My Cousin's Keeper

June 23, 2014
There’s a vaguely disturbing undercurrent in French’s (Where in the World) perceptive book about 11-year-old Kieran and his strange cousin, Bon, who briefly appears in his life when both boys are nine—just long enough to steal two of Kieran’s favorite toys. Two years later, to Kieran’s dismay, Bon’s peripatetic mother, who struggles with mental and emotional problems, settles him with Kieran’s family, and in his school. Bon’s appearance, demeanor, and unusual interests make him a target for bullying, and Kieran, striving to be popular, does nothing to dissuade the bullies, even uneasily participating in some of the activities. His efforts to distance himself from his cousin while winning favor with another newcomer, the mysterious and confident Julia, are believably depicted, as are Kieran’s parents’ attempts to cope with the difficult relationship between the boys. The story takes on a quiet emotional power as the boys slowly forge a connection, and although the nature of Bon’s mother’s instability is never made completely clear, Julia’s mystery is cleanly resolved in a way that places the novel firmly in contemporary times. Ages 8–12.

June 1, 2014

Gr 4-7-Eleven-year-old Kieran can't catch a break. He has just begun to make inroads with the popular crowd at school when his conspicuously odd cousin, Bon, moves into town. Having lived a vagabond life, Bon is a virtual stranger to Kieran, but his appearance speaks volumes: he has long, braided hair, talks in a clipped fashion, and dresses in clothes for a much younger child. Kieran wants nothing to do with him and is horrified when Bon enrolls in his school. To make matters worse, Bon has become best friends with the new girl, Julia, on whom Kieran has a mad crush. Burdened with a negligent and unreliable mother, Bon becomes more and more dependent on Kieran's family. The situation becomes volatile as the protagonist begins to feel torn between an ever-growing compassion for his cousin and his strong desire to be popular. French adeptly avoids being preachy when it comes to the topics of bullying and peer pressure. He paints a sympathetic portrait of both boys and lets readers draw their own conclusions. The mystery of Julia and her own familial troubles adds a level of intrigue, and while the ending feels a bit drawn out, this is a solid choice for middle-grade readers.-Amy Nolan, St. Joseph Public Library, St. Joseph, MI

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 15, 2014
Do you have to be your brother's keeper?When his weird, long-haired cousin Bon turns up in Kieran's hometown to stay with their grandmother and attend his school, it torpedoes the 11-year-old's hopes of becoming one of the popular crowd. The neglected son of a mentally ill mother, Bon, also 11, has spent plenty of time on his own. He escapes into drawing and writing an elaborate adventure in which "Bon the Crusader," "Kieran the Brave" and "Julia the Fair" (another new student, living temporarily with the mother who abducted her) vanquish the forces of evil. There are certainly forces of evil about: families that are by no means as loving and supportive as Kieran's and bullies in the schoolyard. For much of the story, narrator Kieran is not very likable. Caught up in resentment and in his efforts to find a place among the popular, bullying boys, he goes along with their actions. A cruel, unfair attack finally pushes him to do the right thing, becoming the "Kieran the Brave" Bon has imagined. This Australian import, set in a dying small town where soccer is king, stands out for its forthright depiction of dysfunctional families and its effective juxtaposition of them with a functional one. A thought-provoking tale of family struggles, schoolyard bullies, masculinity, reaching out and intolerance, jealousy and friendship just right for middle-grade book discussions. (Fiction. 9-12)

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