Gil Marsh

January 1, 2012
Smart, handsome, athletic Gil Marsh, 17, hero of this contemporary take on the Gilgamesh epic (and first literary bromance) thinks he has no competition. Then hirsute Enko Labette shows up at Uruk High. More than Gil's equal, Enko's popular, too. Infuriated, Gil provokes a physical confrontation that clears the air and, as the cliché provides, cements an intense, lasting bond between them. As in the epic, Bauer offers hints but ultimately punts on whether that bond is sexual. (Both date girls, but the boys' passionate friendship is paramount.) After a few brief adventures, Enko succumbs to a sudden illness and dies. Grief-stricken, Gil flees high school in Connecticut for Canada, seeking Enko's grave and the provenance of the garnet ring, a family heirloom, Enko gave him. Here the plot slows to a crawl. Though interspersed with evocative tidbits of Québécois history and culture, Gil's quest, goals and expectations lack urgency and clarity. Does he really believe he can restore Enko to life? Enko himself fades into irrelevance as Gil's focus turns to daily survival. Simple vocabulary, staccato style and straightforward syntax convey classic appeal and make this a good choice for reluctant readers. Genuine strengths include a likable hero and vivid sense of place. What's ultimately lacking, though, is a compelling link between myth and contemporary tale. (French glossary, author's note) (Fiction. 12 & up)

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February 1, 2012

Gr 9 Up-Popular, athletic, and good looking, Gil Marsh is at the top of the pecking order at Uruk High until Enko Labette arrives from Quebec. At first, he threatens Gil's status, but after Gil gets over his jealousy, the two become best friends. After Enko is quickly lost to aggressive leukemia, his body is returned to Quebec before Gil has a chance to say a proper goodbye. The grieving teen is determined to go in search of his friend's grave, though what he really wants is to have Enko back. During his journey, he is beaten, robbed, and cheated, but he also experiences the compassionate side of humanity as he wrestles with thoughts of life and death. If the strange names, the story of male friendship, and mythological quest sound familiar, it's because Bauer is retelling the epic of Gilgamesh, supposedly the oldest story every written. This contemporary version is loosely based on the legend, with names, places, and elements throughout that echo the original. The novel is plot-driven and retains a mythlike quality. A worthy addition.-Patricia N. McClune, Conestoga Valley High School, Lancaster, PA

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2012
Grades 8-11 Some authors riff on Shakespeare, and others rewrite Jane Austen. Bauer though, reaches waaaaay back to the oldest written tale in all of history, the 5,000-year-old Epic of Gilgamesh. In place of the Sumerian king, we have 17-year-old track star Gil, who finds himself threatened by the arrival of an equally talented athlete, Enko. The two push past rivalry to become the closest of friends, but when Enko is taken by leukemia, Gil sets out on a dangerous journey into Enko's Canadian homeland to find the grave of his fallen companion. For classes studying Gilgamesh, this is a godsend, recasting the challenging cuneiform verses into something teens can feel in their hearts and get behind. Bauer stocks her story with cunning updates of the ancient characters. The downside, as you might expect, is that the episodic, folk-tale rhythm often comes off as a series of random events rather than as a single, unified tale. Regardless, this is a unique effort that will find a place in the classroom.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)