Kindling

by David Cappella

Bullied in school, the brother of a rebellious sister, without real friends, and stifled by an overbearing father - these incendiary ingredients have ignited 15-year-old Zeke Titcomb, a full-fledged pyromaniac. He has terrorized the small town of Chaldea, Maine by torching his high school to the ground. And the town will never be the same. But the high school is only the beginning. Zeke's unsuccessful attempts to set the adjacent Junior High School on fire and the neighboring Walloomsac High School strain the efforts of the authorities, desperate to find the culprit, but not before Zeke has further traumatized the townspeople with a burning spree. Zeke, now incarcerated in the Portland Youth Center, isolated and sulky, withdraws. Dr. Elizabeth Proctor, his appointed psychologist, convinces him to begin writing in a journal. Something strange happens - Zeke begins to open up. In it, he gradually reveals the events that led up to the fires, his feelings about life in Chaldea, and the family anxieties that burden him. Zeke immerses himself in his journal. Only when his parents allow two staff members from his old high school, a former English teacher and the school librarian, to help him work on his writing, does Zeke begin to catch a glimpse of what he has done and who he is.

298 pages, Hardcover

Published February 2, 2016

Reviews

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book manages to combine an intriguing and engrossing story with some very human aspects of life, particularly those teen years that have such an influence on who we are and where we end up. Cappella uses journal enteries as the starting point for a number of chapters which then leads to a more traditional telling of the actual events and between the two you get such a real sense of what was going through Zeke's mind that you almost feel as if you are there lighting fires, spiralling into the flames, and locked away in the youth centre. This raises so many questions not only about parenting and education but also about society as a whole as the small town reacts to the fires and to the identification of who was responsible. While this does make it sound like a very heavy, depressing book, there is a certain lightness to the writing and an odd optimism that flows throughout, although there shouldn't be and its not obvious, but its there. A complex yet surprisingly easy and enjoyable read.

[Denny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant and provocative writing

David Capella has the power to take this “mature” woman on the journey of a troubled fifteen year old pyromaniac.

Laughed at by his peers, tightly controlled by his father, shamed by his sister and saddened by his mother, Zeke finds his own power and purpose in the lighting of fires.

I thoroughly enjoyed the literary merit of Capellas metaphors and other devices. I read and re read the poetry.

I’m sure that this will read as well in twenty or more years as it does now.

Capellas writing is accessible to all, from young adults to the elderly like me. It’s satisfying and rewarding.

Mr Capella, I hope you write more novels. Thank you.

[Brenda Erickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caged Thoughts and Emotions

Caged thoughts and emotions when supressed can cause behavior
issues , illness and complete breakdowns. Children are easily effected and especially if they are insecure in their homes, relationships and families. Often they tend to keep things internal u til they can no longer cope and need to escape in all different manners. Such is this story of a troubled youth.

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Review by Rob Turcotte) Really brought back memories of the town and people I grew with , some of whom I haven't seen in 30 years. It made it feel like I was only there yesterday when the author described the school hallways and the teachers. Enjoyed the book and would recommend it to all my friends and former classmates.

(Review by Carla Turcotte) I would only give the book 2 stars. I'm glad my husband loved it; but not being from the area, I found that a lot of things needed further explanation. For example, what was the AD in the school?, why so much use of the non-word, ayuh?, was it the author or the characters who constantly used the incorrect phrase, "I could care less"? The book definitely could have used an editor. And the last 20% of the story absolutely dragged. If you are from Maine, you might like this. I'm not, and I didn't.

[Joann Dew]

A lot of food for thought. Makes me wonder what all those "quiet" people are thinking. I wonder where and how Zeke is now. My son-in-law lived in this town and went to school there. Had the same English teacher.

[Mike Rebeschi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic!

As soon as I bought the book I couldn't put it down. "Kindling" is a gripping novel with some of the most memorable characters I have ever read about. Read this book!