The Day My Mother Left

January 22, 2007
Prosek (A Good Day's Fishing
) movingly chronicles young Jeremy's emotional upheaval after his mother abandons the family, in this sophisticated novel. Often teased as a "mama's boy," Jeremy feels forlorn without his mother, who left to live with another man. As the boy's father slips into a deep depression, and his 16-year-old sister is increasingly absent, Jeremy seeks refuge with his beloved Uncle John (their celebration of the boy's 10th birthday draws upon the author's interest in fishing) and at the home of his best friend, Stephen. Throughout his ordeal, Jeremy's drawings give him a source of strength, and pen-and-inks attributed to Jeremy pepper the narrative. His father's girlfriend, Susan, reaches out to Jeremy by giving him some much-needed attention, along with art supplies that belonged to her father. The author credibly depicts how Susan's kindness demonstrates to Jeremy just how self-absorbed his mother had been. Prosek also conveys Jeremy's inner struggle after he learns that his mother has been in contact with his sister; the boy's feelings of confusion, betrayal and anger surface—even as he tries to suppress them. After three years, Jeremy eventually finds a way to reconnect with his mother on his terms, and readers will feel hopeful for the hero, even if he cannot yet recognize his own strength. Ages 12-up.

July 1, 2007
Gr 5-8- -Nine-year-old Jeremy Vrabec is devastated when his mother abandons the family and moves in with a classmate's father in this novel by James Prosek (S & S, 2007). Over the next three years, Jeremy goes through a grieving process of denial, anger, depression and, finally, acceptance. Jeremy must deal with his father's rage and his older sister's apathy. He immerses himself in recreating a collection of drawings of birds his mother took with her when she left. In one bizarre plot twist, Jeremy takes drawing lessons and an older girl poses nude for him. This may limit the audiobook's use by younger audiences. Eventually, Jeremy's sister goes off to college and his father remarries. The women in this novel all have issues. Jeremy's mother is enigmatic and self-centered; his older sister is impatient and sarcastic; and his new step-mother begins as a sympathetic character but eventually becomes a whiney shrew. Narrator Joel Johnstone does a fine job distinguishing the different characters in the story. Have the print version available so listeners can appreciate the gorgeous pen and ink drawings.-Tricia Melgaard, Centennial Middle School, Broken Arrow, OK

Copyright 2007 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.