Brendan

by Mary Wallace

Unknown Binding

About the author

Mary Wallace has spent almost 20 years teaching arts and art education to children and adults. She has written and illustrated over a dozen books for children and has received many awards and nominations, including a National Outdoor Book Award for The Inuksuk Book. She lives in St. Thomas, ON

Reviews

[Brendan Shusterman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very enjoyable read (and I’m not just saying that because I share the namesake of the protagonist!) It’s a really moving Irish American story of the mid 20th Century with a lot that is applicable to today—with politics and the rise of an independent happening in the background as a sort of B plot, and themes of crossing party lines for the sake of individuals with the clarity and honesty of character to lead serving as a motif. The descriptions of Democrats and Republicans—well issues have changed, but some things don’t. In the center of it all is our well-named protagonist who is both mercurial and relatable all in one. He is meek but incredibly brash, and I think thats part of why the story works—the very layered characterization of someone who goes on a very interesting arc. Glad I picked this one up all those years ago from a second hand bookshop. I think more people ought to read this one.