First lines: “I want to make a friend.
But as I stand in the entrance of the lunchroom, panic ringing in my ears, all I think is Here we go again. New town. New school. Same old feeling.”
That’s a fairly conventional beginning for a children’s book. And the conventionality continues. Meg decides to deal with her new kid jitters by making up stories that make her life before moving to Indiana sound exotic and adventurous and interesting. The real story of Meg’s family history and the real reason for their move to a new town is not so exciting: Meg’s father is an alcoholic. He’s promised that this time he’ll quit drinking for good, stay in his new job, and help his family make a new start.
Meg’s famlly, her mom, her older brother Teddy, her younger sister Abby and Meg herself, all live life on the edge of Dad’s alcoholism. They’re all afraid of doing something or saying something that will set Dad off, make him start drinking again, make him continue drinking, make him abusive and drunk. Dad has them all convinced, or else they’ve convinced themselves, that his alcoholism is their fault. The family’s actions and reactions are scripted like something out of a book on families of alcoholics. Meg’s family keeps Dad’s drinking a secret, covers up for him, makes excuses for his abusive behavior.
Alcoholism is a very real problem, and for a child of an alcoholic who’s trapped in a family dynamic like that of Meg’s family, this book could be a godsend, sort of bibliotherapy. However, I’m not sure other children will understand, identify or take much away from this ABC afterschool special of a novel. It’s well written, with good engaging characters, and a decent, believable ending. Maybe not for everyone, but it’s definitely a keeper for some.
Tall Tales is Ms. Day’s first published novel for children. She has another book coming out next year called No Cream Puffs about a girl who “becomes the first girl in Michigan to play baseball on an all-boys’ little league team in the 1970s.” I’m looking forward to reading it.
This bit of writerly insight is from Ms. Day’s website: “Originally TALL TALES was written in past tense, journal form. Several editors told me that this style put too much distance between the story and the reader. So I rewrote it first person, present tense, and the story was much more immediate. And much better.”
Question: I understand how the change to first person draws the reader in, makes us identify with the narrator. But how does writing in present tense do that? Does it make me feel as if I’m living the stroy as I read, instead of looking back on something that happened in the past? Is this a good thing if you want your reader to gain some perspective and grow in understanding over the course of the novel?
Other bloggers review Tall Tales:
A Fuse #8 Production: “The fact that this book acknowledges the truly slow nature of change can either be seen as the story’s strength or weakness. Nothing here happens too quickly. Make of that what you will.”
Granny Sue: “the immediacy of Meg’s predicaments ring with truth, pain, and hope. A fine story, well told.”
Little Willow: “Meg is fully aware of her exaggerations and big lies. She is likable and vulnerable without being naive. Readers will want someone to find out the truth and help her family. Hopefully, those who relate to her story will be inspired to confide in trustworthy friends and adults so that they can get the help they need as well.”
Little Willow interviews Karen Day.
