Monday, February 22, 2016

GOING WHERE IT'S DARK by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor



Going Where It's Dark by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor (January 12, 2016, Delacorte Press, 336 pages, for ages 10 and up)

Synopsis (from Indiebound): Buck Anderson's life seems to be changing completely. His best friend, David, has moved away; his anxious parents are hounding him more than ever; he has reluctantly agreed to fill in for his uncle and do odd jobs for a grumpy old veteran in town; and his twin sister has a new boyfriend and is never around anymore. To top it all off, Buck is bullied by a group of boys at school mainly because he stutters.

There is one thing that frees Buck from his worries. It is the heart-pounding exhilaration he feels when exploring underground caves in and around his hometown. He used to go caving with David, but he's determined to continue on his own now. He doesn't know that more changes are headed his way, changes that just might make him rethink his view of the world and his place in it.


Why I recommend it:  Buck emerges as a very real and likable thirteen-year-old boy, who happens to stutter. I also found it refreshing to read about a large and loving family with two parents, which seems rare in recent MG literature (or is it just me?). The caving adventures add a level of excitement. My pulse raced when I reached the part where the bullies drop him in the pit and he has to find a way out on his own. I think I read the last third of this book without taking a breath.

Favorite lines: "Everything he'd heard from outside the kitchen made him sick to his stomach. The pity in their voices, the way they predicted how the rest of his life would be. He hated his mouth, his throat, his tongue, his face."  (from p. 102)

Bonus: This is the second novel I've read about a young teen who stutters. The first was Tending To Grace by Kimberly Newton Fusco (reviewed here).  The two styles are quite different but both books have much to offer the reader. Each of my sons had speech disorders in elementary school, and speech therapy made a huge difference in their lives. Teachers and librarians: this book would be excellent for helping students empathize with kids who have speech disorders.

Phyllis Reynolds Naylor is the author of more than 140 books, including Shiloh, the Alice books, The Boys Start the War, The Girls Get Even (and many more Boy-Girl Battle books). Read more about Phyllis at randomhouse.com.

Readers, do you know of any other MG novels about stuttering? Or about caving?




20 comments:

  1. I loved many of Naylor's other books so I'm looking forward to this one. Yes, a two parent family is rare in MG books these days, though I'm tiring a bit with the bully theme so prevalent. Anyway, thanks for sharing your thoughts.

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  2. Interesting title and that fact that he goes into caves is intriguing too. Not read anything by this authhor.

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    1. Oh, I hope you'll pick out something by Phyllis to read sometime, Natalie. She's written so many wonderful books.

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  3. Hmm...I like caves, but they make my super uneasy, and especially so when I read about them. However, this sounds like it's worth they struggle, so, maybe I'll just make sure I read it on sunny days? With the windows open? lol
    Thanks for the recommend!

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    1. I'm not real fond of dark, enclosed spaces myself, Suzanne!

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  4. Ooh, this sounds really good, Joanne! Shiloh was a big hit at my house. And we just happened to explore a cave in Central Oregon this summer, so this sounds perfect for my boys.

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    1. Oh, goodness, Jenni! This does sound perfect for your family.

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  5. Whoa, this book sounds scary, but really interesting. I've been reading a few books lately about bullying, so I think now would be a good time to read this one. Maybe. If I have the guts to. *shudders* Anyway, thanks for the review! :-)

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    1. It's not THAT scary, Cindy. Unless maybe you're afraid of the dark... But it's got a great ending!

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  6. This sure sounds like a good one. Thanks for the review. I will put it on my TBR list.

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  7. I've always thought caving has such potential for an adventure story! Sounds like a good one.

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    1. True, Andrea. And this book certainly lives up to the potential.

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  8. I have read other books by this author, but I hadn't heard about this one. It sounds like a great book! Exploring a cave by yourself sounds very dangerous! Thanks for sharing. :)
    ~Jess

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    1. It could be quite dangerous, Jess. But the author handles it well.

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  9. This sounds like an interesting read. I bet I'd enjoy it! :D

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    1. It's exciting and thought-provoking, Erik. I'm sure you would.

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  10. This is the second book I'm discovering that has a main character who stutters. The first one was The Zoo at the Edge of the World
    by Eric Kahn Gale.
    Thanks for sharing. I really want to check this one out!

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    1. I haven't read that one, Akoss, so thanks for the heads-up.

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