This blog is a collection of book reviews, submitted as a final project for San Jose State University's LIBR 267, taught in Spring 2010 by Professor Joni Bodart.

Michelle M Coleman

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Swallowing Stones by Joyce McDonald

McDonald, Joyce. Swallowing Stones. New York, NY: Delacourt, 1997. ISBN-10: 0-385-32309-3

Summary 
On Michael's 16th birthday his grandfather gives him a rifle. Eager to try it out, Michael and his friend Jo sneak away from the 4th of July party and fire a single shot in the air. Meanwhile Jenna is watching her father repair the roof when a bullet falls from the sky and kills him. Jo tells Michael that no one will ever find out but Michael feels terrible. As the police investigation circles closer Michael has to decide whether he should keep lying or confess the truth. Alternate chapters chronicle Jenna's grief and Michael's guilt.

Critical Evaluation 
Michael struggles with the real consequences of an accident that he caused and learns that he needs to take responsibility, even if it is an accident. Jenna is grieving but her life doesn't stop for grief. She pushes herself to get out of the house and be with friends. The small town life is rather quaint but the characters are comforting in their normality. Most readers will be able to identify with both Jenna and Michael.

Reader's Annotation 
Michael knows that a bullet shot in the air can travel miles, but he still doesn't want to believe that he killed a man. Besides it was an accident. But Jenna's father is dead and Michael is to blame.

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness 
Grief, dealing with the loss of a parent. Dealing with guilt, especially in the case of an accident.

Genre and Subject 
Realistic fiction. Accidental death.

Why I read it
A similar premise to Paranoid Park but written a decade earlier. After reading both, they are not nearly as similar as they seem.

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