Avenging the Owl

February 15, 2016
Solo's dad walked away from a successful Hollywood career writing cartoons, traded the Corvette for a VW bus, and moved his family from their beachfront home to a trailer in Oregon, where Solo's efforts to avenge his kitten's death at the claws of an owl go horribly wrong. Sentenced to community service at a facility rehabilitating injured birds of prey, Solo plots his escape. Eric, a neighbor with Down syndrome and a passion for bugs, is a nice kid but no substitute for Solo's surfing buddies. Despite himself, Solo is drawn to the injured birds, even Artemis, a great horned owl who loves being sprayed with water from the hose. Solo's boss and a senior volunteer reach out to Solo--his parents, not so much. Moving was supposed to give Solo's dad space to write a novel drawing on his Japanese-American family's internment during World War II--except he can't write. Calamities mount. The VW bus breaks down, infuriating Solo's anxious mom. Solo's friends back home have found a replacement for him. A budding writer, Solo gains distance from stressful events by reframing and fashioning them into screenplays. There's plenty to observe--birds aren't the only creatures with wounds to tend and heal. The strong setting and well-drawn cast of complicated, evolving characters (Eric and his mother are standouts) overcome a tangle of subplots and a negligible high-concept premise. A memorable read. (resources) (Fiction. 11-13)

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March 1, 2016

Gr 5-8-"Most families look pretty normal from the outside," Solo Hahn reflects. His family looks like a father who quit his Hollywood job to write a novel and a mother who willingly left California to simplify their life. In reality, Solo's parents fled Los Angeles for a trailer in Oregon after his father attempted suicide. The eighth grader resents being stripped of his home, friends, and possessions. His only happiness is his kitten, and he loses that when an owl swoops down and snatches it. Panicked, Solo attempts to shoot the owl to save the kitten and finds himself sentenced to probation, eventually volunteering at the local raptor rescue center. Solo sees his life spiraling out of control: he is now an "at-risk youth," and he's scared of leaving his father alone in case he tries to kill himself again. His only friend is the boy next door, who has Down syndrome. Solo is beginning to find peace in his new life when his father disappears and his family situation boils over. Written in first person, Solo's narration is interspersed with his screenplay versions of his life, adding an appealing insight. The backstory of Solo's dad is slowly revealed, along with his mother's stress and unhappiness with the move. Unfortunately, the attempt to integrate three major and complex themes-raptor education, Down syndrome awareness, and suicide-weighs the story down a bit, and Solo's decision to stay in Oregon when offered the chance to return to L.A. does not feel believable. But neither issue will likely deter readers, who will enjoy the unique plot and lively pacing. VERDICT A good action-adventure story compelling enough for reluctant readers. Hand to fans of books about the great outdoors and the wilderness.-Nancy Nadig, Penn Manor School District, Lancaster, PA

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