Summer Brother
Fiction
World Editions
February 9, 2021
Advanced reader copy
288
Free from publisher
Thirteen-year-old Brian lives in a trailer on a forgotten patch of land with his divorced and uncaring father. His older brother Lucien, physically and mentally disabled, has been institutionalized for years. While Lucien’s home is undergoing renovations, he is sent to live with his father and younger brother for the summer. Their detached father leaves Brian to care for Lucien’s special needs. But how do you look after someone when you don’t know what they need? How do you make the right choices when you still have so much to discover? Summer Brother is an honest, tender account of brotherly love, which will resonate with readers of "Rain Man."
My review:
Here is one that may not make a lot of people's radar since it's a translated work from a rather unknown (at least in the USA) Dutch author. But if you are looking for a poignant, touching story about brotherhood, this one is for you. The characters in this book are very well done. First we have the father, who is a loathsome character with few redeeming features. The mother, who has essentially left said loathsome husband and flown the coop with her new husband (so maybe one step up on the loathsome scale?). Brother Lucien, who is severely disabled, some of which may or may not be due to the cocktail of drugs given him in his institutional home. And the glue holding the entire family together is younger brother Brian, who at times is a typical thirteen year old boy, and other times becomes much more, as he is left to care for his brother over the course of a summer. The story definitely pulls you in, and despite a couple of tiny problems I'll discuss, left me sad and hopeful all at the same time. The two problems I had were due to writing and an icky relationship issue. The writing at times felt a bit simplistic, but keep in mind that this work was translated, so I think that may have been a contributing factor. As far as the icky relationship, I totally get why it was there, it just made me uncomfortable and glad when it was resolved. I can't say a lot about the ending except that is was gut wrenching, while at the same time held out just a glimmer of hope (which I'm clinging to with all my might!).
Think "Rain Man", but with a younger protagonist and more severely disabled brother, and you've got the general idea of this novel. A true testament to the power of brothers and family. One to put on your list.
