Format: HardcoverPages: 208
Published: May 10, 2011
Publisher: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux (BYR)
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Description:
While Nick Gardner’s family is falling apart, his best friend, Scooter, is dying from a freak disease. The Scoot’s final wish is that Nick and their quirky classmate, Jaycee Amato, deliver a prized first-edition copy of Of Mice and Men to the Scoot’s father. There’s just one problem: the Scoot’s father walked out years ago and hasn’t been heard from since. So, guided by Steinbeck’s life lessons, and with only the vaguest of plans, Nick and Jaycee set off to find him. Characters you’ll want to become friends with and a narrative voice that sparkles with wit make this a truly original coming-of-age story.
Review:
The Pull of Gravity was an amazing, brilliant novel. Gae Polisner has written a story that will leave readers thinking about the story and the characters long after they have read the last page and shut the book.While Nick Gardner’s family is falling apart, his best friend, Scooter, is dying from a freak disease. The Scoot’s final wish is that Nick and their quirky classmate, Jaycee Amato, deliver a prized first-edition copy of Of Mice and Men to the Scoot’s father. There’s just one problem: the Scoot’s father walked out years ago and hasn’t been heard from since. So, guided by Steinbeck’s life lessons, and with only the vaguest of plans, Nick and Jaycee set off to find him. Characters you’ll want to become friends with and a narrative voice that sparkles with wit make this a truly original coming-of-age story.
Review:
The main character, Nick, is battling a series of problems as his father leaves to walk to Manhattan as the next "Fat Man Walking", his friend, the oh-so lovable Scoot is dying from a very rare disease, and he is finding himself drawn to this quirky girl, Jaycee. His whole life has spiraled out of his control with the onset of a fever. In his mind, one fever has sent his life into a delusional state that is all too real.
With this reality, Jaycee brings to his attention that the Scoot has a rare, signed, first-edition copy of "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck that he would like to return to his father. The only problems here are that his father has been MIA for years and the Scoot is way too ill to make the trek. So Jaycee and Nick set off on a weekend they will never forget. A weekend alone in a strange city tracking down a man they aren't sure even exists.
This novel stands out for so many reasons. The fact that it is a young adult novel told from a male point of view is fantastic. So many novels are targeted at girls and this lends such a realistic touch to the coming of age aspect of Nick's feelings toward Jaycee. Also, I loved how the novel essentially takes place over one weekend. You find yourself cheering for Nick and Jaycee as they search for the Scoot's dad and as they discover themselves in the process.
The references to Steinbeck and Star Wars in this book are also very unique and make the book all the more intriguing. The symbolism is subtle yet enough to make you stop and really pause and think.
Gae Polisner has such a captivating, magical way with words. She manages to write a book that will make you laugh, cry, and want to hug all the characters because you feel like you know them all by the end of the book. This is a book I would suggest that every teen AND adult should read!!
Sounds really interesting! I've read Of Mice and Men so it'll be cool reading this book. Thanks for the review :)
ReplyDeleteMy daughter read this one. She loved it.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this gorgeous review, Destiny. I'm so glad you loved it. And Pam, tell your daughter I say "yay!" and thanks! :)
ReplyDeleteThis sounds amazing. Going to my wishlist for after Xmas. :)
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