The Swift Boys & Me

March 17, 2014
“All three of the Swift boys were my best friends, but Canaan was my best-best friend,” is how 12-year-old Nola Sutton describes the boys whose family lives in the other half of her duplex. Between chapters, Nola shares memories of her close friendships with Canaan, which verges on romance, as well as with brothers Brian and Kevin. After Mr. Swift walks out on the family, oldest brother Brian is overwhelmed by trying to keep things running smoothly, motormouth third-grader Kevin stops speaking entirely, and Canaan grows angry, driving a wedge between him and Nola. Meanwhile, Nola’s family is also undergoing change, and she reluctantly begins to make new friends and decides to search for Mr. Swift herself. YA author Keplinger’s (A Midsummer’s Nightmare) novel, her first for middle-graders, is driven by themes of betrayal, loss, friendship, and the need for self-reliance when friends and family fall short. The small-town Kentucky setting, unfolding events, and emotional interactions between characters young and old all play their parts in establishing the story’s solid sense of realism. Ages 8–12. Agent: Joanna Volpe, New Leaf Literary & Media.

kiki1 - This book is so good is about 3 boys and one girl that are friends and {}Spoiler alert if you haven't read the book{} The girl's name is Nola and there are 3 boys that all all best friends and one day the swift boys dad and mom got in a argument and the swift boys dad left to somewhere then all the swift boys were really sad and they kind of changed because of it so Nola did not want them to be sad and WANTED to find out where the swift boys dad has gone and what happened to him later then Nola asked mom if she could go to her grandma's house for spending time with her or cleaning and the reason she actually wanted to go to her grandma's house is because she wanted to see if the swift boys dad is if there dad is dating some one else and she also wanted to find out id the swift boys dad is living with some one else>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> then later on Nola went back to her house she did find some clues if the swift boys dad is dating or living with some one else when Nola went to the swift boys house her best best friend was well not talking to her and for some reason he was mad at her when Nola went to his room she tried to talk to him but he did not talk back to her and also his room was very dirty the boy got mad and pused Nola out of the room and shut the door on Nola's face right in FRONT of HER {}SO MEAN{} after all that few days later Nola was in a shop and the boy that was her BEST BEST FRIEND was there with the boys that bullied Nola. Nola went over to her best friend and asked why are you hanging out with them and he said nothing then the buliies started saying stuff to Nola and the lady that works there in the shop told all the boys to go out from the shop

April 1, 2014
Nola has been best friends her entire life with her next-door neighbors, the three Swift brothers. Now, in response to their father's desertion, the brothers have changed. Brian, older than Nola, Kevin, a fair bit younger, and Canaan, just her age and her "best-best friend," have seemed like the most perfect of buddies till now. After their father abruptly leaves, Brian soldiers on, filling in for his depressed mother, before he too is overwhelmed. Kevin, always a chatterbox, becomes mute, and worse, angry Canaan is now hanging around with the neighborhood bullies, adopting their brutal ways and even betraying Nola. Determined to help, Nola hatches a childish plan to find Mr. Swift and convince him to return home. Interweaving Nola's memories--scenes from happier times are italicized to distinguish them from the present-day narrative--Keplinger skillfully creates a depth to these friendships that have defined Nola's childhood. These scenes go beyond providing the background for their complex relationships, especially with Canaan; they also begin to offer Nola some insight into why the brothers have changed so dramatically. Everything else is changing as well, as Nola faces the transition to middle school, her mother plans remarriage, and a move is envisioned. Realistically, there's no easy solution; the conclusion doesn't sugarcoat the pangs of growing up. A fine, honest and heartfelt coming-of-age tale. (Fiction. 10-14)

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May 1, 2014

Gr 5-7-Nola Sutton was looking forward to spending the summer after sixth grade doing odd jobs and having fun with her best friend, Canaan Swift. But when Canaan's dad abruptly leaves his family, Canaan becomes first distant, and then downright hostile, forcing a hurt Nola to make other plans. She strengthens a casual friendship, makes a new friend, and gets to know her cranky grandmother a little better-and begins to accept that some things must change, for better or for worse. Copious flashbacks, demonstrating what a great friend Canaan has always been, slow what little forward momentum the plot has and make the boy's total personality change-from super friend to dog-tormenting bully-seem even more perplexing. Nola's attempt to track down Mr. Swift's whereabouts strains credulity and adds nothing to the plot; also unconvincing is much of the dialogue, though it does a good job of getting across a flavor of the Kentucky setting. Barbara O'Connor's books are a better bet for stories of friendship with a Southern accent.-Eva Mitnick, Los Angeles Public Library

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 15, 2014
Grades 3-6 In Keplinger's poignant middle-grade debut, 11-year-old Nola's carefree world is shattered when her best friend's father takes off without explanation. Nola and the three Swift brothers, who live in the other half of their duplex, have always been friends, but Nola is closest with Canaan. She and Canaan do everything together, from sneaking turns on a neighbor's trampoline to sharing secrets. Nola is unprepared for how sweet Canaan changes when his father leaves. Instead of confiding in her, he is sullen and angry, hanging out with the bullies who call her Nasty Nola and playing mean pranks on their neighbors. Nola is crushed, especially when her mother announces she is getting married and moving them to another neighborhood. Nola is both happy and sad, but Canaan doesn't even seem to care. Keplinger gives appropriate gravity to Nola's feelings of hurt and helplessness, while tempering her distress with reassuring outlets in her parents and two new friends. A believably bittersweet ending delivers an emotional understanding of the necessary changes we all undergo while growing up.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)