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What I Came to Tell You
Since his mother died earlier this year, Grover Johnston (named after a character in Thomas Wolfe's Look Homeward Angel) has watched his family fall to pieces as his father throws himself into his work rather than dealing with the pain. Left to care for his younger sister, Sudie, Grover finds solace in creating intricate weavings out of the natural materials found in the bamboo forest behind his North Carolina home, a pursuit that his father sees only as a waste of time.
But as tensions mount between father and son, two unlikely forces conspire to lead the Johnstons on a new path -- a presence that seems to come to Grover in his darkest moments and new tenants in the rental house across the street who have come from deep in the Carolina hills and plopped themselves right into Grover's life. The families seem so different but become increasingly intertwined, bound together in unexpected ways. Until one devastating disaster threatens to tear them apart.
But as tensions mount between father and son, two unlikely forces conspire to lead the Johnstons on a new path -- a presence that seems to come to Grover in his darkest moments and new tenants in the rental house across the street who have come from deep in the Carolina hills and plopped themselves right into Grover's life. The families seem so different but become increasingly intertwined, bound together in unexpected ways. Until one devastating disaster threatens to tear them apart.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2013
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604 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
December 8, 2013
I really enjoyed this book.
One of my favorite passages:
"I think you believe in God. If there wasn't a God, then there'd be no Heaven. There'd be no place for your mother to be."
"How do you know what I believe.... "Besides, believing is for kids. Believing is something people outgrow"...."Or at least they ought to."
"You can never outgrow God," she said....."I see God in your art."
"Where?" Grover looked at the tapestry.
"It's not like that," she said. "It's not something you can point to. It's just a feeling I get when I look at your weavings. ..like I'm looking through a window onto a world I never knew was there."
"Really?" Grover said...."All I do is put things together....it's more like things put themselves together. Like I'm helping nature get a little more organized. Like I'm part of something...I don't know know...something way bigger."
"That's what I'm talking about," Emma Lee said. "Something way bigger. That's God."
"It is?"
"What else could it be?" She asked.
"He picked up a new limb.....and began working it I between the others..."I don't believe in God."
"Maybe your head doesn't," Emma lee said, watching him work, "but your hands sure do."
-pg 122-123.
One of my favorite passages:
"I think you believe in God. If there wasn't a God, then there'd be no Heaven. There'd be no place for your mother to be."
"How do you know what I believe.... "Besides, believing is for kids. Believing is something people outgrow"...."Or at least they ought to."
"You can never outgrow God," she said....."I see God in your art."
"Where?" Grover looked at the tapestry.
"It's not like that," she said. "It's not something you can point to. It's just a feeling I get when I look at your weavings. ..like I'm looking through a window onto a world I never knew was there."
"Really?" Grover said...."All I do is put things together....it's more like things put themselves together. Like I'm helping nature get a little more organized. Like I'm part of something...I don't know know...something way bigger."
"That's what I'm talking about," Emma Lee said. "Something way bigger. That's God."
"It is?"
"What else could it be?" She asked.
"He picked up a new limb.....and began working it I between the others..."I don't believe in God."
"Maybe your head doesn't," Emma lee said, watching him work, "but your hands sure do."
-pg 122-123.
September 1, 2016
This book is special. It tells a loving, sad/happy and beautifully redemptive story of a family, Grover, the older brother, Sudie, his younger sister and their father, who have all been devastated by the loss of their mother and wife in a car accident. This is intelligent writing for kids that you don't find often these days. Nothing is dumbed down (and there is plenty here to make some folks uncomfortable) yet everything is treated respectfully and appropriately. If you're willing to let a story take some time and watch a character try to understand and experience really difficult situations and feelings this is a stunning read. It made me remember why I love children's literature, well really, literature for any age, all over again. It is one of the best books I have ever read.
October 11, 2013
Have you ever read a book and thought, "Wow, I'd love to have a cup of coffee with this author? I just know that I'd like him." That's how I feel about WHAT I CAME TO TELL YOU.
I liked so many things about this novel. The setting is one of my favorite places, Asheville, North Carolina. I enjoyed the literary references to Thomas Wolfe. Most importantly this book made me care about all of the characters, not just Grover and Sudie, but their father, their neighbors, and their classmates. I highlighted several passages on my Kindle because of the sacred truths in them. I especially loved the scene between Grover and Matthew about how bad things just happen in life, and it's nobody's fault.
My one criticism is that Jessie stepped in and saved the bamboo forest. I would rather have seen Grover solve his own dilemma or deal with the fact that he couldn't find a way.
My favorite line in the book is the last one: "My brother's been here the whole time." We could all use a brother as wonderful as Grover.
I liked so many things about this novel. The setting is one of my favorite places, Asheville, North Carolina. I enjoyed the literary references to Thomas Wolfe. Most importantly this book made me care about all of the characters, not just Grover and Sudie, but their father, their neighbors, and their classmates. I highlighted several passages on my Kindle because of the sacred truths in them. I especially loved the scene between Grover and Matthew about how bad things just happen in life, and it's nobody's fault.
My one criticism is that Jessie stepped in and saved the bamboo forest. I would rather have seen Grover solve his own dilemma or deal with the fact that he couldn't find a way.
My favorite line in the book is the last one: "My brother's been here the whole time." We could all use a brother as wonderful as Grover.
May 29, 2013
(nb: I received a review copy from the publisher via Edelweiss)
"What I Came to Tell You" shows a family imploding in grief, and how they find redemption in learning they are not alone.
When Caroline Johnston was hit and killed by a car, she left behind a husband and two children whose lives were crushed. The story follows twelve-year-old Grover. Grover was never an especially social boy, preferring to spend time playing in the bamboo forest next to the family's home. He had friends, and he would visit them and play video games, or go sledding when Asheville was covered in snow.
After his mother died, he retreated into his own head, spending all his time in the woods, making his "weavings," tapestries woven from bamboo, different tree branches, colorful leaves, and whatever other natural materials he could find. He made a few small ones that he left on his mothers grave. As the grief inside him festers, his weavings grow larger and larger, till he has to use a step-ladder to finish the last one.
Grover's assistant and biggest fan is Sudie, his ten-year-old sister. Sudie is the one member of the Johnston family who's dealing with Caroline's loss at all healthily. She's not afraid to cry, and she speaks to her school's counselor frequently. One day at their mother's grave site, she screams to Grover that God is stupid. Her faith isn't shaken; she just can't understand why God would let something so stupid happen.
(Grover says he doesn't believe in God, but he really needs Sudie to have faith, as if she can anchor them both.)
Grover and Sudie's father, Walt, deals with his pain by throwing himself into his job as executive director of the Thomas Wolfe House. He's grown dark circles under his eyes, and doesn't laugh as much.
Helping hold this family together is Jessie, an older man who knew Walt and Caroline before the kids came along. He's a wizened friend to Walt, and a surrogate grandfather for the children. He has the Johnstons over for dinner once a week, and cooks up a storm for Thanksgiving dinner.
Jessie also owns the house across the street from the Johnstons. One day, a family moves into the house. It is this family who will help the Johnstons heal. They can commiserate in their mutual losses. Walt can learn to feel again. Grover finds that he has somebody who understands him, somebody who breaks a tiny hole in the wall around his heart, somebody worth risking his life for one tragic night.
You almost have to count Thomas Wolfe as a character in "What I Came to Tell You," as his spirit hangs over the novel like a shimmering mist. Walt Johnston works at the Thomas Wolfe House, "The Old Kentucky Home," as described in Wolfe's Look Homeward, Angel. Caroline is buried in Riverside Cemetery near Thomas Wolfe's grave. Grover and Sudie were named after characters in "Look Homeward, Angel."
The choices for their names are perfect, too. Grover was a tragic figure, Eugene Gant's quiet brother who got sick and died too young. Sudie was a neighbor, who protected the Gant children when their father went into a drunken rage.
While Grover Johnston doesn't physically die in "What I Came to Tell You," for awhile he's dying on the inside. His little sister, Sudie, is in many ways as much the protector as her namesake. Since their mother's death, Sudie is the one who makes sure they eat their vegetables. She urges her big brother to seek help from the school counselor. She's also Grover's confidante and partner: no matter what happens, Sudie is there by his side.
"What I Came to Tell You" is one of the richest, most beautifully paced novels of the year. It never feels rushed, or telegraphs "THIS IS AN IMPORTANT MOMENT!" It takes its time, showing the simple cadences and everyday lives of a family largely benumbed by tragedy, and their slow but steady path toward healing.
Author Tommy Hays's imagery is lovely. Without being excessive, his descriptions of the old school, various homes, the bamboo forest--even frying chicken--etch themselves in the reader's mind.
Hays has taken a theme often found in literature--a family recovering after a death--and couched it in such an unusual, sensual way that it echoes Thomas Wolfe's richly descriptive twist on the coming-of-age novel in "Look Homeward, Angel."
Each event in Grover's life--no matter how big or small--is like a small knot on a tapestry, or a twig in one of his weavings. Up close, it may not seem like much. But when you step back and see the whole picture, its beauty will stun you.
And Thomas Wolfe would have loved this book.
Most Highly Recommended
"What I Came to Tell You" shows a family imploding in grief, and how they find redemption in learning they are not alone.
When Caroline Johnston was hit and killed by a car, she left behind a husband and two children whose lives were crushed. The story follows twelve-year-old Grover. Grover was never an especially social boy, preferring to spend time playing in the bamboo forest next to the family's home. He had friends, and he would visit them and play video games, or go sledding when Asheville was covered in snow.
After his mother died, he retreated into his own head, spending all his time in the woods, making his "weavings," tapestries woven from bamboo, different tree branches, colorful leaves, and whatever other natural materials he could find. He made a few small ones that he left on his mothers grave. As the grief inside him festers, his weavings grow larger and larger, till he has to use a step-ladder to finish the last one.
Grover's assistant and biggest fan is Sudie, his ten-year-old sister. Sudie is the one member of the Johnston family who's dealing with Caroline's loss at all healthily. She's not afraid to cry, and she speaks to her school's counselor frequently. One day at their mother's grave site, she screams to Grover that God is stupid. Her faith isn't shaken; she just can't understand why God would let something so stupid happen.
(Grover says he doesn't believe in God, but he really needs Sudie to have faith, as if she can anchor them both.)
Grover and Sudie's father, Walt, deals with his pain by throwing himself into his job as executive director of the Thomas Wolfe House. He's grown dark circles under his eyes, and doesn't laugh as much.
Helping hold this family together is Jessie, an older man who knew Walt and Caroline before the kids came along. He's a wizened friend to Walt, and a surrogate grandfather for the children. He has the Johnstons over for dinner once a week, and cooks up a storm for Thanksgiving dinner.
Jessie also owns the house across the street from the Johnstons. One day, a family moves into the house. It is this family who will help the Johnstons heal. They can commiserate in their mutual losses. Walt can learn to feel again. Grover finds that he has somebody who understands him, somebody who breaks a tiny hole in the wall around his heart, somebody worth risking his life for one tragic night.
You almost have to count Thomas Wolfe as a character in "What I Came to Tell You," as his spirit hangs over the novel like a shimmering mist. Walt Johnston works at the Thomas Wolfe House, "The Old Kentucky Home," as described in Wolfe's Look Homeward, Angel. Caroline is buried in Riverside Cemetery near Thomas Wolfe's grave. Grover and Sudie were named after characters in "Look Homeward, Angel."
The choices for their names are perfect, too. Grover was a tragic figure, Eugene Gant's quiet brother who got sick and died too young. Sudie was a neighbor, who protected the Gant children when their father went into a drunken rage.
While Grover Johnston doesn't physically die in "What I Came to Tell You," for awhile he's dying on the inside. His little sister, Sudie, is in many ways as much the protector as her namesake. Since their mother's death, Sudie is the one who makes sure they eat their vegetables. She urges her big brother to seek help from the school counselor. She's also Grover's confidante and partner: no matter what happens, Sudie is there by his side.
"What I Came to Tell You" is one of the richest, most beautifully paced novels of the year. It never feels rushed, or telegraphs "THIS IS AN IMPORTANT MOMENT!" It takes its time, showing the simple cadences and everyday lives of a family largely benumbed by tragedy, and their slow but steady path toward healing.
Author Tommy Hays's imagery is lovely. Without being excessive, his descriptions of the old school, various homes, the bamboo forest--even frying chicken--etch themselves in the reader's mind.
Hays has taken a theme often found in literature--a family recovering after a death--and couched it in such an unusual, sensual way that it echoes Thomas Wolfe's richly descriptive twist on the coming-of-age novel in "Look Homeward, Angel."
Each event in Grover's life--no matter how big or small--is like a small knot on a tapestry, or a twig in one of his weavings. Up close, it may not seem like much. But when you step back and see the whole picture, its beauty will stun you.
And Thomas Wolfe would have loved this book.
Most Highly Recommended
August 6, 2016
Its been awhile since I've read a MG story which I can say REALLy worked for me. What I Came to Tell You has that little something extra special which just makes the book move up from 4 stars to five. Why this book impressed me so much is because its one of those books which really made me feel something for the characters and their situation. This story is set in Asherville, North Carolina. a small southern town. The mood is melancholy, but hopeful. Its told in a third person narrative mainly from the perspective a young man named Grover. Grover lives with his younger sister Sudie and their father. They recently lost their mother in a freak accident. Each one of them is dealing with their grief in different ways. Unfortunately for the kids, their dad throws himself into his job and ends up being non-existent in their day to day lives. When he is around he's grumpy, angry and short-tempered. Grover's grades at school are slipping, the only solace he finds is in a place he called the Bamboo Forrest behind his house. There he crafts tapestries from the bamboo and pieces of the forest. Sudie is plagued with bad dreams. Then a new family moves in next door, one who has also suffered recent losses and gradually everything starts to slowly change for the better. But its never a smooth road when grief is so fresh in one's hearts. The characters in this book were written well. Each played the perfect part and especially felt very believable. A lot of emotion and thoughtfulness went into writing these characters. Grover, the MC, is a smart kid. Throughout the story I couldn't help but feel so terrible for his situation. I could totally feel his grief and it hurt. Sudie was a sweet, innocent and very adorable kid sister. Grover's father seemed real. He loved his children, but was struggling with his own grief. I appreciated how he realized his fallacies and as the book progressed became a better person and father. This book was a tear jerker at times. It was a powerful read, one which really tugged at my heart strings. I enjoyed this story immensely. It wasn't a fast paced or action packed reading. Pacing to me felt ideal for the story. I like how in the beginning the author only gave small hints about their mother's death, but as the story continues the reader eventually finds out what really happens. This is a story riddled with guilt. Its about redemption and forgiving yourself and especially its about picking up the pieces and beginning a new life, giving yourself permission to live again. Because "some things just happen". This is a stand alone novel. When I reached the end of this one I felt totally satisfied with its resolution. I would stongly recommend this book to readers middle grade and up. The only warning I do have is their is a very subtle reference to parents having sexual relations and one other reference to how boys feel sexually towards girls. Otherwise I feel like this is a very clean read, one which can be enjoyed by all.
February 10, 2015
Asheville, NC, 2011. For 12 year old Grover and his younger sister Sudie, this has been a bad year. Their mother was killed in a car accident, and their father has vanished into his job as executive director of the famous Asheville author Thomas Wolfe’s House. What keeps Grover sane is working in the ‘bamboo forest’ on the vacant lot next door on what he calls ‘weavings’ made of bamboo and other natural objects. New in the neighborhood are Emma Lee and Clay, who’ve moved in across the street with their mother Leila. Although Grover tries to ignore them, they, along with many others, are pulling him gradually back into the world he wanted to leave when his mother died. Although there are many bumps along the way—his father dismissing his art as child’s play and ordering him to stop and grow up, the possibility that his father will lose his job because attendance is low at the historic house, and worst of all, the landowner planning to rip out the bamboo forest—Grover does at last find a path out of grief, and recognition for his art.
I thought this was a lovely book, and the ups and downs Grover feels were very real to a 12 year old trying to understand his loss and throwing his feelings into his art. I liked all the characters, who all had flaws (Sudie was maybe too perfect), and thought the author did a good job of setting the story firmly in Asheville. I liked the meandering structure of the story, which managed to hold a lot of plotlines together at once—rather like real life. I wasn’t terribly surprised by the ending, but I enjoyed it anyway. Overall, this one was a winner for me. My one slight concern is that the overhearing of parental sex might be problematic for some schools/libraries.
I thought this was a lovely book, and the ups and downs Grover feels were very real to a 12 year old trying to understand his loss and throwing his feelings into his art. I liked all the characters, who all had flaws (Sudie was maybe too perfect), and thought the author did a good job of setting the story firmly in Asheville. I liked the meandering structure of the story, which managed to hold a lot of plotlines together at once—rather like real life. I wasn’t terribly surprised by the ending, but I enjoyed it anyway. Overall, this one was a winner for me. My one slight concern is that the overhearing of parental sex might be problematic for some schools/libraries.
December 2, 2013
See complete review at http://soimfifty.blogspot.com/2013/12/mmgm-what-i-came-to-tell-you-by-tommy.html
"What I Came To Tell You," is the kind of book that starts out quiet, builds slowly, ends too soon and leaves an emotional punch that stays with you long afterward. This would be an excellent book to read-aloud, because it may begin too slowly for some middle grade readers. These types of books are few and far between and often lost in the action-packed fantasy and non-stop humor books that fill our middle grade shelves. The characters alone are worth the trip to Asheville, North Carolina, where the book is set. As an educator, I see several wonderful tie-ins for integrated curriculum: art-weaving, math-grids, literature-Wolfe, science-nature and conservation. I still have a great desire to create my own weaving of twigs, grasses and leaves. I highly recommend this book because of it's themes and opportunities for dialogue.
"What I Came To Tell You," is the kind of book that starts out quiet, builds slowly, ends too soon and leaves an emotional punch that stays with you long afterward. This would be an excellent book to read-aloud, because it may begin too slowly for some middle grade readers. These types of books are few and far between and often lost in the action-packed fantasy and non-stop humor books that fill our middle grade shelves. The characters alone are worth the trip to Asheville, North Carolina, where the book is set. As an educator, I see several wonderful tie-ins for integrated curriculum: art-weaving, math-grids, literature-Wolfe, science-nature and conservation. I still have a great desire to create my own weaving of twigs, grasses and leaves. I highly recommend this book because of it's themes and opportunities for dialogue.
December 28, 2013
This book was delightful in every way. It was especially meaningful to me because I raised my children in Montford in the 1990s, so the book was filled with memories for me.
January 31, 2014
Both the artistic process and the process of grief are woven into this tale of community and healing.
October 30, 2019
Most readers seem to like this. I'll agree with their praise for the strong sense of place. As a reader who spent only one day in Asheville several years ago, and spent it all at Biltmore, I found myself sorry to have missed the Wolfe House. Also, as someone who has lived several decades in a place that does not see winter, I appreciated the realistic depictions of snowfalls and freezing wind.
That's the part I liked. And if I were in the targeted age range, I might've responded to the awkward attraction growing between Grover and Emma Lee. But in general the characters and their situation didn't work for me. They have real-life problems, to be sure: a recent tragedy from which Grover's family can't seem to recover; the threatened closing of the Wolfe House, for which Grover's father is director; an unattractive tendency on the father's part toward defeatism, and the fact that Grover's special "Bamboo Forest" is up for sale. Even so, the tone felt saccharine to me. Everybody is kind and supportive (everybody except for the mostly absent evil city commissioner). Maybe I've been out of the South too long, but the enthusiastic help and encouragement they get from all sides does not feel realistic to me.
And the climactic scene follows the same facile track as that in, say, the movie Bedtime Stories. At least, that comparison that came to mind as I read it. Life involves serious issues, and villains too, but in this book's universe comfort is always available for those who're open to it, and somehow everything works out pretty well. Is that a requirement when you're writing for this audience?
I noticed a couple minor glitches, the sort of thing that typically is caught by beta readers. On page 70, Grover's dad asks, "Are the kids here?" That seems odd, because a couple minutes earlier, on page 69, they had arrived and he'd said, "Oh, hey, kids." On page 159 Grover feels guilty because he has seen Emily Lee through the window in her nightgown; but on the previous page the person in the nightgown was Leila, her mother. These aren't major flaws, but they give the impression someone wasn't paying close attention.
When I read a MG book, it's always partly an audition to see if it's something my 7th grader would like. I got him onto author Stuart Gibbs in that way. It's safe to say he would find this one pretty dull. A girl his age might feel otherwise about it.
That's the part I liked. And if I were in the targeted age range, I might've responded to the awkward attraction growing between Grover and Emma Lee. But in general the characters and their situation didn't work for me. They have real-life problems, to be sure: a recent tragedy from which Grover's family can't seem to recover; the threatened closing of the Wolfe House, for which Grover's father is director; an unattractive tendency on the father's part toward defeatism, and the fact that Grover's special "Bamboo Forest" is up for sale. Even so, the tone felt saccharine to me. Everybody is kind and supportive (everybody except for the mostly absent evil city commissioner). Maybe I've been out of the South too long, but the enthusiastic help and encouragement they get from all sides does not feel realistic to me.
And the climactic scene follows the same facile track as that in, say, the movie Bedtime Stories. At least, that comparison that came to mind as I read it. Life involves serious issues, and villains too, but in this book's universe comfort is always available for those who're open to it, and somehow everything works out pretty well. Is that a requirement when you're writing for this audience?
I noticed a couple minor glitches, the sort of thing that typically is caught by beta readers. On page 70, Grover's dad asks, "Are the kids here?" That seems odd, because a couple minutes earlier, on page 69, they had arrived and he'd said, "Oh, hey, kids." On page 159 Grover feels guilty because he has seen Emily Lee through the window in her nightgown; but on the previous page the person in the nightgown was Leila, her mother. These aren't major flaws, but they give the impression someone wasn't paying close attention.
When I read a MG book, it's always partly an audition to see if it's something my 7th grader would like. I got him onto author Stuart Gibbs in that way. It's safe to say he would find this one pretty dull. A girl his age might feel otherwise about it.
August 10, 2022
Puplished in 2013, What I Came to Tell You feels a bit dated. Cell phones are not quite as ubiquitous, and even a world that takes a mom, a dad, and a sledding 3rd grader seems gentler, slower, kinder than now. The Fantastic Mr. Fox must have been all the rage. How realistic is Emma Lee's and Grover's relationship? It seemed just a bit too mature for 6th grade while Sesame Street seemed a bit to immature for a 3rd grader. I felt hints of To Kill a Mockingbird in Matthew's quiet care for the kids. I loved how Hays deals with grief, God, religion, faith, and unbelief. I loved the relationship btwn Grover and Sudie.
I can't wait to visit Riverside Cemetery and the Thomas Wolfe home. I need to go back to Look Homeward Angel, which I started years ago and never finished.
Progressive, courageous treatment of sex and marriage. Not all teachers/parents may be comfortable with how Hays handles these ... or matters of faith.
I can't wait to visit Riverside Cemetery and the Thomas Wolfe home. I need to go back to Look Homeward Angel, which I started years ago and never finished.
Progressive, courageous treatment of sex and marriage. Not all teachers/parents may be comfortable with how Hays handles these ... or matters of faith.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 25, 2017
When Grover's mom died in a terrible accident, he lives with the guilt that he could have done something to stop it. His family is falling apart - his dad is distant and distracted by his failing museum, he is responsible for his sister Sudie, and he is obsessed with building intricate weavings out of the bamboo forest behind his home. His father's distain for his "art" leads to mounting tensions between them. New neighbors arrive to disrupt the family dynamic even more and a mysterious force keeps popping up just when Grover needs it the most.
A compelling, touching, story of family love, grief, redemption, friends, and local politics.
A fast read, oddly readable and addicting, and full of memorable characters.
A compelling, touching, story of family love, grief, redemption, friends, and local politics.
A fast read, oddly readable and addicting, and full of memorable characters.
January 16, 2020
I read this book in elementary school, and its themes of family, grieving, and growth spoke to me in ways I didn’t understand until I became older. One of the main things I took away from this book was the ways in which people grieve and move forward. After a death, there’s feelings of constant tension that are easy to run away from, but crucial to confront. Hayes covers guilt in being happy after a devastating event, finding new love in the ‘after’ of life, and how best to move forward without necessarily moving on. This read is heartfelt and well-paced if you appreciate every subplot. I recommend to those learning new things to accept about themselves.
March 25, 2017
At first I wasn't sure about this book. Sudie starts out by calling things stupid that should never be given such a name. When I learn that she is angry/ sad about her mother's death, then I give her some time to feel better. Her brother Grover also struggles with his mother's death, but doesn't talk about it as much. He holds it in. One thing that makes him happy is weaving tapestry w/ bamboo in the forest. Then he is told that the one place he finds solace will soon be leveled by chain saws...
August 9, 2025
What I Came To Tell You tells the story of 12-year-old Grover as he grapples with the loss of his mother. Throughout his journey of grief, the author, Tommy Hays, explores Grover's relationships with family, neighbors, and friends. I really identify with the bond between Grover and his younger sister, Sudie, because it reminds me of my own relationship with my older brother. So, even though the book is aimed at a middle school audience, I find it incredibly moving and highly recommend it.
January 4, 2019
This book is my favorite book I have ever read in my entire lifetime. Hays did a beautiful job describing Grover and his love for weaving things in the bamboo forest. This book was the perfect mix of melancholy and so many other things. Only a very skilled author could make me feel the emotions just felt reading this book.
September 29, 2020
"In North Carolina, twelve-year-old Grover deals with his mother's death by creating artistic nature weavings behind his home in a bamboo forest. As tensions between Grover and his father increase, new neighbors become involved with Grover's family in unexpected ways."
quit boring tbh
quit boring tbh
January 21, 2018
This book read more like a cartoon. Most of the writing was mediocre. Occasional lines were beautiful, but i really think this should have been an animated movie.
February 15, 2019
*3.5 stars
September 15, 2013
3.5/5 stars
What I Came To Tell You is a good, but sad story, that tackles both grief and growing up. Set in Asheville, North Carolina, the book has Appalachian roots and a distinct sense of place without getting into the touchy area of dialect (meaning dialect can be well done, or it can be poorly done, difficult to read and offensive).
The story follows Grover, a young 12-year-old boy who recently lost his mother in a sudden accident. There was no long illness or expectation like in many other stories about grief, just a tragic death, and Grover doesn't know how to cope. Grover has always been a bit of an artist but after his mother's death he spends all of his time in the bamboo forest behind his house creating beautiful weavings out of the plants he finds in the woods.
Overall I like this book. It's a good book that deals with the impact of grief, not just on the main character Grover but on his family as a whole. It captures the anger and the guilt, not just the sadness that most people associate with grief. Grief radiates outward, spreading its affect in all relationships, as well as work and school work. The portrayal of grief felt accurate, capturing grief's widespread, long-lasting and complex impact on the life of Grover, his family and friends.
Sam took a couple steps towards Grover. "You stopped riding bikes with me, stopped skateboarding with me, stopped coming to our house." He shrugged. "Stopped being my friend.
"I already told you--"
"Just because your mother is dead doesn't mean you have to be."
The book did have some flaws. There was one section where two adults (behind closed doors) have sex. By describing the squeaking of the bed and other sounds, the book made it clear to me, as an adult, these two characters were having sex. My first thought was "Even though this is a middle grade book maybe kids won't notice." Then Grover explains that he knows what he overheard because they'd learned about sex in school. Adults having consensual sex doesn't bother (heck in some books I cheer for it) but this book is distinctively middle grade, and the scene felt out of place and odd. Even though it pushed the plot forward, I feel like this could've been done differently and had the same impact story-wise. (I'm curious what parents think of this, so if you have kids let me know it he comments).
As a middle-grade novel, this book has a lot of important themes - grief, growing up, change, etc. While at times it might seem like too much for one book to deal with, I believe it's true to life. Very rarely does life just throw one obstacle at you. Instead life seems to dump them all on you at once and expect you to figure it out. As an Appalachian, I'm glad to see a story set in our region that's not about fixing Appalachia but where the mountains and culture are a backdrop to a self-contained story. While this may not be the best middle-grade book tackling grief (Bridge to Terabithia has that honor), it's still a good, truthful and enjoyable book.
I received an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
On my blog Galavanting Girl Books I am having a giveaway for a hardcover of this book. Check it out!
What I Came To Tell You is a good, but sad story, that tackles both grief and growing up. Set in Asheville, North Carolina, the book has Appalachian roots and a distinct sense of place without getting into the touchy area of dialect (meaning dialect can be well done, or it can be poorly done, difficult to read and offensive).
The story follows Grover, a young 12-year-old boy who recently lost his mother in a sudden accident. There was no long illness or expectation like in many other stories about grief, just a tragic death, and Grover doesn't know how to cope. Grover has always been a bit of an artist but after his mother's death he spends all of his time in the bamboo forest behind his house creating beautiful weavings out of the plants he finds in the woods.
Overall I like this book. It's a good book that deals with the impact of grief, not just on the main character Grover but on his family as a whole. It captures the anger and the guilt, not just the sadness that most people associate with grief. Grief radiates outward, spreading its affect in all relationships, as well as work and school work. The portrayal of grief felt accurate, capturing grief's widespread, long-lasting and complex impact on the life of Grover, his family and friends.
Sam took a couple steps towards Grover. "You stopped riding bikes with me, stopped skateboarding with me, stopped coming to our house." He shrugged. "Stopped being my friend.
"I already told you--"
"Just because your mother is dead doesn't mean you have to be."
The book did have some flaws. There was one section where two adults (behind closed doors) have sex. By describing the squeaking of the bed and other sounds, the book made it clear to me, as an adult, these two characters were having sex. My first thought was "Even though this is a middle grade book maybe kids won't notice." Then Grover explains that he knows what he overheard because they'd learned about sex in school. Adults having consensual sex doesn't bother (heck in some books I cheer for it) but this book is distinctively middle grade, and the scene felt out of place and odd. Even though it pushed the plot forward, I feel like this could've been done differently and had the same impact story-wise. (I'm curious what parents think of this, so if you have kids let me know it he comments).
As a middle-grade novel, this book has a lot of important themes - grief, growing up, change, etc. While at times it might seem like too much for one book to deal with, I believe it's true to life. Very rarely does life just throw one obstacle at you. Instead life seems to dump them all on you at once and expect you to figure it out. As an Appalachian, I'm glad to see a story set in our region that's not about fixing Appalachia but where the mountains and culture are a backdrop to a self-contained story. While this may not be the best middle-grade book tackling grief (Bridge to Terabithia has that honor), it's still a good, truthful and enjoyable book.
I received an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
On my blog Galavanting Girl Books I am having a giveaway for a hardcover of this book. Check it out!
September 10, 2013
Weavings in the bamboo forest.
This is a coming of age story set in North Carolina, US. It is narrated by twelve year old Grover Johnston, who is grieving the death of his mother in a recent car accident, for which he feels responsible - if he'd collected Fantastic Mister Fox from Videolife, it would never have happened.
Grover was always a bit of a loner, but after his mother's death he has retreated into himself and spends every waking moment in the nearby bamboo forest, where he weaves structures interlaced with twigs and leaves.
At first he made smaller weavings to decorate his mother's grave, but as time passed he found his weavings were becoming larger and larger, actually woven into the forest because they needed the support of living bamboo.
Grover's sister, Sudie, is two years younger and loves to help Grover with his weavings. Their father is coping with his grief by spending more and more time at work and they are left largely to their own devices.
When stakes appear around the bamboo forest, closely followed by sign boards advertising its sale, Grover is devastated that the one place where he can find solace might be taken from him.
While their father's old friend, Jessie, holds things together, with hot pot meals and support, another influence arrives in the shape of a family that moves in over the road. A mother and two children who have lost their father to war, gradually become more and more important in the lives of the Johnston family.
I was disappointed with this novel, the cover art is very dated and the book has a corresponding feel. I would not have been at all surprised if I had been told that this book was written in 1980. The title doesn't really sell itself either, being rather unmemorable. The narrative was very American, with frequent use of the phrase "y'all" and similar Americanisms. I cannot imagine this book appealing to the boys who I look after, maybe it would be better received by girls, even though the main character is a boy.
Many books have been written with children coming to terms with loss and in my opinion this is, sadly, not one of the better ones.
This is a coming of age story set in North Carolina, US. It is narrated by twelve year old Grover Johnston, who is grieving the death of his mother in a recent car accident, for which he feels responsible - if he'd collected Fantastic Mister Fox from Videolife, it would never have happened.
Grover was always a bit of a loner, but after his mother's death he has retreated into himself and spends every waking moment in the nearby bamboo forest, where he weaves structures interlaced with twigs and leaves.
At first he made smaller weavings to decorate his mother's grave, but as time passed he found his weavings were becoming larger and larger, actually woven into the forest because they needed the support of living bamboo.
Grover's sister, Sudie, is two years younger and loves to help Grover with his weavings. Their father is coping with his grief by spending more and more time at work and they are left largely to their own devices.
When stakes appear around the bamboo forest, closely followed by sign boards advertising its sale, Grover is devastated that the one place where he can find solace might be taken from him.
While their father's old friend, Jessie, holds things together, with hot pot meals and support, another influence arrives in the shape of a family that moves in over the road. A mother and two children who have lost their father to war, gradually become more and more important in the lives of the Johnston family.
I was disappointed with this novel, the cover art is very dated and the book has a corresponding feel. I would not have been at all surprised if I had been told that this book was written in 1980. The title doesn't really sell itself either, being rather unmemorable. The narrative was very American, with frequent use of the phrase "y'all" and similar Americanisms. I cannot imagine this book appealing to the boys who I look after, maybe it would be better received by girls, even though the main character is a boy.
Many books have been written with children coming to terms with loss and in my opinion this is, sadly, not one of the better ones.
April 10, 2015
Grover and his family are still reeling from the unexpected, accidental loss of his mother as she was walking to the video store to rent a DVD for their family movie night. Each member of the family is dealing with grief and loss in their own way and still trying to come together as a family, but at varying stages of the grief process this is difficult. Grover can’t let go if his role in the loss, as his mother was only heading in that direction because he did not do as she asked and pick up the movie for her. He also must protect his younger sister, Sudie in the fact that it was the movie she really wanted so the mother was going to surprise her with the DVD.
Grover deals with his pain by weaving intricate bamboo tapestries from the bamboo and other natural materials found in a grove between his house and the cemetery. At first, the weavings are small and are taken to his mother’s grave, and then they grow larger becoming woven in the grove itself. His project is not appreciated by his father as it takes away from what the father thinks is truly important, his grades and studies and the owner of the lot who is also a town councilman trying to sell the lot and also shut down the local history museum his father runs. The ending brings them all together as the world finds out about his tapestries.
The difficult storyline will appeal to readers struggling with their own growing pains. Grover is growing up and he views the world from both sides of youth, that of a sheltered child and as an almost teenager who is fully aware that the world is not a fair place. He deals with his problems in both ways as he struggles to find self-actualization. I would recommend this book for middle school students on up as it has some content, like the father dating that would be more appropriate for a young adult audience. This review was of the paperback edition which also includes a reader’s guide of activities and questions that could be used in classrooms or book discussions.
I would recommend this book for any middle school or public library.
This book was provided by the publisher for professional review by SWON Libraries.
Grover deals with his pain by weaving intricate bamboo tapestries from the bamboo and other natural materials found in a grove between his house and the cemetery. At first, the weavings are small and are taken to his mother’s grave, and then they grow larger becoming woven in the grove itself. His project is not appreciated by his father as it takes away from what the father thinks is truly important, his grades and studies and the owner of the lot who is also a town councilman trying to sell the lot and also shut down the local history museum his father runs. The ending brings them all together as the world finds out about his tapestries.
The difficult storyline will appeal to readers struggling with their own growing pains. Grover is growing up and he views the world from both sides of youth, that of a sheltered child and as an almost teenager who is fully aware that the world is not a fair place. He deals with his problems in both ways as he struggles to find self-actualization. I would recommend this book for middle school students on up as it has some content, like the father dating that would be more appropriate for a young adult audience. This review was of the paperback edition which also includes a reader’s guide of activities and questions that could be used in classrooms or book discussions.
I would recommend this book for any middle school or public library.
This book was provided by the publisher for professional review by SWON Libraries.
December 16, 2013
Tommy Hays is a master at creating complex, well-developed characters who come to life within a vividly drawn sense of place. In the first scene of What I Came to Tell You, we meet the main character, twelve-year-old Grover Johnston, and his younger sister, Sudie, as they struggle with the death of their mother, and the distance of their grieving father. As the story unfolds, Grover becomes friends with a new girl in the neighborhood, whose kindness and understanding eventually help him through the hardest time of his young life.
Feeling grief, anger, guilt and confusion, Grover seeks refuge in art and nature in the Bamboo Forest near his Asheville home. Much like Grover’s bamboo “weavings,” Hays weaves a rich tapestry of characters, scenes and themes through beautifully crafted dialogue and narrative that engage the reader from beginning to end. These are true-to-life characters we care deeply about as they find ways to heal from loss and get on with life.
My heart went out to Grover as I reflected on my own experience of loss. Growing up, my greatest fear was that my parents would die, leaving me alone to take care of my little sister. I wish I’d had this book back then, and later on when I did lose my parents, to offer comfort and hope. The resilience of the human spirit shines through as the family is lifted beyond profound grief through connection to nature, community, inner strength and a sense of something larger than themselves and their current circumstances.
In all of his novels, Hays gives us heartfelt wisdom with his own blend of humor, grace and integrity. His writing brings to mind the words of author Brenda Ueland, who describes good writing as “a generosity, not a performance.” What I Came to Tell You may be his most generous offering yet.
Feeling grief, anger, guilt and confusion, Grover seeks refuge in art and nature in the Bamboo Forest near his Asheville home. Much like Grover’s bamboo “weavings,” Hays weaves a rich tapestry of characters, scenes and themes through beautifully crafted dialogue and narrative that engage the reader from beginning to end. These are true-to-life characters we care deeply about as they find ways to heal from loss and get on with life.
My heart went out to Grover as I reflected on my own experience of loss. Growing up, my greatest fear was that my parents would die, leaving me alone to take care of my little sister. I wish I’d had this book back then, and later on when I did lose my parents, to offer comfort and hope. The resilience of the human spirit shines through as the family is lifted beyond profound grief through connection to nature, community, inner strength and a sense of something larger than themselves and their current circumstances.
In all of his novels, Hays gives us heartfelt wisdom with his own blend of humor, grace and integrity. His writing brings to mind the words of author Brenda Ueland, who describes good writing as “a generosity, not a performance.” What I Came to Tell You may be his most generous offering yet.
January 9, 2014
Sixth grader Grover Johnston and his younger sister Sudie are still in shock from the death of their mother who was struck and killed by a car. Grover deals with his grief by shutting out his friend Sam and spending hours in the nearby bamboo groves in Asheville, North Carolina, where he fashions wreaths from natural materials. His father who struggles to make ends meet at the Thomas Wolfe boarding house dismisses his efforts and is unable to see their artistic potential. I kind of wondered about his blind spot on this point since he was so enamored with the writing of native son, Wolfe, making me surprised that he wouldn't support another type of self-expression. When a family from the mountains moves into the neighborhood, both Grover and his father see glimmers of hope in their new neighbors. But Grover knows that it's only a matter of time until he loses the bamboo grove since its owner, one of the city commissioners, has plans to develop the area. Readers will chortle at how things turn out as well as Grover's nascent romantic efforts. Along the way, though, they'll surely be wiping their eyes in empathy for this long-suffering family. Although it isn't a huge part of the story, one of the best scenes involves Ashley, one of Grover's classmates, who denigrates mountain girl Emma Lee as a hillbilly, an insult on the par of using the "n" word, according to another classmate. That anecdote made me stop and think. While the story itself is heartfelt and well written, there is quite a lot of emoting and thinking and not enough action for most middle grade readers.
June 16, 2014
This is a powerful book about love and loss for middle grade readers. Grover, his sister Sudie, and their father have struggled since the death of their mother/wife with being a newly-configured family. Their family-friend Jessie is the one person who has seemed to be providing some degree of normalcy. But the fact is, that none of them are really doing well with adjusting to their new normal. Grover finds solace in creating tapestries from items found in nature (although he certainly doesn't think of what he is doing in those terms). He has created a workshop in the "bamboo forest" next to their house and spends as much time as possible there creating amazing works that he is not ready to share with his father or others.
When Leila and her two children, Clay and Emma Lee, move into the rental house across the street, Grover's world is no longer just his own. Initially, he is bothered by both kids' presence and prefers to be left alone. As time goes on, he learns to let others into his life, and the friendship that develops is very important to them all.
Life can be messy, and these children are definitely caught in a very messy stage now. I think that intermediate and middle grade readers will find the characters to be believable and the story to be rich and engrossing.
(1,DM-1)
When Leila and her two children, Clay and Emma Lee, move into the rental house across the street, Grover's world is no longer just his own. Initially, he is bothered by both kids' presence and prefers to be left alone. As time goes on, he learns to let others into his life, and the friendship that develops is very important to them all.
Life can be messy, and these children are definitely caught in a very messy stage now. I think that intermediate and middle grade readers will find the characters to be believable and the story to be rich and engrossing.
(1,DM-1)
February 11, 2014
Grover’s mom died recently in a car accident and his family starts falling to pieces in their grief. He is left taking care of Sudie, his younger sister, while their father throws himself into his non-profit job. Grover, a loner by nature, weaves beautiful tapestries in the bamboo forest next to his house. His father thinks they are a waste of time and wants Grover to work on his grades instead. When new neighbors move from the hills into the house across the street and the bamboo lot is going to be sold, life becomes more complicated for the whole family.
Loved this book! A great book to recommended for any kid needing help knowing that life goes on after a tragedy. I liked how art was emphasized for its healing nature and the sibling bond between Grover and Sudie.was wonderful. The adults were not perfect and had to adapt to loss in their own imperfect ways. Couldn’t put this book squarely in the YA section as the character is only 12 and the action is not…active enough. However, a ten year old may not be ready to deal with a parent’s sexual life after being widowed. Older middle school? While the main character is a boy, I think this story will appeal to girls more. Great book for a YA adult book club read.
Loved this book! A great book to recommended for any kid needing help knowing that life goes on after a tragedy. I liked how art was emphasized for its healing nature and the sibling bond between Grover and Sudie.was wonderful. The adults were not perfect and had to adapt to loss in their own imperfect ways. Couldn’t put this book squarely in the YA section as the character is only 12 and the action is not…active enough. However, a ten year old may not be ready to deal with a parent’s sexual life after being widowed. Older middle school? While the main character is a boy, I think this story will appeal to girls more. Great book for a YA adult book club read.
April 26, 2016
Losing their mother after being hit by a car when chasing after their dog, Biscuit, Grover and Sudie are living with grief, guilt, and sadness every day. Their father has engulfed himself in his work as director of the Thomas Wolfe House, an author who made their town in North Carolina famous in a way. Grover, on the other hand, has lost himself in his artistic work in the "Bamboo Forest", an empty lot behind their house where he weaves magnificent tapestries to satisfy his need for solace.
Many events converge to help this frail family overcome the grief that has consumed their lives. A new family moves in across the street, a resonating realization that things happen for no reason, and bonding over the imminent destruction of the bamboo forest all bring this once-close-knit family back together again. What is most satisfying is that they eventually do find their way back to one another and begin to see the beauty and joy in life once again.
What I Came to Tell You reads as a children's novel, yet in a few parts it takes on a very adult-like conversation between father and son, which makes it inappropriate for elementary or even tween shelves in school. Too bad since its methodical and cathartic journey could speak to that age group.
Many events converge to help this frail family overcome the grief that has consumed their lives. A new family moves in across the street, a resonating realization that things happen for no reason, and bonding over the imminent destruction of the bamboo forest all bring this once-close-knit family back together again. What is most satisfying is that they eventually do find their way back to one another and begin to see the beauty and joy in life once again.
What I Came to Tell You reads as a children's novel, yet in a few parts it takes on a very adult-like conversation between father and son, which makes it inappropriate for elementary or even tween shelves in school. Too bad since its methodical and cathartic journey could speak to that age group.
October 29, 2013
Like the tapestries Grover creates out of materials found in the bamboo forest by his house, What I Came to Tell You is a beautifully woven work of art. When his mother is killed in a car accident Grover, his sister Sudie and their father are left reeling. With his father withdrawn and on edge, Grover takes refuge in the bamboo forest on the vacant lot next to the family's home. One day a soccer ball comes flying into the forest and hits his current bamboo weaving. The ball belongs to Clay, whose family just moved into the house across the street from Grover's house. Grover and his family slowly become friends with Clay, his sister Emma Lee and their mother. With the lightness this friendship brings into their lives, Grover and his family begin to recover from their loss. But other challenges still loom; the owner of the vacant lot where Grover's bamboo sanctuary stands decides to sell and Grover's father's job is on the line. The struggles Grover and his family face are softened by the deep love they have for each other. Family, friendship, art, growing up, love, and loss are all wonderfully woven into this story filled with vivid characters.
October 16, 2013
I picked up this book because I love Tommy Hays' writing and I was not disappointed. The book takes place in Asheville, and takes advantage of the setting and uses real places in Asheville as the setting for different events. As a UNC-Asheville student, that won me over. But the writing was fantastic too.By the second or third chapter I felt connected to the characters and invested in their personal feelings. As a book about grief, it also in terms of sadness and comedy seemed to be like the cycles of grief that i had experienced. At first I found myself crying from the events of the book, then laughing for the next few chapters before suddenly crying again because something sad randomly came out. I loved the hope that this book left you with, that although grief is part of life after loss it isn't a bad thing or the only thing. I thought Tommy Hays did a great job and would recommend this book.
December 4, 2016
This book was a fantastic read in my opinion. It was really sad, but at the same time very relatable. The characters in the book are dealing with deaths of family members, and are drawn together to develop support and trust in each other. I personally found it funny how some of the inappropriate details were described very generally (and you will understand once you read the book), since this was written for kids around upper elementary and middle school ages. Tommy Hays was able to develop an interesting, surprising plot that ended with a happy ending. The main character, Grover, learns that change is not bad, and that sometimes there is no blame for things. There are multiple lessons presented about life that help the characters in the book develop and come closer together. Overall, this book was a very touching story that showed how change can benefit what you believe will not change.
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