Having just lost a close friend in a head-on car collision, I find myself drawn to stories of grieving and loss right now. Reading about others coping with grief informs me in my own process of dealing with his death. Jeff Zentner's (The Serpent King) latest book, In the Wild Light chronicles a teen grieving his grandpa's death by expressing himself through poetry. Where It All Lands by Jennie Wexler opens with a unexplained funeral followed by a story told in a dual timeline revealing who lies in the casket. Everyone Dies Famous in a Small Town by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock (The Smell of Other People's Houses) is a collection of nine linked stories about small-town teens.
In the Wild Light introduces Appalachian teens Cash Pruitt and Delaney Doyle who have been best friends since childhood, having bonded over their parents' struggles with addiction. When Delaney discovers a new mold with antibacterial properties in a local cave, she is offered a scholarship to a Connecticut science prep school. She agrees to go only if Cash is admitted, too. Cash, whose beloved grandfather Papaw is dying from emphysema, is hesitant to go, but Delaney and his grandparents convince him to embrace this opportunity. At first, they are fish out of water, but as they develop friendships and Delaney immerses herself in the science department and Cash discovers a passion for poetry, they begin to blossom. As Papaw's condition worsens, Cash is more and more fretful about being away. He pours his grief and homesickness into his poetry, which catches the attention of his poetry teacher, who becomes a trusted mentor. His eloquent poems about love, family and grief, which are peppered throughout the text, are lyrical delights. Although Cash and Delaney's relationship is threatened by differing challenges, they ultimately find their way back to each other. Perhaps I just read this book at the right time, but it is my favorite book so far this year.
In Where It All Lands a coin flip creates a dual timeline, chronicling what happened for each outcome. The story begins with a funeral, following a car accident, but the reader is kept in the dark as to who died. Shane and Drew are neighbors and best friends, who have both recently lost their dads. Shane father succumbs to an illness and Drew's dad, a high powered music executive, has left his family behind for a new life. When Stevie Rosenstein moves to town and joins their school marching band, they both fall for her and flip a coin to see who gets to ask her out. They all have a passion for music. Stevie plays the saxophone, Shane is a talented drummer and Drew is the lead singer in a rock band, but he picks up the trumpet to prove to his dad that he is a serious musician. The first half of the book finds Drew winning the toss and entering a passionate relationship with Stevie, even though she and Shane are bonding over preparing for a music competition that may help her get a college scholarship. The second half of the book ponders what would have happened if Shane won the coin toss. Ultimately, the boys realize that have no control over Stevie's choices and the consequences. The mystery as to who dies in the car accident creates suspense and the different timelines reinforce that there is more to love than initial attraction.
Everyone Dies Famous in a Small Town is a story collection of nine linked third person narratives that take place in small towns from Alaska to Colorado. The common thread throughout involves a devastating wildfire and the disappearance of a young girl. Gina is grieving her dead mother; Kelsey feels out of sync with her basketball obsessed community; Delia is looking for revenge on a pedophilic priest; other characters experience heartbreak and healing, but all are connected by the wildfire and missing girl. Although some of the stories are stronger than others, all have a strong sense of place and relatable characters, who experience the suffocating social expectations of small rural communities. Readers will enjoy recognizing overlapping locations and secondary characters, as well as solving the mystery of the missing girl.
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