Green Boy

October 6, 2003
"Set on a fictitious island, this fantasy begins with restful images but soon quickens its pace as two worlds (their real unspoiled island and the 'otherworld') collide for a 12-year-old and his 'strange and special brother.' Readers are likely to be pulled in by the sensitive portrayals of the siblings, the mysterious adventures and the whirlwind climax," PW
said. Ages 9-12.

January 14, 2002
Set in the fictitious Bahamanian island of Lucaya, Cooper's (The Dark Is Rising) latest fantasy begins with restful images of whistling ducks, bonefish and casuarina trees, but soon quickens its pace as two worlds collide for 12-year-old Trey and his "strange and special" younger brother. Although seven-year-old Lou is mute, he finds ways to communicate in his own world and in the "Otherworld" of Pangaia (referencing Gaia, also known as the earth goddess). At home, in their world, Lou and Trey's granddad wages a battle against developers who wish to create a resort on their unspoiled island. Meanwhile, in the Otherworld, Lou is the prophesied hero who solves a riddle and then transforms into a giant Green Man flowing with vegetation and rids it of its pollution. The message is clear: Pangaia portends the earth's future. In each setting, the narrative gives way to moments of preachiness or melodrama about protecting our environment; at the island meetings, for instance, winter residents, or "yachties," become contrite about their past sins and the "greenies" in Pangaia are labeled "terrorists" by the government officials. A subplot involving the boys' father wraps up a bit quickly and, in a somewhat contrived scenario, the idyllic Bahamian island is spared from development. As the story unfolds, however, young readers are likely to be pulled in by the sensitive portrayals of Trey and Lou, the mysterious adventures in Pangaia and the whirlwind climax. Ages 9-12.

February 1, 2002
Gr 4-7-While playing on pristine Long Pond Cay near their home in the Bahamas, 12-year-old Trey and 7-year-old Lou are transported to a nightmarish world that has almost been destroyed by pollution and overbuilding. The siblings make several visits to this Otherworld, where underground rebels take them under their wing, realizing that mute and mysterious Lou is the prophesied catalyst in the Greenwar they are waging. Meanwhile, in their own world, the children's grandparents are fighting a losing battle against developers who want to put a resort on Long Pond Cay. Trey, whose gender is never clearly stated, narrates this environmental fantasy in a sensible, likable voice, and there is enough tension and adventure in both worlds to keep the pages turning. Like Trey, readers might not understand why and how the siblings travel between the worlds and are so crucial to the future of the Otherworld. Compared to the compelling scenes that take place in the Bahamas, the Otherworld episodes feel forced and illogical-why must Lou find fossilized star shells in his own world in order to open a passageway in the Otherworld? That the Otherworld is a warning about the possible fate of Earth is clear, but whether it is a view of the mythic past, our future, or simply a different world is uncertain. These are issues that readers may enjoy pondering, but this is ultimately an unsatisfying tale.-Eva Mitnick, Los Angeles Public Library

Copyright 2001 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2002
Gr. 4-8. Part fantasy adventure, part ecological fable, Cooper's latest novel is also eerily close to home. Powerful foreign developers are moving in to take over the island bay in the Bahamas where 12-year-old Trey lives with his grandparents and his mute little brother, Lou. Between the tides, Trey and Lou cross over to a horrifying future world where greed, overpopulation, and technology have shut out the stars and choked everything green. In that alternate world, Lou is the mythical savior, the Green Man, who leads the Underground to bring about terrible destruction and renewal. Then back in the boys' island home, nature rises up with a hurricane force that drives out the evil developers. The fantasy parallels are sometimes too contrived, but Green peace followers will recognize the battle. What Cooper does best is set the scary action in a world that is both endangered and strong. The lyrical nature writing evokes the fragility and the power of a spider's silk, the miracle of a seashell, the physical connections of wind, water, and sand.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2002, American Library Association.)