Departures

by Lorna Jane Cook

Increasingly dismayed by her raucous family, seventeen-year-old Suzan VanderZee dreams of running away, while her fifteen-year-old brother, Evan, finds himself mesmerized by a new girl at school despite his hopes to travel the world. A first novel.

Genres: Fiction, Book Club

240 pages, Hardcover

First published February 16, 2004

About the author

Lorna Jane Cook is the author of DEPARTURES, a 2004 Booklist Editors’ Choice: Adult Books for Young Adults; HOME AWAY FROM HOME, 2005; and OUTSIDE WONDERLAND, a 2011 Target Emerging Authors selection. She has a B.A. in Sociology and Psychology, and spent several years as a social worker at a runaway shelter, a home for teenage girls, and an emergency services program. She also was a legislative assistant for a Congressman in the U.S. House of Representatives. Besides writing, she volunteers with a local housing program. She is married with two sons and currently resides in western Michigan.


To contact her, email info@lornajcook.com

Reviews

[Pcox · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't get engaged with this one.

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

How I Came To Own This Book: A random buy from McNally Robinson when working downtown. Again, it had a cool cover.

The Plot: Think an airier version of American Beauty - a portrait of a crumbling family, with a slightly tilted focus on the two older teenaged siblings. Over the span of a few weeks each of the six characters in the book - intellectual father Malcolm, brooding artiste mom Esme, withdrawn and insightful teen Suzen, angsty dreamer Evan in his pursuit of love, and young uns' Aimee and Hallie.

The Good & The Bad: This book is another slow burning read - the first few sections start out good in wrapping you into the lives of the characters, but the end sort of fizzles out and is more predictable than you'd expect (which may make it...unpredictable?). I've lent this book to several people and everyone has enjoyed it, but I can't say anyone has LOVED it.

The Bottom Line: A slower, family portrait.

50-Book Challenge?: No.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was another gem blindly plucked from the shelves of Robbins library. A story about a family in the Midwest-each trying to find their way. An academic father, emotionally absent mother, teen sister trying to figure out if she is straight or gay, teen son obsessed with a rebellious new girl in school and the two little sisters (one who thinks she is an angel and can fly). What captivated me was the interaction among them-their connection despite the fact they were all moving in different directions and each fighting a personal battle. Isn't that truly the way most families work? As a unit but with many moving parts? The author write beautifully, with lovely atmospheric description. I can remember so much because it was so vivid and strong. This was a fun and easy read. I plan to read more of Cokk's work.

[J.Elle · Rating 2 out of 5]

July Book #25: This book was told from the perspective of two siblings, Evan and Suzen as they navigate high school and come to terms with themselves and their family. Suzen knows her family expects her to go to college, but she dreams of something different. Evan longs for adventure overseas. Each gets what they long for in the end and something unexpected in the bargain. Yeah, yeah, not a great review at all. I know. I apologize. Much like books, not every one is going to be a winner. So, if my review isn't one, neither was this book. However, I'm totally in this fantasy-type mind-set right now, so a book set firmly in reality wasn't exactly my cup of tea. If it's yours, by all means, give this a try. I suspect you won't think it's half-bad.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story of a family that seems to be unravelling through most of the story.....then in the last few pages it all gets pulled together and tied up neatly in a bow.
Not really what I expected, but was an ok read.
Favorite line from the book....."above the clouds, the sun is always shining." .....a way for Malcolm to express to his daughter that no matter what happens in life, he is always going to be there for her.

[Kelly McCloskey-Romero · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. It was about ordinary people and their extraordinary feelings, hopes, lives. I like the way she portrayed the family, and I was fascinated by the varying narrations of the two children, Suzen and Evan.

[Kris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable tale of a busy family; coming of age tale...

[Damaris · Rating 2 out of 5]

very, very slow moving...hard to keep interested. Aimee seemed the most interesting of all the characters and she was barely in the book.

[Caroline Bartels · Rating 2 out of 5]

I realized about 20 pages in that I've already read this and it wasn't very memorable the first time so I stopped.

[Perkimom · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok...didn't keep me up at night...

[His]

I loved her other books but not this one. It didn't grap my attention even after 20 pages.

[☯Lilbookworm☮ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mixed feelings about this one. So much left unsaid and to wrap up IMO.