Gigged

July 1, 2010
Gr 9 Up—-OTC cadet J.T. is determined to follow his father's legacy, attend the Citadel, and become the best soldier he can be. He wants to forget the past, when he was the young, vulnerable Jason. His father died in the Gulf War, his mother was killed in an auto accident, and Jason endured horrific abuse in foster homes. Though he now lives with a caring guardian, J.T. is slow to open up or trust. He engages in relentless inner conversations, pushing himself to be tough and disciplined, unlike Jason. He eats and breathes military life, and this interest is reflected throughout (even the chapters have military code-word titles). As ROTC captain, J.T. is determined to whip his squad into fighting shape, and winning the drill competition will help him secure a Citadel scholarship. The plan is jeopardized by a snotty rich kid who relentlessly bullies J.T. until a confrontation is inevitable. The story is told in first person with an odd cadence of clipped sentences and the absence of pronouns. Italicized text denotes flashbacks to traumatic episodes in Jason's life. The plot builds slowly, picks up speed, and then falls flat with an ending that will leave readers confused. It seems that Pickens, a cadet in J.T.'s squad with whom he has had numerous interactions and conversations, is imaginary. There isn't enough in the narrative to suggest that these contacts are delusional. Instead of delivering an "aha" moment, this plot contrivance turns the story on end and makes it all seem implausible.—"Patricia N. McClune, Conestoga Valley High School, Lancaster, PA"

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