Earthshine

by Theresa Nelson

Slim's father, a charismatic actor named Mack, is dying of AIDS. Slim and Mack's companion, Larry, help care for Mack. Soon Slim joins a support group for family members who live with people who have AIDS. There she meets Isaiah, who believes their parents can be cured by the Miracle Man in the "Hungry Valley" north of Los Angeles. Slim believes only what she sees: that her father and others are dying and no one is trying to stop it. But Isaiah's faith in miracles rubs off on Slim, and with their family and friends they journey into the mountains to find their own moment of magic.

Genres: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, LGBT, Queer, Grief

192 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

Reviews

[Margie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heart wrenching story of a young girl whose father is dying of AIDS. Her father, Mack, an actor, is indefatigable to the end and a laugh a minute. Some of his "lines" are hilarious, and the bond between him and Slim, his daughter, is very tender. Mack is the uplifting spirit of the story and, against all odds, faces fate with grace, humor and spirit - supporting and shielding his daughter and his partner. A very emotionally charged, sad, yet uplifting story.

[Samantha Soper · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book the first time when I was 10 and multiple times throughout my teenage years, but the most I'd remembered about it was that it always made me cry. Growing up, this was one of the first and few novels I had access to with queer representation. Revisiting this as an adult has been really wonderful, as there was so much in the book that I wouldn't have picked up on in my youth. Looking back, I can see both the general disillusioned angst of the POV character Slim and the neurodivergent behaviors of Isaiah being relatable to me as a younger child. Being older and having surrounded myself with queer folks, understanding the importance of chosen family, relevancy of The Wizard of Oz to the queer community historically, the role support groups play in queer folks' lives, and better understanding of terminology made this read that much more endearing and tactile for me. Additionally, having adult knowledge on the mishandling of the AIDS epidemic in the 90s and actually knowing people with HIV enhanced the connections to this book on this read-through.

Theresa Nelson's writing style is phenomenal. Her descriptive writing style makes you feel part of the family, part of the support group, and makes Slim's experience visceral. Her words illustrate so many beautifully poignant scenes and surroundings.

When I recommended this book to my book club, I was a bit disheartened to see that it was out of print and a bit difficult to source. We all agreed that this would make a wonderful addition to required reading for middle and high school aged students. It deserves space among literary greats.

[Kristine Asselin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the way the relationships were depicted, especially the one between Slim and her father's partner, Larry. It's a slightly outdated book, but the themes still ring true. Be prepared to cry at the end, it's a tearjerker.

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that I have loved since elementary school, that I just keep rereading. I keep loving it over and over and it touches me every time. It always leaves me with a wonderful feeling. :)

[Nana Dona · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well done with subject matter.
p. 141: What time is it anyway? Three, four o'clock, who knows? You can't tell in this dismal stuff; we might as well be on Mars at midnight. Or on the moon, maybe -- is that where we are? Stumbling around on the dark new moon with nothing but earthshine to go by.
p. 153: And that's what it's like, all right. Only we're not just over the rainbow, we're in it. And it's in us -- in us and around us and through us -- it's under our feet and in our eyes and blowing its sweet breath into our lungs. It's stretching out before us for mile after mile after mile, then spilling its brightness even onto the mountains themselves, turning them into great glorious mounds of color -tie-dyed mountains, that's what they are. Like nothing I've ever seen, nothing on this planet, surely -- and yet looking so right, so familiar, that I can't help thinking maybe this is how it's been all along. my eyes just weren't open, I guess.

Plot: Slim's father, a charismatic actor named Mack, is dying of AIDS. Slim and
Mack's companion, Larry, help care for Mack. Soon Slim joins a support group
for family members who live with people who have AIDS. There she meets Isaiah,
who believes their parents can be cured by the Miracle Man in the "Hungry
Valley" north of Los Angeles. Slim believes only what she sees: that her
father and others are dying and no one is trying to stop it. But Isaiah's
faith in miracles rubs off on Slim, and with their family and friends, they
journey into the mountains to find their own moment of magic.

[Kparisenararatcharterschool.Com · Rating 4 out of 5]

early 1990's ... Hollywood Hills, a bungalow;

Hugh Alan McGranahan III aka Mack: actor; charisma; positive attitude; humor; eases others; in his last months of disabling AIDs, before any effective treatments;

Margery Grace McGranahan aka Slim: daughter 12 years old; not fitting into new school when mother moved when remarried; so goes to dad; loved; dealing with reality of pending death with courage;

Isaiah Dodd: 11 years old; mother has AIDs, father died quickly of AIDs, mother pregnant, and currently pretty healthy; weird; susceptible to outrageous claims; optomstic; meets Slim in a kids group counseling for those with families with AIDs;

Larry Casey: Mack's love; a bearded lumberjack-looking man; doing his best to honor and care for Mack, and to gently support Slim;

A touching, endearing, sad yet.... story of a family dealing with the inevitable endings as ones body succumbs to AIDs...

I pray and hope that current AIDs persons have it better now... if no cure, then other supports...

[Cathryn Burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is “one of those books” for me. The author is from Texas and came to visit AMS several times while I was there. I love books with great characters. SLIM is. I love books that challenge the way that I think about something. Slim’s father has AIDS. Laughing on one page and crying on the next.

[Andre · Rating 5 out of 5]

like it

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book about a young girl coping with the fact that her father has AIDS.

[Clarissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. This was the first book I had read that had a child living with same sex parents, that I can remember. The little girl helps care for her father who is dying from Aids.

[Jill]

Apparently I read this as a teenager, as I mentioned it in a diary entry. Made me cry so it must be good, but I can't say I remember it!

[Aaryn Reedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautiful story, and such wonderful writing too! I loved it, I just couldn't put it down.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice story.