A twister mows via an Oklahoma city,
inflicting an area teen to ponder life’s large questions.
Philip’s been spending the summer time serving to
a neighbor inventory his storm cellar and secretly giving half his earnings to his
brother, Victor, who was evicted from the household dwelling. Philip chooses to
imagine Victor’s lies, pretending the cash’s not feeding his brother’s heroin
dependancy, a results of opioid dependence following a sports activities harm. He internally
questions his Baptist youth-pastor mother and father’ sincerity—Mother prays “like she’s put
make-up / on her voice.” When a storm comes, the household shelters of their
basement, in the end remaining secure, though their home sustains severe
injury. A few nights later, Victor comes dwelling “just like the prodigal son,” compelled
into withdrawal by the destruction of his drug stash within the twister. He decides
to detox chilly turkey together with his household’s help, a realistically messy,
roller-coaster affair. Through the cleanup following the pure catastrophe, 16-year-old
Philip meets Catholic Mariana, who genuinely believes life has that means. Philip
and his household are presumed white aside from his sister who has Down syndrome
and was adopted from South Korea; Mariana is cued as Latinx. The quick stanzas
make the textual content accessible, whereas the subjects addressed are deep and complicated. Philip’s voice feels genuine to the teenager expertise, alternately
conflicted, profound, and important.
Intense, emotionally charged realism
for reluctant readers. (Verse novel. 13-16)
