A Certain October

Starred review from August 20, 2012
Three-time Coretta Scott King Awardâwinner Johnson (Heaven) pens a story of dazzling immediacy set in Cleveland. Her keenly observant narrator, Scotty, 16, divides her days between attending school, dealing with her autistic younger brother, Keone; and hanging out with her friends Falcone and Misha at the Endangered Species Cafe. Scotty's chief concerns are planning for the upcoming homecoming dance and making a trip to visit Falcone's sister, Gina, who became a mother figure to Scotty after her mother died. But Scotty's world is turned upside down when she's in a train crash that kills three students, including her very recent crush, and puts Keone in a coma. Dazed, Scotty suffers from survivor's guilt ("Half of Keone's bones are broken. I got bruises and a twisted knee. Life is stupid"), fantasizing ways the crash could have been avoided. Realistic dialogue and a cast of vibrant characters give lively texture to Johnson's nonlinear narrative. Through minimal exposition and Scotty's singular voice, Johnson gracefully explores life's defining moments, whether painful or bittersweet, and how the world carries on, even when everything has changed. Ages 14âup.

August 1, 2012

Gr 9 Up-When they are in a horrific train wreck on their way from a doctor's appointment, 16-year-old Scotty has minor physical injuries but suffers from emotional trauma and her young, autistic brother is left in a coma when a classmate dies. The classmate, Kris, stayed on past his stop to help her with her brother, and Scotty feels responsible for his death. Taking on the same tone as Chris Crutcher's Running Loose (Greenwillow, 1983), this book is written in the first person and provides raw and honest insight into all of the emotions the teen is experiencing. It is through the loving support of family and friends that she is able to heal and again embrace her life. Chapters are brief, and each one takes on the feel of a succinct, stand-alone short story. Johnson skillfully layers multiple levels of meaning throughout the book-at one point, Scotty notes, "We had a big-assed wind night before last and it took leaves that weren't ready to go" while preparing to attend a funeral. She deftly uses time to dole out the details of the story in morsels and build a sense of anticipation-chapter 9 opens, "Three days before the train, I got taken home in a cop car," and the following chapter begins, "What happened before the train...." The author also plays with the concept of dream versus reality in coping with tragedy. This fast-paced, well-crafted novel is capable of engaging even the most reluctant readers.-Nicole Knott, Watertown High School, CT

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.