War at the Snow White Motel and Other Stories

March 1, 2020
Nine short realistic stories make up this collection set (mostly) in various Canadian locales. Though all but the first seem to be contemporary, many of the issues their protagonists struggle with are timeless. The titular, Vermont-set "War at the Snow White Motel" features Rex from Wynne-Jones' Rex Zero trilogy in a nuanced tale filled with dry humor that paints a smaller portrait of the very real everyday fears experienced by a brainy, anxious kid against a backdrop of the 1964 Gulf of Tonkin incident. Others reference specific modern experiences, like the thought-provoking "Ant and the Praying Mantis," which involves characters interested in Greta Thunberg's #FridaysForFuture movement or in "Jack," in which a boy who is tormented at school describes anti-bullying campaigns like those common in many schools today. Collectively, these stories poignantly explore the navigation of the complicated territory of peer dynamics and changing families through the lens of main characters who are smart misfits, almost all of whom are younger teen boys who seem to default to white. Clever dialogue and genuine, messy relationships among kids and their parents and friends as well as with older relatives who are dealing with dementia will ring true for readers who share these experiences. Author's notes on each story are included in the afterword. An intelligent, emotionally resonant collection. (Short stories. 10-14)

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April 13, 2020
Each thought-provoking short story in this collection by Wynne-Jones (The Starlight Claim) features a different boy navigating a decisive situation with grace and resolve. Most of the tales are contemporary and set in Canada, but the titular one highlights Rex (from the author’s Rex Zero trilogy), whose family travels to Vermont in 1964, where, while staying in a fairy tale–themed motel, Rex encounters a young man who registered for the draft just as America is entering into Vietnam. “Ant and the Praying Mantis” proves particularly topical when the main character, Anthony, learns about Greta Thunberg, climate change, and FridaysForFuture while trying to befriend a new girl at school. The powerful “Journey to Ompah” sets Michel and his father on a trek to find a rare bird and unearths a secret about his father’s past that shines light on his dad’s upbringing and character. And in “Jack,” the protagonist experiences bullying and develops unexpected empathy for his attacker. An interesting author’s afterword offers insight into the creation of each narrative. With a nostalgic, wholesome feel, these stories offer tales of quiet courage. Ages 9–12.

April 1, 2020
Grades 6-9 While the nine stories in this appealing book are varied in many ways, all feature likable main characters facing realistic dilemmas, nearly all are told from a boy's point of view, and most are written in the first person. In The Pledge, two terrified 12-year-old boys set out to atone for a boneheaded prank they carried out three years earlier and end up solving a recent mystery. The Journey to Ompah concerns a father-son road trip that takes an unexpected turn, showing the boy that a little firsthand knowledge can provide a great deal of useful insight into his family. And in The Brotherhood of Interstellar Dirt, a birthday sleepover during a meteor shower turns into a sleepless night outdoors with unexpected drama and a satisfying conclusion. Readers familiar with Wynne-Jones' previous short-story collections, such as Some of the Kinder Planets (1995) and Lord of the Fries and Other Stories (1999), will come to this one expecting originality, wit, and humanity. They'll find all that and more in these often surprising, always rewarding stories.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)