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CM . . . . Volume XVII Number 35. . . .May 13, 2011.
excerpt:
Eighteen-year-old Paddy Armstrong can�t stand Anthony, his annoying, lazy, and self-absorbed stepfather. When Anthony badgers Paddy to declare what his post-high school plans are, Paddy announces he�s joining the army�a response he knows will irritate Anthony. While Paddy�s announcement successfully ruffles his stepfather�s feathers, the news also upsets his mother, his younger siblings, his girlfriend, and his bandmates. The one person he knows will approve is his father John, a retired naval officer. Responsible, supportive, and �the world�s most devoted Dad,� John is the exact opposite of Anthony. But when Paddy�s blood type is revealed, the strong father-son bond they share is called into question. Paddy must confront the fact that the only person he�s ever been able to count on is not his real father. An even bigger blow is the realization that Anthony is not his stepfather, but, in fact, his biological father. B Negative is the latest title by acclaimed YA author Vicki Grant. This is one of several hi-lo novels penned by Grant in the �Orca Sounding� series. Once again, Grant offers a fast-paced and compelling plot written in simple prose while expertly capturing the voice of an older teen male. Male readers especially will connect with Paddy�s thoughts and feelings and the father-son relationships Grant explores. What�s more, Grant�s clever plays on the words in the title, B Negative, add depth to the story and call attention to the underlying themes. B Negative ends on a tentative yet hopeful note. �I�m hit by how weird this is, how hard this is going to be, how much we�re all going to have to forgive or forget or maybe just ignore,� says Paddy. The revelation of Paddy�s paternity does not automatically mend his strained relationship with Anthony; however, as memories of their positive interactions materialize, Paddy begins to realize how unfair he�s been to him. This is a satisfying ending, but one that also leaves much open to discussion. Readers will find themselves pondering how they might proceed if faced with a similar situation. Recommended. Erin Walker is the Children�s Services Librarian at the Bradford West Gwillimbury Public Library.
To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca. Copyright © the Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission.
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