Brothers Below Zero

Starred review from February 24, 2003

A seventh grader is outshone by his younger brother at everything until he finds an unrecognized talent, which his brother ruins—leading him to run away into the frigid Vermont countryside. Ages 8-12.

April 1, 2002
Gr 5-8-Tim's younger brother, John Henry, is smart, athletic, and handsome, while Tim is pudgy, a poor student, and an even worse athlete. Only with his eccentric Great-aunt Winifred does Tim feel good about himself as the two spend their days painting. When she dies, the boy no longer has a place of refuge, and even though his parents are proud of his artistic talent, he still feels lost and alone. He decides to paint everyone a picture for Christmas, but John Henry is jealous of the attention his brother is receiving and sabotages his portrait of their parents. They are angry about what they see and blame Tim, who runs away in the middle of a blizzard to the only place where he has truly felt safe and appreciated, Aunt Winifred's empty house. Sibling rivalry and its repercussions make this book one that middle-school readers will identify with as the two boys finally discover how much they really care about one another. The characters' actions are typical of adolescent behavior and are therefore both maddening and appealing. The plot moves at a good pace as readers feel Tim's anguish and John Henry's gloating. This is a solid read that blends family dynamics and intense action in its exciting, satisfying climax.-Janet Hilbun, formerly at Sam Houston Middle School, Garland, TX

Copyright 2002 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2002
Gr. 6-8. Seventh-grader Tim Tuttle is saddled with a younger brother, John Henry, who is a straight-A student and a good athlete, while Tim feels his own mediocrity. When an elderly great-aunt, Winifred, brings out Tim's artistic talent, his somewhat spacey parents are astonished. John Henry is jealous of the extra attention Tim receives, and he commits a thoughtless act that sends Tim into the cold Vermont woods, inadequately dressed and confused by despair. By the novel's end, though, both John Henry and Tim have learned to respect each other's talents. Within a somewhat melodramatic plot, Seidler captures the bonds that can exist between the young and the elderly. Along the way, he manages some effective, subtle shifts in points of view, allowing the story to unfold through the eyes of several main characters. He also has a keen appreciation for the small details that make up life.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2002, American Library Association.)