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kbranfield's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars.
In Boomerang by Helene Dunbar, a runaway teenager returns home in order to collect an inheritance to save his best friend.
Five years earlier, twelve year old Michael Sterling felt like he had choice but to run away from home. His alcoholic mother is neglectful and makes her living dancing in a strip club. He stows away in a builder's truck then reinvents himself as Sean Woodhouse. For the next five years, he lives in seclusion with the Woodhouses where he is homeschooled and befriends neighbor, Trip Marchette. Sean and Trip dream of another life far away from Trip's abusive uncle but they need Sean's trust to make their plans come to fruition. With Trip's situation becoming more precarious, Sean returns home but unexpected complications could ruin the future they envision.
Many surprises await Sean once he is back home. He left without fully realizing how his disappearance would be construed by law enforcement, his mom and the rest of the town. Much has changed in his absence and to his shock, his mom is drastically different. Sean is uncomfortable by his next door neighbor and former friend Jenny Gordon's expectations. And underneath all of his uneasiness about being back in town, Sean is worried about Trip and the things that happened between them right before he returned to his mom.
With his friendship with Jenny on shaky ground, Sean unexpectedly finds companionship with Emery Whitman and her twin brother Rory. Unfortunately for him, Emery knows more about his past than he is comfortable with. Despite his apprehension about what she will do with this knowledge, Sean is drawn to her. His feelings for her are conflicted since he has yet to make sense of his relationship with Trip. Sean and Trip were extremely close friends but there is much more to their relationship than just friendship. This conflict over the true nature of what he shared with Trip is tangled up in his desire to keep his promise to save him from his uncle. Needless to say, Sean is struggling on many fronts as he reintegrates to his former life with his mom while desperately clinging to the one he is reluctant to leave behind.
Boomerang is a captivating young adult novel that is heartfelt and engaging. Sean is an extremely sympathetic protagonist whose struggles are realistic and thought-provoking. The secondary characters are colorful and well-developed. The storyline is multi-layered and quite poignant. Helene Dunbar keeps readers on the edge of the seats about how Sean's story will work out right up until the novel's heartwarming conclusion. An outstanding young adult will appeal to readers of all ages.
In Boomerang by Helene Dunbar, a runaway teenager returns home in order to collect an inheritance to save his best friend.
Five years earlier, twelve year old Michael Sterling felt like he had choice but to run away from home. His alcoholic mother is neglectful and makes her living dancing in a strip club. He stows away in a builder's truck then reinvents himself as Sean Woodhouse. For the next five years, he lives in seclusion with the Woodhouses where he is homeschooled and befriends neighbor, Trip Marchette. Sean and Trip dream of another life far away from Trip's abusive uncle but they need Sean's trust to make their plans come to fruition. With Trip's situation becoming more precarious, Sean returns home but unexpected complications could ruin the future they envision.
Many surprises await Sean once he is back home. He left without fully realizing how his disappearance would be construed by law enforcement, his mom and the rest of the town. Much has changed in his absence and to his shock, his mom is drastically different. Sean is uncomfortable by his next door neighbor and former friend Jenny Gordon's expectations. And underneath all of his uneasiness about being back in town, Sean is worried about Trip and the things that happened between them right before he returned to his mom.
With his friendship with Jenny on shaky ground, Sean unexpectedly finds companionship with Emery Whitman and her twin brother Rory. Unfortunately for him, Emery knows more about his past than he is comfortable with. Despite his apprehension about what she will do with this knowledge, Sean is drawn to her. His feelings for her are conflicted since he has yet to make sense of his relationship with Trip. Sean and Trip were extremely close friends but there is much more to their relationship than just friendship. This conflict over the true nature of what he shared with Trip is tangled up in his desire to keep his promise to save him from his uncle. Needless to say, Sean is struggling on many fronts as he reintegrates to his former life with his mom while desperately clinging to the one he is reluctant to leave behind.
Boomerang is a captivating young adult novel that is heartfelt and engaging. Sean is an extremely sympathetic protagonist whose struggles are realistic and thought-provoking. The secondary characters are colorful and well-developed. The storyline is multi-layered and quite poignant. Helene Dunbar keeps readers on the edge of the seats about how Sean's story will work out right up until the novel's heartwarming conclusion. An outstanding young adult will appeal to readers of all ages.
dln's review against another edition
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kumabear's review against another edition
3.0
Was expecting more of a "when jeff came home" vibe but it was very different. still a good book. very complicated but had a nice hea so i am content with it
diamondxgirl's review against another edition
5.0
I just finished this beautiful, character driven story of finding oneself and the complex experiences of becoming an adult. I am broken and rekindled all at once. This book will definitely make my top 10 this year.
“You need to know,” he started, and I closed my eyes waiting for him to punch me or tell me that he never wanted to see me again. “Even when we’re old, like Maggie said … every time I look at you, I’m going to be thinking of doing that again.”
Sean is a character readers won't easily forget. Throughout his life, he's had to make some tough decisions, some of which seem selfish and selfless at the same time. He's dealt with trauma and loss and goes through much heartache before getting some answers. Some answers he never gets - and isn't that life?
I appreciate Helene following through on the ending and giving us a bit more. I had accepted a different path for Sean and was happy to get the best of both worlds.
Sometimes we can't save others, we just have to save ourselves and hope it all comes together.
“You need to know,” he started, and I closed my eyes waiting for him to punch me or tell me that he never wanted to see me again. “Even when we’re old, like Maggie said … every time I look at you, I’m going to be thinking of doing that again.”
Sean is a character readers won't easily forget. Throughout his life, he's had to make some tough decisions, some of which seem selfish and selfless at the same time. He's dealt with trauma and loss and goes through much heartache before getting some answers. Some answers he never gets - and isn't that life?
I appreciate Helene following through on the ending and giving us a bit more. I had accepted a different path for Sean and was happy to get the best of both worlds.
Sometimes we can't save others, we just have to save ourselves and hope it all comes together.
spudnugs96's review against another edition
4.0
This book was really good, you guys.
Full review to follow.
Full review to follow.
thebookishskies's review against another edition
3.0
loved the writing, but sean was the only character that sounded like an actual person and not a cardboard cutout so
achillespatroclus's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
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