05/01/2014
Gr 5–7—Nola Sutton was looking forward to spending the summer after sixth grade doing odd jobs and having fun with her best friend, Canaan Swift. But when Canaan's dad abruptly leaves his family, Canaan becomes first distant, and then downright hostile, forcing a hurt Nola to make other plans. She strengthens a casual friendship, makes a new friend, and gets to know her cranky grandmother a little better—and begins to accept that some things must change, for better or for worse. Copious flashbacks, demonstrating what a great friend Canaan has always been, slow what little forward momentum the plot has and make the boy's total personality change—from super friend to dog-tormenting bully—seem even more perplexing. Nola's attempt to track down Mr. Swift's whereabouts strains credulity and adds nothing to the plot; also unconvincing is much of the dialogue, though it does a good job of getting across a flavor of the Kentucky setting. Barbara O'Connor's books are a better bet for stories of friendship with a Southern accent.—Eva Mitnick, Los Angeles Public Library
03/17/2014
“All three of the Swift boys were my best friends, but Canaan was my best-best friend,” is how 12-year-old Nola Sutton describes the boys whose family lives in the other half of her duplex. Between chapters, Nola shares memories of her close friendships with Canaan, which verges on romance, as well as with brothers Brian and Kevin. After Mr. Swift walks out on the family, oldest brother Brian is overwhelmed by trying to keep things running smoothly, motormouth third-grader Kevin stops speaking entirely, and Canaan grows angry, driving a wedge between him and Nola. Meanwhile, Nola’s family is also undergoing change, and she reluctantly begins to make new friends and decides to search for Mr. Swift herself. YA author Keplinger’s (A Midsummer’s Nightmare) novel, her first for middle-graders, is driven by themes of betrayal, loss, friendship, and the need for self-reliance when friends and family fall short. The small-town Kentucky setting, unfolding events, and emotional interactions between characters young and old all play their parts in establishing the story’s solid sense of realism. Ages 8–12. Agent: Joanna Volpe, New Leaf Literary & Media. (June)
Praise for The Swift Boys and Me:
"This is the sort of solid, amiable preteen summer story there used to be a lot of; let's hope this heralds a revival." —Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"Keplinger takes a stab at middle grade and completely nails it! The characters' voices are strong and this awesome tale of strength, struggle, and friendship needs to be heard, by tweens as well as adults. Nola and the Swift boys could be any one's next door neighbors, but luckily they're ours to embrace." —RT Book Reviews
"The small-town Kentucky setting, unfolding events, and emotional interactions between characters young and old all play their parts in establishing the story's solid sense of realism." —Publishers Weekly
"Realistically, there's no easy solution; the conclusion doesn't sugarcoat the pangs of growing up…A fine, honest and heartfelt coming-of-age tale." —Kirkus
2014-03-17
Nola has been best friends her entire life with her next-door neighbors, the three Swift brothers. Now, in response to their father's desertion, the brothers have changed. Brian, older than Nola, Kevin, a fair bit younger, and Canaan, just her age and her "best-best friend," have seemed like the most perfect of buddies till now. After their father abruptly leaves, Brian soldiers on, filling in for his depressed mother, before he too is overwhelmed. Kevin, always a chatterbox, becomes mute, and worse, angry Canaan is now hanging around with the neighborhood bullies, adopting their brutal ways and even betraying Nola. Determined to help, Nola hatches a childish plan to find Mr. Swift and convince him to return home. Interweaving Nola's memories—scenes from happier times are italicized to distinguish them from the present-day narrative—Keplinger skillfully creates a depth to these friendships that have defined Nola's childhood. These scenes go beyond providing the background for their complex relationships, especially with Canaan; they also begin to offer Nola some insight into why the brothers have changed so dramatically. Everything else is changing as well, as Nola faces the transition to middle school, her mother plans remarriage, and a move is envisioned. Realistically, there's no easy solution; the conclusion doesn't sugarcoat the pangs of growing up. A fine, honest and heartfelt coming-of-age tale. (Fiction. 10-14)
