Synopsis
It is 1965, and 12-year-old Emaline, living on a wheat farm, must deal with a family that is falling apart. When her dog, Prince, chases a hare into the path of the tractor, she chases after him, and her father accidentally runs over her leg with the machine, leaving her with a long convalescence and a permanent disability. Even worse, from Emaline’s point of view, is that in his grief and guilt, her father shoots Prince and leaves Emaline and her mother on their own.
Despite the neighbors’ disapproval, Emaline’s mother hires Angus, a patient from the local mental hospital, to work their fields. Angus is a red-haired giant whom the local children tease and call "the gorilla." Though the small town’s prejudice creates a cloud of suspicion around Angus that nearly results in tragedy, he just may hold the key to Emaline's coming to grips with her injury and the loss of her father.
Julie Roberts - VOYA
It is 1965, and twelve-year-old Emaline's family has fallen apart. When her beloved dog, Prince, chased a rabbit into the path of the tractor, she ran after him, and her father accidentally ran over her leg, leaving her permanently disabled. But the worst thing is that as a result, her father shot Prince and then disappeared, leaving Emaline and her mother on their own to take care of their wheat farm. Out of desperation, Emaline's mother hires Angus, a patient from the local mental hospital, to plant and care for their crops. The townspeople are afraid of Angus and misunderstand him, so by hiring him, Emaline and her mother become outcasts in the community. But Emaline develops a friendship with Angus that helps her to deal with her own injury as well as the abandonment by her father. The author uses free verse to tell this moving, gritty story, making it accessible to a wide range of ages and reading abilities. It is amazing how much emotion and character Porter manages to convey with so few words. The character of Emaline and her experiences are gut-wrenching at times, such as the confusion that she feels about her father's leaving. The innocent wisdom expressed by Angus is extraordinary, especially when he tells Emaline how he managed to forgive his mother for the abuse he suffered, "But Angus didn't know how / to forgive, / So in my mind I put her in a basket. / Put balloons on the basket. / In my mind. And I let her rise / up into the sky, / till she was a wee speck." The end of the book, however, is not completely satisfying. The subplot of Angus and Joey, a local boy whom Angus rescues, feels rushed and tacked on, and the story of Emaline's father just seems to fall apart withouta resolution. But there are enough wondrous moments to make it a good read and worth recommending to young teens. 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; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9). 2005, Groundwood, 214p., and Trade pb. Ages 11 to 15.