Review Detail

Reader reviewed by Bookworm9

This is the story of Will Weaver, a high school baseball star whose crowning achievement is pitching in the championship game against the Crazy Horse Electric team. Will seemingly has it all-- a great girlfriend, plenty of friends, good looks, athletic ability. The only thing that's a little shakey is his home life, where his family is silently dealing with the death of his infant sister from SIDS.

Then a waterskiing accident leaves Will severely disabled and his entire world falls apart. Will can't deal with his "new" body or the way his former friends are now treating him, his girlfriend can't deal with all his boiling anger, his father is pushing him too hard, and his parents are constantly arguing.

So Will leaves. Instead of the typical teen runaway story, this is about a disabled teens quest to rediscover himself. Will's eventual immersion in a school for "last chance" kids opens him up to a whole new way for looking at others and, ultimately, himself. Although he eventually returns home, it's not for a happy reunion, but instead to consider where his life needs to go from here.

This is a unique coming of age story without the predictable happy, tie-up-all-the-lose-ends ending. In fact, those looking for a cheery read should not pick up this book. However, it is a story of affirmation and has many positive messages, as well as a compelling storyline. As usual with Crutcher books, some of the plot goes over-the-top, and this is not one of his best books (a la "Stotan!" or "Whale Talk") but it's really good.