Equinox
Monte Killingsworth
‘There are some things you don’t have to think about, things that are simple and solid. Leaving this island is one of those. I can’t leave the island. If I do, I will no longer be me.’
Autumn and her parents live on a small island in the state of Washington. The slow, natural pace of her island home has always meant a great deal to Autumn, so when her father tells her that they must move to the commercial mainland, Autumn is devastated. Autumn sets out to prove to her parents how important it is for them to stay. In the course of creating an illustrated journal that highlights the wonderful things about the island, Autumn uncovers a secret about her mother that turns her world upside-down.
With poetic prose and deftly painted imagery, Monte Killingsworth tells the story of a fourteen-year-old girl in a time of upheaval, when what once seemed certain — Autumn’s island life, her parents’ love for each other, her family’s future — all comes into question. But with those questions begins a new understanding: that simplicity can be misleading, and that loving may include letting go.
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From Publishers Weekly
Set on small Douglas Island near Seattle, Killingsworth’s (Circle Within a Circle) uneven novel details a week in the life of a 14-year-old girl. Autumn, the narrator, is upset when her father, Harley, announces that their family will be leaving the island; she likes their log cabin and the relaxed pace of life with her artisan dad and her commuter mom, who comes home only on weekends. Harley claims that Autumn needs a better school. (The true reason is revealed late in the book, when Autumn discovers that her mother and another woman have been lovers for years.) Autumn sets out to prove how much she already knows by writing and drawing everything she sees and hears in a journal. Her descriptions grow tedious, but the interactions between Autumn and her father, and with wise lighthouse keeper Forrest, breathe life into this quiet story. In one scene, Autumn makes lunch for her father, sets it by the door of his workshop, then hurries away so that he won’t feel forced to talk. In another, she and Forrest make their own paper to cover her journal. These scenes demonstrate how familiar they are with each other and their routines and why Autumn is so adamant about staying. However, the more dramatic developments, such as the revelation about her mother, feel forced, and there may not be enough narrative tension to pull readers in. Ages 10-14. (Aug.).
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Gr 5-7-Fourteen-year-old Autumn is on the precipice of major life changes. Her easy-going, somewhat solitary life on a remote, rustic island is threatened when her father announces plans for the two of them to join her commuting mother on San Juan Island. The teen has been quite content with her mother’s weekend visits; times spent with her mother’s coworker, Jane, who has recently built a cabin on their island; and laid-back conversations with the island’s ‘caretaker,’ Forrest; and with her dad, Harley. Her father, who painstakingly collects wood and creates dulcimers, rocking chairs, and smaller handicrafts, never went to college but wants more for his daughter. When he says that the move is necessary to keep their family from drifting apart, Autumn begins to reexamine her world and the people she loves. Forrest presents her with a journal and encourages her to use her eyes and formidable drawing talents to capture her island memories. Searching for details and looking for fundamental truths, she discovers her mother’s romantic relationship with Jane and must decide on the best living situation for her and for Harley. The topic is handled with a quiet sensitivity, and Autumn is a fascinating character. Readers will also enjoy meeting Forrest and Harley and seeing the island through the protagonist’s eyes. Some readers may question her ultimate decision but all will respect her resiliency.
Marilyn Payne Phillips, University City Public Library, MO
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
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Details
| ISBN | 9780805061536 |
| Genre | YA Fiction (Young Adult) |
| Publication Date | Aug-01 |
| Publisher | Henry Holt & Co |
| Format | Hardcover |
| No. of Pages | 128 |
| Language | English |
| Rating | NotRated |
| BookID | 3556 |
