What About Will
Juvenile fiction
"Will wasn't dead.
His arms still worked.
And so did his legs.
But his brain had volleyed
between the sides of his skull
so hard, it was swollen..."
Imagine you're 12-year-old Trace, protagonist of Ellen Hopkins'
What About Will. You and your older brother, Will, hadn't always
gotten along. But he's been a huge presence in your life and the one
who taught you important life skills like bike riding, rollerblading,
skateboarding, and snowboarding. And the two of you have spent a lot
of companionable time together.
It's the last football game of the season. Will is running with
the ball. Suddenly he's hit from both back and front and lies on the
ground unconscious. At the hospital he's put in a medical coma. When
he comes out of it there is both visible and invisible damage.
Barring a miracle he's never going to be the person he was.
Hopkins' verse style which includes the thoughts of the major
players in the form of a dialogue structure gives young and not so
young readers insight into the feelings of both brothers and their
significant others and the stress and damage both their relationship
and their family incur. Even today many people who don't have
personal experience with this kind of tragedy don't see the latter
dimensions.
Trace no longer knows how to relate to Will who has changed
greatly and is isolating himself, shutting the door to friends and
family. In a conversation with their mother, Will says:
"How could you--how could
anyone--love someone like me?
No! Go away. Leave me alone."
Both parents are sure it's only a matter of time before Will comes
back to himself. At first Trace believes that if he makes life easier
for him Will will once again hang out with him.
"he'll trust me enough
to tell me why he hardly
ever leaves his room
when he's home, and where
he goes when he ducks
out the door, the minute
Dad's back is turned"
Only after awhile Trace starts seeing red flags in Will's
behavior. He tries to clue his parents in. Only they're both missing
in action: their mom touring with her band and their dad living at
home but wrapped up in work. And neither is open to hearing anything
that could bust their bubbles of optimism...
...until it might be too late.
What about Will is an engaging, eye opening, compassion
inspiring narrative for the age group I consider the most neglected in
the picture book to YA range. Hopkins, who writes brilliantly for YA
and adult adult readers, has recently expanded her range to include
the pre teen set. In Closer To Nowhere (which we looked at in
February) and What About Will she shows that she has a finger on the
pulse of these younger readers.
On a personal note, I acquired my first ever Ellen Hopkins novel,
Perfect, at a church book sale back in 2015. It made what would have
been a miserable day much more tolerable. I had a middle ear
infection that impaired my balance to the extent that I looked like
I'd partied extensively with Jack Daniels. I was fine as long as I
stayed in bed. And getting caught up in Hopkins' narrative any style
made that day speed by until I could walk down the hall to the
bathroom. Of course I've tracked down and reviewed everything I can
find that she's written. I thought she could never catch me off guard
again...
...until she entered my turf and explored it with great consideration
and respect. I was about Trace's age when Harriet (who was younger)
suffered severe and irreversible brain damage from spinal meningitis.
Although they would live under the same roof for years, my parents'
marriage imploded when Dad suggested we make Harriet a ward of the
state. He didn't want to spend money on someone he considered a lost
cause. Mom was sure Harriet would be just fine when we found the
right doctor. I remember when she was trying to talk Harriet into
becoming a lawyer and I was thinking our cats had as much chance of
becoming lawyers.
Harriet and I weren't exactly compatible siblings before she got
sick. Very different personalities. Then after I was taught to treat
her as if she was made of glass. Kids argue. But the second I'd
raise my voice an adult would be all: how could you? She's suffering
terribly. I learned how to tiptoe around her. Half a century later
that's all I know how to do. I feel more like a social worker than a
sibling. UMaine hosts Special Olympics. I now see families where the
children with and without disabilities are coached to work
disagreements out. I see the kids relating as siblings. I tell the
parents they're on the right track. Probably as adults their kids
will have an authentic give and take relationship.
A great big shout out goes out to Ellen Hopkins whose authentic and
nuanced voice and verse virtuosity make every one of her books a must
read. May you have a long and prolific writing life and get all the
respect and adoration you deserve!
Jules (and Tobago cat) Hathaway
Sent from my iPod
