Lost in the Sun

Lost in the Sun

Juvenile fiction
"I didn't do it on purpose, obviously. Kill Jared Richards, I
mean. Miss Eveline said I shouldn't say that, that I killed Jared,
because it was an accident, and that wasn't the same thing at all. But
accident or not, Jared Richards died, and I was the reason, so what
was the difference? Either way, I killed him."
Trent, protagonist of Lisa Graff's Lost in the Sun, has a lot
more to deal with than most kids starting middle school. The winter
before, in an informal pick up ice hockey game, he hit another boy
with the puck. That boy, Jared, had a heart condition. He died. For
months Trent's and drawings have been full of Jared.
Middle school, rather than being a place to get a fresh start,
sucks from day one. His elderly home room teacher, whom he will also
have for most classes, is on his case. Physical education, which he'd
previously always done well in, is a nightmare.
His family life isn't exactly easy. He dreads regularly
scheduled visits with his dad who is pretty clueless when it comes to
parenting. Dad's new significant other is pregnant BTW. His mom is
on his case to make new friends. His big brother, Aaron, is getting a
bit too bossy while little brother, Doug, is always hanging out with
Annie Richards, Jared's little sister.
There's a girl, Fallon, whom everyone seems to classify by the
vivid scar on her face, who seems to really want to be Trent's
friend. At first he thinks she is really strange. But then she
offers him a way out of his dreaded dad visits.
Lost in the Sun is a perfect back to school for students about
to start middle school. It may enable them to better understand a
classmate whose reputation has biased the way in which he or she is
treated.
On a personal note, Tuesday night we community gardeners had ourselves
a real adventure. John Jemmison had predicted that if we started
early with picking, bagging, and delivering we'd be done before the
rain started. The best laid plans of mice and men...
A great big shout out goes out to my fellow gardeners who labored
cheerfully in the chilly downpour. We are family.
Julia Emily Hathaway


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