. Nicky finds solace in an afterschool job at the local deli. His boss Big John is the town’s legendary tough guy–a former athletic star and war veteran, he’s the keeper of neighborhood peace. Big John and his protégé Jerry Gambardella Jr. also coach the Kelsey Avenue Crew, and when Jerry unexpectedly dies of a heart attack, Nicky and his friends are crushed. The protagonist secretly places his prized baseball glove in the coffin with Jerry, then must contrive a string of lies when asked for its whereabouts. Big John unearths Nicky’s glove and tries to teach him that lying doesn’t pay. In spite of tragic events, Nicky begins to discover the value of good friends and a loving family, and finds confidence in his athletic abilities. Short, upbeat chapters maintain a steady pace, and the theme of the novel–truth and learning–is clearly, though often didactically, presented. The characters in Heart of the Hide are fleshed out and believable, as is the dialogue, which moves at a steady pace.
A lengthy yet endearing treat for young sports fans.Pub Date: Feb. 20, 2006
ISBN: 978-1-60528-008-0
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Nicely executed fiction with a neatly-resolved ending that will leave readers smiling.
A short, empathetic novel for middle-schoolers that addresses learning disabilities and bullying.
Retired teacher Spurr’s prior experience with learning-disabled children shines as she compassionately illustrates the world of Jamie Parker and the way dyslexia affects his everyday life. Jamie’s learned much from his fisherman father (who isn’t a great reader but has a wealth of practical knowledge about nature), but still doesn’t understand why his dad is so adamant that Jamie focus on schoolwork. School is difficult for Jamie–dyslexia not only makes coursework a challenge, but he is subjected to the bullying of Ray Quinn. He would far rather spend the day on his dad’s boat than in the classroom. Jamie’s first year of middle school promises to be the same as all the others–special reading classes, abuse from Ray and stress headaches–with the exception of finding a friend in newcomer Oscar. Over the course of several months, Jamie grows as he experiences success on the soccer field, collaborates on an interesting research project with Oscar and realizes the unfortunate circumstances that motivate Ray’s behavior. Oscar and Jamie have complementary skills in school and learn a great deal about Native Americans for an important social studies project, as well as learn a difficult lesson about bullying when their project disappears, leaving them with the threat of failing their class. When Jamie’s dog Mac has an accident, Ray plays a pivotal role, and because of this new bond, the relationship among the three boys is transformed. The book contains age-appropriate vocabulary and natural dialogue, with likable characters that help flesh out the absorbing plot. Readers learn about human behavior as the book opens topics–including disabilities, families and the local environment–for further discussion.
Nicely executed fiction with a neatly-resolved ending that will leave readers smiling.Pub Date: Oct. 26, 2007
ISBN: 978-0-595-43915-7
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: Dec. 28, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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