The Homecoming

September 15, 2016
After years of alcohol and drug abuse, John reunites with his shattered family.A terrible accident has left John's brother, Ryan, with severe brain damage, and the aftermath is destroying the family. Due to his destructive behavior as a 10-year-old, John was sent to live with his father, away from his sister, his mother, and Ryan, who must use a wheelchair. John spent many of those years self-anesthetizing with booze and pot. Now a senior in high school, John has returned home to face his family, escape the loss of his girlfriend, and try to stay clean. Every member of this damaged, white family struggles with crippling guilt over what happened to Ryan, and they are all bungling love, lashing out at one another. Despite extensive support from teachers, a therapist, a parole officer, and an exceptionally interesting girl, Emily, John resorts again and again to his chemical crutches. Meanwhile, Ryan can't feed himself or walk and has violent outbursts, and their mom has developed a troubling cough. When another near tragedy occurs, the family is shaken from its cloudy malaise into clarity. Through John's first-person voice, by turns vulnerable and angry, the story effectively builds up to an account of the accident from the outside in, very gradually revealing what actually occurred the day of Ryan's injury. A stirring close-up of a family haunted by emotional trauma. (Fiction. 12-18)

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October 1, 2016

Gr 10 Up-After the accident that left his brother Ryan brain damaged, John's anger got the best of him and he was forced to leave his home. Seven years later, John is in trouble again and returns to the family who threw him out. It's a rough transition for him: he's a high school senior in a new school, he resumes playing lacrosse and starts getting back into shape, he's thinking seriously about his future and career goals, and his mom is still devoting most of her energy to Ryan's care (at the expense of her own health and well-being). The protagonist drowns his troubles in Jack Daniel's and a bit of pot, which might cause some trouble with his parole. He is on the brink of collapse, as are the rest of his family, and there's no clear way to help them without giving up everything he's worked for. The overall message of relying on family and friends for support is clear, and John's pain and confusion are palpable. He's 17 and handling things as well as an adolescent can. He sees a therapist and vents some of his rage, and breakthroughs come quickly. This is a fairly typical story of overcoming familial dramas and healing from tragedy, but the male point of view distinguishes it in a field crowded with girls' perspectives. VERDICT A solid addition to YA collections.-Brandy Danner, Coakley Middle School, Norwood, MA

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