This isn't something I would usually read and I didn't love it. My book group chose this book because it was the local Altrusa chapter's "One City, One Book" selection last summer.
The book is set in Eastern Oregon, although a ways southeast of Pendleton, in Malheur County, where there are no actual towns, just lots and lots of ranching country. This is where 11-year-old Ignatius (better known as Brother) lives with his grandparents and father, and whichever of his four older brothers happen to be home from the Army, college or boarding high school. When his father's military reserve unit is called to serve a 14 month tour in Iraq, Brother and his aging grandparents are left to keep the family ranch running, along with the help of an immigrant farmhand who was one of my favorite characters.
What I liked:
The information about day-to-day operations of a farm, such as the details of Brother trying to save "bum[mer] lambs" (a phrase I learned recently when my kindergartener went on a field trip to a local sheep ranch) whose mothers have died. Also, preparations for wildfires that sweep through the area every year in late summer. Everything went so smoothly, they'd obviously done this many times before.
His description of the girl vs. boy grade school "war." In general, Parry uses some sly humor that I am not sure every reader in the target audience will catch.
What I didn't like:
The lack of backstory details: Brother's mother split when he was only 5, to be an artist in New York. Little references are made to her, but I wanted to know more about a woman who would have five children and then just walk away. Maybe Brother doesn't remember much about her or has just bottled all his feelings, but I would have liked to see the topic explored further. Especially considering how much he whined about not having a parent at home after his dad shipped out.
Brother's self pity: Yes, kids are whiny and, yes, Brother does have a lot to deal with, but it got annoying.
The in-your-face religious aspect of this book: I'm sure lots of parents would love for their kids to read books with "the breath of God" (The Borrower reference), but that's not my personal preference.
The ending leaves everything hanging a little.
Obviously, this book is aimed at middle school boys, an audience that has different tastes and expectations than I do. I think Parry tried to fit too much into one little book, but maybe that's what it takes to keep boys interested. Based on my personal enjoyment, it would be a two-star, but I gave it a third star because it's pretty good for what it is.
The book is set in Eastern Oregon, although a ways southeast of Pendleton, in Malheur County, where there are no actual towns, just lots and lots of ranching country. This is where 11-year-old Ignatius (better known as Brother) lives with his grandparents and father, and whichever of his four older brothers happen to be home from the Army, college or boarding high school. When his father's military reserve unit is called to serve a 14 month tour in Iraq, Brother and his aging grandparents are left to keep the family ranch running, along with the help of an immigrant farmhand who was one of my favorite characters.
What I liked:
The information about day-to-day operations of a farm, such as the details of Brother trying to save "bum[mer] lambs" (a phrase I learned recently when my kindergartener went on a field trip to a local sheep ranch) whose mothers have died. Also, preparations for wildfires that sweep through the area every year in late summer. Everything went so smoothly, they'd obviously done this many times before.
His description of the girl vs. boy grade school "war." In general, Parry uses some sly humor that I am not sure every reader in the target audience will catch.
What I didn't like:
The lack of backstory details: Brother's mother split when he was only 5, to be an artist in New York. Little references are made to her, but I wanted to know more about a woman who would have five children and then just walk away. Maybe Brother doesn't remember much about her or has just bottled all his feelings, but I would have liked to see the topic explored further. Especially considering how much he whined about not having a parent at home after his dad shipped out.
Brother's self pity: Yes, kids are whiny and, yes, Brother does have a lot to deal with, but it got annoying.
The in-your-face religious aspect of this book: I'm sure lots of parents would love for their kids to read books with "the breath of God" (The Borrower reference), but that's not my personal preference.
The ending leaves everything hanging a little.
Obviously, this book is aimed at middle school boys, an audience that has different tastes and expectations than I do. I think Parry tried to fit too much into one little book, but maybe that's what it takes to keep boys interested. Based on my personal enjoyment, it would be a two-star, but I gave it a third star because it's pretty good for what it is.
