Subject to Change

by Karen Nesbitt

Overview

Declan's life in small-town Quebec is defined by his parents' divorce, his older brother's delinquency and his own lackluster performance at school, which lands him with a tutor he calls Little Miss Perfect. He likes his job at the local ice rink, and he has a couple of good buddies, but his father's five-year absence is a constant source of pain and anger. When he finds out the truth about his parents' divorce, he is forced to reconsider everything he has believed about his family and himself.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781459811485
Publisher:	Orca Book Publishers
Publication date:	02/28/2017
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	288
Lexile:	HL580L (what's this?)
File size:	835 KB
Age Range:	12 Years

About the Author

Karen Nesbitt works as a high school counselor near Montréal, Québec. The mother of two teenagers, Karen spends most of her days immersed in teen culture. She lives with her husband and children in Pierrefonds, Québec. Subject to Change is Karen's debut novel.

Editorial Reviews

"Nesbitt's debut novel brilliantly captures the anger, angst, and alienation left by a socially marginalized teenager struggling to make sense of his fractured family relationships. The book touches on an aspect of the Holocaust that many young people may not be aware of. A smattering of profane language and scenes involving marijuana use and alcohol abuse provide a gritty sense of reality to this finely written book."

Association of Jewish Libraries

"Nesbitt makes adept use of her experience working with teens. Declan's convincing observations about the world around him are sharp, but he still comes off like a real teenage boy."

Montreal Review of Books

"This is a realistically portrayed segment of the teenage population that is under represented in literature. The author...seems to have significant insight to the adolescent characters."

Resource Links

"The characters are realistic and sympathetic…The story rings true and the reader roots for Declan as he becomes more mature. Readers ages 13 and up will enjoy this story of a boy who faces his problems with the help of family and friends."

Jewish Book Council

"Vividly illustrates the confusion, elation, pain, and self-doubt typical of adolescence. Nesbitt does a great job of personalizing issues such as homosexuality, divorce, substance abuse, racism, and poverty...It is touching to see how [Declan's] character develops and changes...All in all, Subject to Change is a gritty, touching, well-told story with great character development."

CM Magazine

02/01/2017
Gr 10 Up—In Nesbitt's debut novel, readers come face-to-face with Declan, a teen living in Quebec and coping with major family issues. Told through Declan's point of view, the narrative is somewhat slow-paced until the reason behind Declan's parents' split is revealed: his father cheated with another man. With his family life further challenged by his older brother Seamus's bullying attitude toward him, Declan is at a breaking point, receiving so many detentions at school that he is forced to undergo tutoring. He's paired with Leah, who turns out not to be the "Little Miss Perfect" he assumed she was all along. Writing in mature language, Nesbitt has crafted a sensitive portrait of a teen's uncertain relationship with a gay parent, as well as a family dealing with the aftermath of an affair. As Declan spends time with Leah and her grandmother, Bubby, a Holocaust survivor, his perspective changes a bit, allowing him to give his father another chance. VERDICT Fans of John Corey Whaley and John Green will enjoy this realistic young adult story. A general purchase for YA collections.—Laura Jones, Argos Community Schools, IN

School Library Journal