Unmaking of Duncan Veerick, TheAges: 10 and up Pages: 204 List Price: $16.95 Cover: Hardcover Published: 10/1/2007 ISBN: 1-932425-96-9 ISBN-13: 978-1-932425-96-3 |
Duncan has no intention of getting involved with the crazy lady who lives down the street. But when she has a stroke, his parents insist that he go down and take care of her ratty little dog. Her house is a warren of old junk, literally—her husband was a junk dealer, and, it turns out there are some treasures mixed in. When the lady's nephew shows up to put things in order, she starts to get paranoid, thinking someone's stealing her treasures, and she ropes Duncan into helping her hide them. And that's when things start to go bad. Reviews"The book draws skillfully on the powerlessness of young people caught between underinformed adult authorities and bereft of the power to control situations themselves. Levin also creates credible characterization and human dynamics in Duncan’s sort-of-friendship with his classmate Tracy and with Duncan’s parents’ regretful suspicions about their own son. Readers will take Duncan’s part with righteous indignation, fully understanding his dilemma and cheering his attempts to exonerate himself." "This wonderfully entertaining novel, written by Betty Levin, makes for an anxious roller-coaster ride of emotions and events. There's not one moment of interlude in this entire book, and any young reader will appreciate its fast pace and exciting adventures. The characters are very real and face normal adversities throughout the plot as a complex family setting is woven into the book. Duncan himself will resonate with young readers, and because Levin did a masterful job at making him feel real, readers of varying ages, 11 and up, will find this book an enjoyable read even though it may be most suitable for middle school readers." |
