The Other Way Around

The Other Way Around

YA fiction
Have you ever had the not living up to potential label stuck on
you? For Andrew, narrator of Sashi Kaufman's The Other Way Around,
it's a long time designation. He has just started his latest school,
St. Mary's, a formerly girls only institution. His mother was hired
as headmistress who would facilitate the integration.
Things go from bad to worse on Thanksgiving. Andrew's mother
announces they will not be visiting his grandmother Mima. His
divorced father will be in the Bahamas with a girlfriend. His uncle
and the cousin he detests, Barry, will be staying at their house.
The weekend lives down to Andrew's expectations. He packs and
heads to the bus station, intent on visiting Mima. At the bus station
he gets a call from his mom. He can't go. His grandmother is dead.
She has known that for days and not told him.
There's a group of teens in the bus station. They live on the
road, travelling in a VW camper van, gleaning food from dumpsters, and
performing in promising locations. They are more than willing to have
him join them. It's either that or go home to his mom who has
seriously betrayed him and Barry the obnoxious.
I bet you can guess which option he chooses. It turns out to be
quite the journey of discovery. If you go along for the ride you'll
be very glad you did.
On a personal note, I guess as a parent I should be horrified by his
choice. But I'm home with just Joey cat on a rainy night and the
prospect of unexpected adventure sounds downright appealing.
A great big shout out goes out to my more spontaneous chums.
Julia Emily Hathaway




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