Stitches

by Glen Huser

Travis has been waiting to get to junior high. When that time finally comes, things are both better, and worse, than he had hoped. On the plus side are two great new teachers. On the minus side there's Shon Docker, Travis's old tormenter from elementary school.

Travis lives in a trailer park outside a small prairie town. His mother, a country-and-western singer, is on the road a lot; his father is long gone. When things get crazy at his house, he can always visit his best friend, Chantelle, a smart disabled girl with several wild biker brothers.

Travis knows he's different. He loves to sew and play with puppets. He wants to become a professional puppeteer. It all makes him a target for Shon and his friends. As Travis and his friends happily prepare a puppet production of A Midsummer Night's Dream for the school graduation festivities, Shon's anger and prejudice erupt in violence.

Genres: Young Adult, Canada, Fiction, Contemporary, Middle Grade

200 pages, Paperback

First published July 21, 2003

About the author

Glen Huser was born in Ashmont, AB, on February 1, 1943 - he was, in fact, born in Elk Point, AB, as Ashmont did not have a hospital. A former teacher-librarian, he is the founder of Magpie, a quarterly magazine that showcases student writing and graphics.

He has served on the board of directors of both the Young Alberta Book Society and the Edmonton chapter of the Children’s Literature Roundtable, and he is the long-standing children’s book reviewer for the Edmonton Journal. Glen currently teaches library and information studies at the University of Alberta.

Reviews

[Summer B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this was shelved in the YA section of my library, I would definitely put it firmly in Middle Grade. I've been looking for books that introduce GLBT themes before YA, and this is one of them.

I definitely know the fashion/drama obsessed boys he's referencing with the main character, Travis, but it may be hard for the average middle school boy not to see Travis as a caricature of a gay kid. The antagonists are bullies, and we never see any motive for why. We also don't see them learning any lessons, or their reactions in the end.

I felt the ending was a bit rushed, too fast to tie up all the loose ends. I'm still giving it four stars because I think there needs to be more books for MG where there are portrayals of GLBT issues, but I would have liked it more if the ending had come through stronger.

[CaseyTheCanadianLesbrarian · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was kinda meh for me. Something about it never grabbed me. The story was super predictable for one thing. I also feel like it didn't capture a kid's perspective--it really felt like an adult one instead. I did like the rural country Alberta details; the adults and some of their funny country sayings felt very real to me in a way that the kids never did. Also, pacing was really weird--like it covered a lot of time but not a lot really happened. And it skipped forward in time without using some kind of symbol or spacing so that it was very confusing--you thought you were reading the same scene and then realized the narrative had moved on. Also I am not a fan of homophobic bullying being the only so-called exciting thing / action to happen. I guess it felt like the novel lacked the detail to really capture your imagination and make you feel like you were actually witnessing events. It felt like someone telling you about then afterward rather than the author showing you them.

[Lanelibrarylady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chronicles the lives of two kids who became friends in the 5th grade...Chantelle's got some physical handicaps, and barely speaks to anyone, and Travis is "different". Without the book actually saying it, you come to realize that he's gay. The book follows the students and their experiences with respect (or really, the lack thereof)and bullying from other classmates. Travis finds some creative solace in his puppets, and begins to involve some other students in his performances but not without a ton of flack from the "popular" kids. When the teasing evolves into violence, he finds out just how dedicated his friends really are. Sensitive and realistic...a good read for all middle-schoolers.

[Suetheartist · Rating 2 out of 5]

Excellent storyline with good flowing words and smooth transitions. Bullying, peer pressure are the force behind the story. Mixed with a disabled girl who is befriended by a young boy who is gay in a school system that is failing to protect them. Being different and the struggles to survive is so realistic.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Travis & Chantelle, misfits and puppeteers, face bullies; rough home lives

[K.Heart · Rating 2 out of 5]

i did not like this book, it looked cool when i got it, but it felt like nothing happened in the book, and they skip time so many times they could have been adults for all i knew. the only charters i remember are the main guys friend (shes my favorite) his aunt and his uncle, to be honest i was more invested in there story then his. at one point in the book the bully's stoped being bully's and started harassing him, they should have gone to jail. it was vary confusing and i didn't know who half of the charters where, like when he took his cosines to the store there where two playing in the mud, and one had a girl name (i think it was Alice? correct me if im wrong) and i was like "yeah! a tom-boy girl! just like me!" but then a couple chapters later they said he was a boy, this happened a lot. i liked the ending for the most part but, i kinda wish he had gotten together with his friend, maybe its because i like those kinda books, but, eh. overall it was ok, i wouldnt read it again but if you have a long car trip this would be something to pack.

[Suzanne Montigny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bravo

A profound and timeless story. Glen Huser speaks from the soul. A story every teen should read and every adult too.

[Taryn Jaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Problematic, but enjoyable, and a good message of taking control of your life and being resilient.

[Roxanne Hsu Feldman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the assortment of characters and their quirkiness. But certain elements did not work completely for me — maybe there are too many of these characters, from Travis himself, his mother, to Chantelle’s mother and brothers… and somehow the quirkiness and almost humourous qualities in the story does not blend naturally with the devastating tortures from bullies that Travis has to suffer through. Maybe there are simply too many elements: theater, music, bullying, friendship, abuse, romance (including Travis’ budding homosexual feelings,) physical disability, poverty, family secrets..

I felt “burdened” reading it — but not quite transported into that world. (Compare to How I Live Now which is also dealing with quite a few heavy issues but presented through the prism of a very strong singular focus that simply works.) Maybe Travis the narrator who is supposed to be living those moments is too strong, too sure of himself, and too aware of his own feelings to match Travis the character who is vulnerable and unsure of himself — although both are similarly intelligent.

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do you know any 15 yr old guys who like to sew and do it well? Travis is that guy, who was taught by his Aunt Kiralean where Travis lives. Originally Travis makes puppets to entertain his younger neices and nephews, but in school his puppet making talents are put to use for a production of Peter Pan and A Midsummer's Night Dream. Of course there always will be the classmates who think that this is strange weird thing for a guy to be interested in. Todd, Cameron, Son and those angry, mean & threatening kids-will they leave Travis needing Stitches?

[Jeanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I came across this book while planning an interdisciplinary unit on quilting/sewing. It's not so much about the sewing as it is about a gay teenage boy who faces bullying at school. It might be good for young adults, particularly if they are struggling with their identity, but it's not engaging enough for adults to read.

[Lesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this for my English teaching methods course. It's an example of a novel we could assign to our students and it's fantastic! A quick read, very interesting and REAL - something kids can relate to.

[Becky · Rating 2 out of 5]

A young adult literature selection with a common theme...fitting in. The conflicts and characters are adequate, but there was nothing overtly noteworthy about this one.

[Thetillybird · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was sweet and cute and somewhat sad. I read it at a very young age so I can't give a better review.