Across the Grain

by Jean Ferris

After their mother's death, seventeen-year-old Will reluctantly follows his flighty older sister to the desert, where he is determined to make a new and stable life for himself-with or without his sister.

Genres: Young Adult

224 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1990

About the author

This author is not afraid to tackle difficult subjects: living with a deaf parent (Of Sound Mind), facing the consequences of a criminal act (Bad), or questioning one's sexuality (Eight Seconds). But Jean Ferris is also adept at writing comedy, historical fiction, and romance. What's most interesting is that she didn't publish her first novel until she was in her mid-40s. Yet she's never forgotten the intense feelings and changes of her own teenage years. Critics as well as teen readers have seen the evidence of that in her writing and have honored her novels with a number of awards, from Best Books for Young Adults to various state and National Book Award nominations.

Reviews

[HM · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I randomly picked this book on a whim wanting to read something different. Firstly, Will himself is a very real and very relatable character in the way his thoughts and feelings throughout the book are portrayed. In the beginning he has no choice but to go along with his sister due to being a minor, which is how he finds himself in the desert his senior year. I also find the characters of both Sam and Mike that he meets there thought-provoking and interesting, and to really understand that comment you'd have to read the book. The most interesting part to me was the ending when Will has turned 18 and legally isn't bound to his sister and he has found out that he has this full-ride to college. He oddly enough is looking at freedom, but feels a sense of obligation that has him agonizing over if he accepts the scholarship and starts living his life or if he keeps getting swept away with his sister because they only have each other. For me personally I genuinely enjoyed the book and how it made me as the reader think a little harder about what I was reading and the meanings behind it.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

So this was a good clean book about a boy trying to find himself. I think this would be a great read for someone just starting out in college. Really makes you appreciate what you have. I'm really liking Jean Ferris as an author!

[Didotwite · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing like Love Among the Walnuts. A little too "realistic, coming of age" for me.

[.. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a pretty good book to read. I liked it. The cover may seem boring but the book itself isn't.

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. An enjoyable coming of age novel, with a fun variety of characters. I like this author's writing style.