Nathan recipr ocates Simon's courage and candor: even as he inwardly agonizes o ver signs of Simon's progressive weakening, he helps boost Simon' s morale with cheerful, tough banter. Yet he's aware that death is imm inent-a fact he openly shares with his classmates. Popular and fun-loving, Simon won't tol erate pity in himself or others. Booktalk this wi nner with Jan Slepian's Lester's Turn (Macmillan, 1981 o.p.) and Anne Knowles's Under the Shadow (HarperCollins, 1983).- Renee St einberg, Fieldstone Middle School, Montvale, NJ Hill's first YA novel, set in the author's native New Zealand, chronicles 14-year -old Nathan's turmoil as he watches best friend Simon deteriorate from muscular dystrophy. In this excelle nt novel peopled with multidimensional characters, Hill gives rea ders a look at this disabling and fatal disease. From the outset, it is cle ar that he will die during his adolescence, but the author avoids a maudlin tone, thus adding to the book's power. He participates in s chool as fully as his abilities allow. He is an intelligent boy who is basically well adjusted to his situation.
Simon's words and actions spotlight the psychological problems faced by the disabl ed as he explains that he wants to be seen as a human being, not as someone to be avoided or pitied. A sharp sense of humor underlies each boy's character, which intensifies the honesty of their relationship. Nathan, a compassion ate 14-year-old, relates how, through his friendship with Simon, he develops an appreciation for life that too often eludes teenag ers.
Reviews Gr 6-8-A sensitively written story of fri endship and an informative examination of the experience of a you ng person afflicted with muscular dystrophy.
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