Amaryllis

by Craig Crist-Evans

Through one brother’s narration and another’s letters from Vietnam, Craig Crist-Evans offers a moving story of two brothers separated, yet forever connected, by the devastation of war.

We had just passed the AMARYLLIS when, out of the blue, Dad asked, "Do you miss your brother?" He sounded choked up, and that surprised me. I wanted to tell him that it scared me, that Frank was who I talked to when things were bad, that I couldn’t imagine my brother lugging an M-16 into some swampy distance with a bunch of other boys his age. . . . "I don’t think about it much," I said.

AMARYLLIS. It was the name of the ship that ran aground on Singer Island, Florida, during a hurricane in 1965. It became a battle cry for Jimmy Staples and his older brother, Frank, and a code word for going surfing together. But now that eighteen-year-old Frank is off battling the enemy (and his own addictive demons) in Vietnam, and fifteen-year-old Jimmy is left to deal with the repercussions at home, "Amaryllis" takes on an ominous new meaning - a symbol of what happens when life places the unexpected in our paths.

Craig Crist-Evans has written a wrenching novel of a family whose internal battles chase one son away - into the clutches of a war and an enemy he could never have imagined. Told both from a soldier’s view and by the brother he leaves behind, AMARYLLIS is an ideal choice for students learning about the Vietnam era, or for any reader curious about the reality of war.

Genres: Young Adult, Teen, Historical Fiction, Audiobook

208 pages, Hardcover

First published December 14, 2004

About the author

"Every step forward, every word, is an act of discovery," said author Craig Crist-Evans of his approach to writing poetry. And he obviously found a winning formula, as evidenced by the International Reading Association's Lee Bennett Hopkins Promising Poet Award he received for MOON OVER TENNESSEE: A BOY'S CIVIL WAR JOURNAL.

Craig Crist-Evans's mastery of poetic form is also apparent in NORTH OF EVERYTHING, a poignant novel-in-verse about a family who moves to a Vermont farm in search of a new beginning and a simpler life. Of his inspiration for this book, the author said, "NORTH OF EVERYTHING is my attempt to portray the changes one boy and his family experience--through the shifting seasons and in their own lives--that lead them to a humble acceptance of both beauty and loss in the world." This spare, lyrical novel will speak to anyone who has experienced change and loss, and who has faced the struggle--and found the spirit to carry on.


Prior to writing NORTH OF EVERYTHING, Craig Crist-Evans decided to try his hand at a new format: his first prose novel. "AMARYLLIS was an experiment," the author said. "I sat down without any idea at all of what might come. I wanted to attempt prose the same way I do poems. And so it was an act of discovery, for the story itself, and for my sense of myself as a fiction writer." The result was a haunting story of two brothers separated, yet forever connected, by the devastation of war--a partly autobiographical novel that incorporates themes from the author's younger days. "It was the fall of 1965. My family had just moved from Ohio to Florida," the author recalled. "During one of the biggest hurricanes of the century, the AMARYLLIS nosed into the east coast of Florida near West Palm Beach. For three years, its rusting hulk rose above the beach where I surfed, skipped school, and fell in love. When I started to write this story, that ship rose up again in memory and cast its shadow across those years of turmoil, fear, and change we now call the Vietnam War." Says KIRKUS REVIEWS of Craig Crist-Evans's prose "experiment" in a starred review: "With its almost painful realism, this is the finest depiction of war we've seen yet for young readers."


In addition to authoring books, poet and writer Craig Crist-Evans published poems, articles, essays, and reviews in numerous journals, and he taught English and directed the Writing Center at Mercersburg Academy in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania. Craig Crist-Evans died in 2005.

Reviews

[Cynthia Bolin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this book up at the book fair for two reasons: first it is Vietnam war era fiction and I'm always looking for books that will hook the boys. Second, the setting is Singer Island, Florida. I grew up not far from there and visited a family member there often during the late 60's. With all those personal connections, I couldn't put it down. Though the language and themes may be a little mature for some 7th graders, most will engage in it and get an accurate picture of the confusing time the characters, Frank and Jimmy, and I, grew up in.

[Lisa Mcbroom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a child when the Vietnam War happened. This book really tells the horror of war and what it did to the soldiers. The title comes from a boat that brothers Frank and Jimmy had. Frank has a contentious relationship with his father and t escape his demons, signs up for a tour in Vietnam. Jimmy to escape the abusive house hold surfs. Told in letters from Frank, this really tells of the horror of war. I think Joseph Conrad said it all when he said The Horror The Horror.

[Kelly Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started previewing this book to see if it would hold the attention of some of my students. I couldn't put it down. I loved the way Crist-Evans began each chapter with a letter from Frank in Vietnam. Great fiction read that will definitely help build background on the Vietnam War for my students!

[Kenny Guilstorf · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am only on chapter 5 of the novel. The book so far is about protagonist brother who goes to fight in Vietnam to get away from his dysfunctional family and the brother sends letter's back to the protagonist.

[Molly Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's hard to imagine recommending that my middle grade students learn about aspects of Vietnam this way, but maybe I'm being overprotective. Good writing and format. Just incredibly wrenching.

[Dark Star · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was okay. The ending though. I'd like to imagine that Frank found his way out the Jungle ended up kicking his smack habit and lived somewhere in peace. War sucks.

[CarlyK_D2 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amaryllis is a story set in the US during the Vietnam war. Eighteen year old Frank is battling both the enemy in the US army, as well as his own internal "enemies", his addiction to heroin. Frank frequently sends letters back to his younger brother Jimmy. Back home, Jimmy has to deal with his alcoholic father, and the stress with knowing what Frank is going through in Vietnam. You would enjoy this book if you like reading about internal struggles and the Vietnam War.

[Nate Colvin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book I read was Amaryllis by Craig Crist-Evans. I would give my book a eight out of ten. The Amaryllis talks about the war in Vietnam, the life back home, and the struggle of knowing your brother might not return home. “Its funny how much we talked when he was here and how hard it is to write now that he's gone” (22 Craig Crist-Evans). This book talks about the struggles families went through during the war and i just think the topic if the book is very interesting.
The score i would give for my book’s language is a 9. This book is easy to read but the you still feel the emotions of each character. “Dad’s face went white.The sheet of paper trembled in his hand” ( Evans 140). You can feel the sadness in his dads heart and see that he is emotionally shocked.

The theme of this book is family. Family in this book is what it is all about. from the end of the hall, I can hear Mom crying” (Evans 140). Even after they get the MIA letter they still try to stay normal and strong. They support each other.

The conflict in this book is a son going off to fight and leaving his younger brother at home worried. “When Frank left something drained away from the whole family” (Evans 141). The family is all emotionally messed up and can not gather themselves to go back to a normal life.

[Thomas]

"Amaryllis" by Craig Crist-Evans (Fiction) is no doubt my favorite book so far. The characters and the conflict are so relational to my life that its as if the story is about me and my half brother.
The story begins with a letter from an 18 year old boy named "Frank" who is an american foot solider. Frank is writing from Vietnam to his younger brother "Jimmy" (15) who is still at home with his mom and dad in Singer Island, Florida. Jimmy and Frank have a very strong brotherly connection and before Frank was shipped off to Vietnam, the two brothers whould spent most of their time surfing together. The main plot of the story is the conflicts that both characters have to face; Frank, the Vietnam War and his drug addiction to heroin and pain killer, Jimmy, his alcoholic father and the hurricanes. Although the story is mainly focused on jimmy, Frank's only dialogue is through the letter he sends to Jimmy and flashbacks.

[Loganl]

I liked the topic the author chose and I like the style he used. The letters home to start each chapter was great. But, I had a hard time finding the plot. There wasn't much of a rise and fall. Maybe one unexpected twist that was really sad, but that was it. I think I'm losing faith in historical fiction because my last book I read was just like this one. The ending of both weren't nearly as great as I thought they would be. They both just ended flat. Nothing special that made you wish the story kept going, nohing that made you love he characters even more. It was disappointing.
I want to add that this is definitely a more adult book. The content is realistic and serious. To anyone who reads this, I hope you understand it.

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jimmy and Frank put up with their Dad's abusive ways but when Frank graduates from high school, he signs-up for the army and goes to Vietnam. Jimmy receives letters from Frank describing the hopelessness and messed up things happening to him. Jimmy feels helpless. To get distracted there is a girlfriend, Sally. Jimmy and Frank's old surfing spot in the ocean is near a beached freighter called Amaryllis and as time draws near for Frank's homecoming, Jimmy wonders if Frank will ever see the Amaryllis again.

[Joshua · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frank, who has shocked everyone by enlisting in the army just after graduating high school. Frank on his way to Vietnam writes a letter and sends it back home. Every time something bad happens Frank writes lengthy letter to Jimmy, contrasting the sight of the tropical jungles with the horrors of war, and scaring Jimmy by telling him of his growing addiction to heroin and other things And then all of a sudden the letters stop altogether. but the silence from Vietnam finally stokes the family tensions and the cracks start to let there anger and the fire out.

[Jeremy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of a young man in Vietnam as told through letters to his younger brother. While the story starts out weak, it gets stronger by the middle of the book but the ending is a disappointment. While the character development of Jimmy is reasonably strong through the novel, his relationship with his absent brother as told through reflection and memories and his developing relationship with his girlfriend are weak. The mean, alcoholic father seems a cliche. This book was average at best.

[Marisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to this a while ago -- it may have actually been earlier than I noted, maybe during my last semester of school. It would have fit with a project I did. Anyway, a 14 or 15 year old boy tries to cope with his brother's absence and eventual disappearance in the Vietnam war. It's kind of heavy handed at times, but quite good overall. Would be a good boy war book.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jimmy's brother Frank has gone off to fight in Vietnam. This book recounts their close-ness through surfing growing up, and all of the secrets that Jimmy learns through Frank's letters. Add to the mix a father who drinks and a mother who can't stand up to him and a touching historical fiction account that is a quick, satisfying read.

[Tyler Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book because it showed the separation issues of family members when one of their family goes to war. It also depicted the hardships of a war like Vietnam where soldiers struggle with drug abuse and nightmares. All in all it was a very interesting book about two very close brothers at different points of their lives.

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an amazing book about brothers who still stay strong even when one leaves for vietnam. The author does a wonderful job with this book. It descriped the way it must have been for families during this time period. I would definatly read it again.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Using the name of a sunken ship off the Florida coast as their own term for surfing together, Jimmy and his brother, Frank, lived a good life until Frank goes away to fight in the Vietnam War--leaving Frank at home and alone to deal with the loss and his family's pain.

[Willis Eckhardt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an awesome book. It was full of adventure and intense moments. I give this book a 5 star rating because it talks about war and trying to get over a drug addiction and it is only 184 pages and doesn't take long to read. Thank you for reading this! :D

[Rshelite · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very different book about a boy who's older brother goes to Vietman and fights. He writes his brother and tells him all about what is going on over there.

[David Vanness]

my copy 184 pages 2003 first edition Candlewick Press.