Ebb & Flow vs. The Season of Styx Malone

My vote: Ebb & Flow by Heather Smith

Ebb & Flow by Heather Smith is a beautiful story about a boy who is feeling the weight of shame, guilt, and isolation. Jett is spending the summer trying to both forget and make sense of the previous year of his young life. The narrative is told through first person, free verse poems, which immediately draw the reader into Jett's inner turmoil. Piece by piece we are alongside Jett as he questions his family life, his friendships, and his choices. We are with Jett when he experiences grief, fear, guilt, absolution, forgiveness.

Given its format, Ebb & Flow is approachable and relatable. The story, in this style, is an engaging one. (As a traditional narrative, though, I'm not sure it would work.) There are many moments that would resonate with youth, and the poems aren't a hindrance but a way to unlock the often mystical world of poetry for young readers. It is a slow, simmering story, not without its faults and flaws, but overall a moving read.

The Season of Styx Malone by Kekla Magoon is a summertime adventures and coming of age story. I found more things to be implausible than plausible. Although I found it believable that a 10 year old boy struggling to fit in would become enamoured with the idea of running away and infatuated by the "cooler" older boy of 16 across the way, I just didn't buy their connection and I wasn't convinced by their "adventures." The conflicts were blasé and, in a way, underdeveloped. The father's fear of leaving their hometown spurred on Caleb's desire for adventure, yet that conflict completely fizzled out. The plot was slow moving to the point of boredom, and those moments in the plot that were glimmers of hope, were few and far between.

As a contender to find a book that students would love (my context being grades 7 - 9), I just don't think The Season of Styx Malone has what it takes to capture readers and truly engage them.