Autumn Journey - Hardcover

Priscilla Cummings lives in Annapolis, Maryland.

Grade 4-8. The story of a family in transition as seen through the eyes of an 11-year-old boy, this first novel displays true strength of character and respect for both family and the natural world. Will's father has been out of work for a year, and now that his family has lost their Baltimore home, they have moved to Grampa's farm in Pennsylvania. Will is resentful about the change and confused by his father's angry and erratic behavior as he searches desperately for a job. Struggling to find a bond with his dad, Will lobbies to go goose hunting with him, but when the man refuses, Grampa steps in to teach the boy about guns and ethical hunting. When disaster strikes, Will grows quickly, struggling to cope with loss and to make reparations for mistakes made. Cummings uses Gray Feather, a young goose making his first migration, as a metaphor for Will, who is contending with his own tough journey into adulthood. Gray Feather's realistic but anthropomorphic experiences are interspersed with Will's story until the two collide dramatically; then the stories become one and the point of view is all Will's until the conclusion. This technique is very effective as image, character, and tension build to form a rich family story. Difficult issues like gun control, hunting, unemployment, and death are dealt with in an honest and even-handed manner, creating lots of potential for thoughtful dialogue. The cover shows a younger Will than the character who inhabits the book so it may require some marketing for middle-school readers.?Susan Oliver, Tampa-Hillsborough Public Library System, FL
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