Linger

by M.E. Kerr

In this novel by the award-winning author of Gentlehands and Slap Your Sides, a teenager starts to look at life differently when his older brother is sent to the Persian Gulf.

To 16-year-old Gary Peel, Linger is home. His father is manager of the Pennsylvania restaurant; his mom takes care of the books; and Gary’s older brother, Bobby, works there as a waiter. That is, until he decides to join the army. The only one from their hometown to enlist, Bobby becomes an instant hero. At Linger, Gary takes Bobby's place waiting tables - and finds himself drawn into the correspondence between his brother and Lynn Dunlinger, the beautiful, preppy daughter of the restaurant's owner. The tone of Bobby's letters starts to change when he's suddenly shipped overseas. Gary - the brother left behind - tries to adjust to his new life and prepares for the first Christmas without Bobby.

Set during the Gulf War crisis and featuring a diverse cast of characters, Linger interweaves Gary's first-person narrative with Bobby's letters and journal entries from Saudi Arabia in a multifaceted look at bigotry, power, and the valor under fire that can drive ordinary people to commit extraordinary acts.

Genres: Young Adult

Audible Audio

First published July 1, 1993

About the author

M. E. Kerr was born Marijane Meaker in Auburn, New York. Her interest in writing began with her father, who loved to read, and her mother, who loved to tell stories of neighborhood gossip. Unable to find an agent to represent her work, Meaker became her own agent, and wrote articles and books under a series of pseudonyms: Vin Packer, Ann Aldrich, Laura Winston, M.E. Kerr, and Mary James. As M.E. Kerr, Meaker has produced over twenty novels for young adults and won multiple awards, including the Margaret A. Edwards Award for her lifetime contribution to young adult literature.

Reviews

[Aod · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book from the early 90's for a young adult fiction class a couple of years ago. It takes place during the first Gulf War and it is interesting to read about the unpopular anti-war movement from that perspective. The story is primarily about two brothers in a small town and the local restaurant "Linger", that dominates the town.

[Cerys Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even second rate ME Kerr is better than most. Not as tightly plotted as some of her earlier novels, Linger still raises questions about family, loyalty, adolescence and war. It’s too bad she’s fallen off the radar of many who read YA lit. She deserves a renaissance.

[Benjamin A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Linger, by M.E. Kerr is the story of Gary Peel during the Gulf War. The story is centered on Linger the restaurant that Gary’s family and most of the town revolves around. The story also partially covers his brother Robert who is a soldier in Saudi Arabia during desert storm. The storyline follows Gary during the weeks leading up through, during, and after operation desert storm. This was a relatively good book that I would rate three out of five stars. I would recommend this book to teens because of its topics and the level of the writing.

[Rachel · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book rambles, and has little to it. What kind of community revolves around one man and his restaurant empire? This just was not for me.

[Jenny]

I don't remember reading this book at all, but perhaps that's because I read it all in a day.