Ellis, S. (2006). Odd man out. Toronto: Groundwood Books.
Summary
Kip is sent to his Grandmother’s house in British Columbia while his mother and stepfather honeymoon in Hawaii. He feels bombarded by the different rules and actions of his five other girl cousins who are also visiting. However, when Kip explores the attic, he finds a black binder filled with his father’s writing. Kip’s father, it seems, was an undercover agent fighting against a plot to control all teenagers. As Kip becomes fully immersed with the contents of the binder, he begins to wonder what is real.
Advisory Information
Themes
a. Death: Kip has to come to terms with his father’s death and how it affects his memory of his father. Additionally, there is a sort of death in terms of the Grandmother’s house.
b. Mental Illness: Kip’s father suffered from a mental illness. His wife and mother are the ones who mostly experience the effects.
c. Loneliness/Isolation: Kip is definitely feeling lonely and isolated, especially with the five other cousins and Orm. However, Kip is not the only one who has to deal with loneliness. There is a sense of loneliness within his grandmother and his cousin Daffodil.
d. Family Relationships: Kip has to learn how to deal with living with new people including his stepfather, his grandmother and his five cousins.
e. Proving Self-Worth: In many ways Kip has to deal with some heavy issues in regards to his family life and his perception of self. By climbing the rocks, building a yurt, and coming to terms with the contents of the black binder, Kip is slowly determining the type of person he wants to be.
Age Recommendation
I would recommend this book for intermediate readers aged 8 -12.
Other Information
Odd Man Out won the Sheila A. Egoff Award and the TD Children's Book of the Year Award. It was also designated an ALA notable book.
This book is about mental illness. While the author never really mentions what type of illness Kip’s father Tristan was diagnosed with, he does suffer from delusions which were later “cured” by medication. Reading the book, I felt that the father suffered from Schizophrenia. Some doctors believe that Schizophrenia is caused by genetic predisposition and environmental stressors early in a child's development. For more information about Schizophrenia and support groups please visit: http://www.schizophrenia.com/
Summary
Kip is sent to his Grandmother’s house in British Columbia while his mother and stepfather honeymoon in Hawaii. He feels bombarded by the different rules and actions of his five other girl cousins who are also visiting. However, when Kip explores the attic, he finds a black binder filled with his father’s writing. Kip’s father, it seems, was an undercover agent fighting against a plot to control all teenagers. As Kip becomes fully immersed with the contents of the binder, he begins to wonder what is real.
Advisory Information
Themes
a. Death: Kip has to come to terms with his father’s death and how it affects his memory of his father. Additionally, there is a sort of death in terms of the Grandmother’s house.
b. Mental Illness: Kip’s father suffered from a mental illness. His wife and mother are the ones who mostly experience the effects.
c. Loneliness/Isolation: Kip is definitely feeling lonely and isolated, especially with the five other cousins and Orm. However, Kip is not the only one who has to deal with loneliness. There is a sense of loneliness within his grandmother and his cousin Daffodil.
d. Family Relationships: Kip has to learn how to deal with living with new people including his stepfather, his grandmother and his five cousins.
e. Proving Self-Worth: In many ways Kip has to deal with some heavy issues in regards to his family life and his perception of self. By climbing the rocks, building a yurt, and coming to terms with the contents of the black binder, Kip is slowly determining the type of person he wants to be.
Age Recommendation
I would recommend this book for intermediate readers aged 8 -12.
Other Information
Odd Man Out won the Sheila A. Egoff Award and the TD Children's Book of the Year Award. It was also designated an ALA notable book.
This book is about mental illness. While the author never really mentions what type of illness Kip’s father Tristan was diagnosed with, he does suffer from delusions which were later “cured” by medication. Reading the book, I felt that the father suffered from Schizophrenia. Some doctors believe that Schizophrenia is caused by genetic predisposition and environmental stressors early in a child's development. For more information about Schizophrenia and support groups please visit: http://www.schizophrenia.com/
Reaction
I found this novel to be interesting, but did have some concerns about Ellis’ portrayal of Tristan. I believe that Sarah Ellis is great at creating realistic characters which model everyday life. Nevertheless, I think that she sort of let down her audience by claiming that medication became the saving grace for Tristan; that he was cured after he began taking pills. Having known someone with Schizophrenia, this mental illness can be a daily battle, and while medication can help they also have side affects of their own. Perhaps, though, this was her way of showing that people do not have to be defined by their mental illness.
Book Trailer Assignment for LIBR 271A
0 comments:
Post a Comment