Cecil in Space

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Striking a happy medium between the folkish tone of his Dither series and the more down-to-earth style of An Even Break, Hite lightheartedly depicts small-town life as experienced by 17-year-old Cecil Rowe. The plot, leisurely revolving around the desecration of a town's "welcome" sign, is less pertinent than the characters colorfully populating Bricksburg, Va., "a boring little village set down in the middle of nowhere." In Cecil's clique, there is best friend Isaac, accused of tampering with the sign; Isaac's 16-year-old sister, Isabel, whom Cecil views differently now that she's "grown"; fickle Ariel Crisp ("Snob or no snob, Ariel Crisp is the best-looking young woman in King County"); Virgil Spintz, who seems to have pointed the finger at Isaac; and Pauley Harrington, who has been downcast ever since the disappearance of his dog. The adults are kept to a lower profile, but they, like Cecil, are offbeat. For the most part, the novel presents a slice of summer life, when hearts are fluttering as fast as the crickets are chirping and everyone is looking for a way to escape boredom and heat; but this wouldn't be a Hite novel if there wasn't a little philosophical musing along the way. Cecil, well versed in psychology and astronomy, marvels over theories of time, space, black holes, schizophrenia and his placement in the universe during quiet moments. While parodying ordinary foibles, the author conveys his deep affection for people and their quirks. This addition to his repertoire could well win him new fans. Ages 11-14. (May)

Children's Literature - Carol Lynch

How much do you really remember about being seventeen? Have the details faded away, leaving only the big events? If so, then this is a book that adults will enjoy as much as adolescents. The story is told in first person narrative, a perspective which allows the reader to "walk along" with Cecil as he faces the ups and downs of being a teen in a small town. Cecil seems wise beyond his years at times, but balances them out with other times when he jumps from topic to topic and ponders strange thoughts. First love, infatuation, male bonding, parents, cars, the future, destiny-all of them play a role in Cecil's life. The supporting characters are well-developed and vary from straight-laced to eccentric. There is no great revelation in this story; it's just a slice of life that will make adults wonder if they used to think like Cecil, and will let thoughtful teens identify with a kindred spirit. This book may seem like an odd fit at first, but let it sit for awhile and see if you don't find yourself drawn back to it. I found myself hooked after the midpoint. It's a nice reminder that being seventeen wasn't all tragedy and triumph--a lot was just ordinary everyday stuff.

VOYA - Sue Krumbein

It is July, and seventeen-year-old Cecil Scott Rowe lives in remote Bricksburg, Virginia, which is, he tells us, a "podunk." Cecil then proceeds to relate to the reader the story of his town, his family, his friends, and his interest in a variety of girls. The biggest thing that happens in Bricksburg each summer is baseball. Just about everyone heads out to the baseball field to watch whatever game is being played, including Cecil. Then there is Aunt June, Cecil's mother's sister, who lives in a mental institution and is schizophrenic. Cecil's best friend is Isaac who has a sixteen-year-old sister named Isabel. As might be expected, one day Cecil suddenly notices that Isabel is all grown up. Although Cecil thinks he is interested in Ariel Crisp, the richest girl in town, he begins to realize that Isabel appeals to him more. Cecil relates all this information in a funny, irreverent manner that moves the story along well and keeps the reader smiling. Cecil in Space provides a humorous look at a small town, and the way that one of its teenage inhabitants views the people with whom he has lived all of his life. VOYA Codes: 4Q 4P M J (Better than most, marred only by occasional lapses, Broad general YA appeal, Middle School-defined as grades 6 to 8 and Junior High-defined as grades 7 to 9).

School Library Journal

Gr 8-10-In a small, backwater town in Virginia, 17-year-old Cecil Rowe struggles with adolescent concerns of first love, friendship, and whether or not he's crazy. His attraction to the pretty and popular Ariel Crisp initially clouds his judgment until he realizes that his true affection is for his best friend's younger sister, Isabel. When she requests to accompany Cecil and his mother on a visit to see his schizophrenic Aunt June in the mental hospital, the young man begins to appreciate her in a new way. Hite has a gift for language; Cecil's slightly offbeat observations are both humorous and astute. His ruminations about the world, particularly when he ponders the book his mother is writing on the population explosion, offer young adults food for thought. While the characters and setting are well drawn, the plot is disjointed and mundane. What story there is, is driven by the characters. Some subplots, such as those of vandalism and a missing dog, peter out in importance and relevance. A reference to Aunt June's belief that Cecil is actually anastronaut in training presumably explains the book's title. Fans of Hite's "Dither Farm" books (Holt) won't find the same blend of the ordinary with the imaginative here.-Connie Tyrrell Burns, Mahoney Middle School, South Portland, ME Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

Despite the title, Hite's latest is no sci-fi, futuristic effort, but a modern novel with a first-person narrative with echoes of such classics as Catcher in the Rye.