What really happened in the woods that day? What would have happened if we had just stopped? These are the question being asked of brothers Jay and Max who are in trouble for beating up the town's star soccer player. The boys soon become outcasts and the brothers that were once so close find a rift beginning to grow between them. Can they do the right thing to help them both heal or will they find they have more darkness in them than they thought?
The mix of verse and vignettes makes this story a powerful voice. The brothers are a tight unit but their motivations and wants set them apart from each other in distinct ways. Max wants to take care of those around him including his mom and brother and Jay wants to get away from all of the trauma home has given him. The abuse they suffer at the hands of their father is handled and addressed with care by Tison. The way the boys interact with the other around them also gives a distinct sense of character, Max tries to rebuild relationships and Jay could not care less. Getting both brother's points of view make they story relatable from both sides and shows they connection and division between the brothers. And the writing style matches the characters in a subtle way, Jay the artist uses poetry, while Max's prose is strong and grounded. The cultural aspect is interesting and beautifully tied into the story.
Book Information:
Tison, A. (2023). SAINTS OF THE HOUSEHOLD. Farrar Straus Giroux: New York. ISBN 9780374389499
What next?
Read Attack of the Black Rectangles by Amy Sarig King!
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