Finn's Going

May 21, 2007
Ten-year-old Danny narrates this puzzling story about a family thrown into emotional turmoil by the sudden death of a child—Danny's identical twin, Finn. Danny's first method of coping is to cease talking altogether (“I thought if they couldn't tell who I was, they couldn't tell who was lost either”). He then skips school and boards a train to run away, certain that every time his grieving parents look at him, they are reminded of his brother's death. Despite the poignancy of this premise, the story fails to convince, and the slow, random musings of the first 100 pages may make this a non-starter for youngsters. The narrator's voice comes across both too wise (“The only thing I know for sure is if is sitting up in heaven or wherever and just watching then he needs a thump. Sitting and watching it happen and not doing anything about it is almost exactly as bad as making it happen in the first place”) and overly juvenile. The humor is scatological—scary things are called PBTMs (“Potential Brown Trouser Moments”) and much is made of the pleasures of “weeing” into the sea. Kelly, a playwright, keeps the pages turning by stingily parsing out the details of the accident that led to the boy's death. A surprise ending leaves it unclear which twin has in fact died and ultimately feels manipulative. Ages 10-14.

June 1, 2007
Gr 5-8-After the death of his identical twin brother, 10-year-old Danny runs away because he believes he reminds his distraught parents of the tragedy. The book is divided into three parts: "Thinking," "Doing," and "Being," with each one reflecting a different stage of grief. "Thinking" details Danny's tumultuous feelings as he leaves his house, makes his way to the train station, and travels to an island where the family once vacationed. In "Doing," he becomes consumed with the act of stacking discarded bricks on the beach and befriends a man who suffered a similar loss. Finally, in "Being," the boy stops blaming himself for his brother's death and returns home. The full story of Finn's death is not revealed until the end, but hints dropped along the way pique readers' curiosity. The protagonist's voice is authentically childlike, as seen in the amusing vignettes of his family history, but also descriptive, using frequent metaphors to convey his unique point of view. Despite his running away, Danny's love for his family is tangible, making his full-circle journey and ultimate reunion all the more poignant."Emily Rodriguez, Alachua County Library District, Gainesville, FL"

Copyright 2007 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.