Figuring Out Life

After the tragic death of his father, Smook, his older brother, Roger, and their mother must find their way forward against the backdrop of the Great Depression and WWII. Smook relates his school years, laced with memorable classmates and neighbors, his newspaper delivery job, the movies he enjoyed seeing, while adding many personal, cultural, and historical details. The author's strong voice is apparent from the very first page. Smook displays a narrative control of language that is conversational and intensely readable, with a good sense of forward momentum and a knack for introducing provoking details.