Quill and Quire

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Whatever

by Ann Walsh

Frustrated at missing an audition for a major role in a community play, 16-year-old Darrah Patrick pulls the fire alarm at the hospital where her 11-year-old brother is recovering from an epileptic seizure. Storming down the stairs, Darrah knocks down octogenarian Janie Johnson, who injures her leg.

To avoid going to court for the incident, Darrah opts to participate in a restorative justice program and is ordered to assist Mrs. Johnson at her home every Monday and Wednesday after school. Though Darrah is initially reluctant to help the tenacious senior, whom she calls a “stupid old woman,” her bitterness quickly turns to admiration, and the two form a deep connection.

Over the next few months, Darrah learns to cook and bake, courtesy of skills Mrs. Johnson garnered from Foods, Nutrition and Home Management, a treasured 1955 text from the elder woman’s home economics class. But it’s not all homemade cheese biscuits and apple cider, as Darrah and her boyfriend, Robin (Mrs. Johnson’s 17-year-old grandson), discover Mrs. Johnson is hiding a secret: she is losing her sight to macular degeneration. The ways in which the teens handle this situation showcase the novel’s themes of honour, truth, and responsibility.

Author Ann Walsh draws on her first-hand experience as a facilitator with B.C.’s Williams Lake Community Council for Restorative Justice to craft a convincing plot and realistic dialogue. The story is an intuitive, modern-day coming-of-age tale that explores weighty themes – family, friendship, love, yearning, and loss – in a nuanced and age-appropriate manner.

The inclusion of 11 recipes (the ones made by Darrah and Mrs. Johnson) adds a sweet touch, and a layer of welcome intimacy to this keenly insightful novel.

 

Reviewer: Jennifer D. Foster

Publisher: Ronsdale Press

DETAILS

Price: $11.95

Page Count: 200 pp

Format: Paper

ISBN: 978-1-55380- 260-0

Released: Sept

Issue Date: 2013-9

Categories:

Age Range: 12+

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