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For once in
her life, Louise wants to be the special one. But in order to do that, she must
first figure out who she is . . . and find a way to make a place for herself
outside her sister's shadow.
Louise feels lost in the
sea of concern and appreciation always surrounding her sister. Her situation is
further aggravated by a senile grandmother spouting bible verses and a
mysterious new neighbor. Her best friend, Call, is a saving grace but even he
can’t ultimately resist Caroline’s charms.
My heart broke for Louise
and her feeling of being overlooked and unloved. She struggles to find a way
out, yet feels tied to those who need her even when they don’t give her what
she needs. Forces outside her control constantly intervene and even the fates
seem to prefer Caroline. Louise studies at home while Caroline finds her
freedom off the island.
When she’s struggling yet
again to find the strength to leave, she asks her Mom if she will miss her more
than Caroline. “More,” her mother replies. Louise’s internal response: “I did
not press her to explain. I was too grateful for that one word that allowed me at
last to leave the island and begin to build myself as a soul, separate from the
long, long shadow of my twin.”
Katherine Paterson does a
beautiful job showcasing the pains of growing up, of finding yourself in the shadow
of another. There’s the added benefit of humorous scenes with the grandmother
and Call. Laugh out loud scenes.
A young adult book and
winner of the Newbery Medal and an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, this one is
surely to be a classic for any young, or older, reader. Although it was written
in 1980, the story is timeless. By setting the story on a remote island behind
the times, it’s not as obvious that the story is current day.
My enthusiasm for the book
only stumbled a bit when Louise became infatuated with a much older gentleman.
Unfortunately, the conclusion was rushed. After so much investment in Louise, I
wanted to see more of a full journey. In the end, I felt slightly cheated.
Overall, however, it’s a
wonderful read and certainly worthy of a look.
Rating: 4 stars (edging to 4.5)
For more information about
the book and the author, please visit Katherine Paterson’s website. She’s also the author
of Bridge to Terabithia.
