Ostrich Boys

Bruce Mann gets the close camaraderie of three English mates just right. When their friend Ross is killed in an accident, 15-year-old Blake, Sam, and Kenny are disgusted with the funeral's hypocrisy. Looking for a way to find meaning in what's happened, the three steal Ross's ashes and take off for Ross, Scotland, a place their friend had always wanted to go. Mann makes brainy Blake, who tells the story, a convincing character, as are tough Sam and clueless Kenny. Their road trip is marked by missteps, flirting, adventure, and contemplations of life and death. Mann gets maximum mileage from the humor of ribald ribbing, turns up the tension at action moments, and steers towards more serious tones when the boys reveal their fears and secrets. S.W. (c) AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine

Starred review from February 8, 2010
British author Gray’s U.S. debut is both an unusual twist on the road trip trope and a touching story of teenage friendship. After their friend Ross is struck by a car and killed while riding his bike, Blake, Kenny, and Sim decide to honor his memory. After a few acts of petty revenge on people who had made Ross’s last few days tough, they decide to steal his ashes and take them to the Scottish namesake town of Ross. Along the way, they get thrown off a train, lose their money, meet and flirt with three attractive Scottish girls, and discover some often uncomfortable truths about each other and their relationship with Ross. Gray’s story could have ended up a collection of coming-of-age clichés, but instead is likely to defy readers’ expectations as the boys make their way north. Although there are action sequences featuring escapes from the police, stolen mopeds, and even a bungee jump, it’s the relationship among the boys—expressed as much through believable teen banter as through obvious and emotional revelatory moments—that drives the story. Ages 12–up.