Reviewed by meowstina on
Will’s first experience with Outside is so thrilling that he wants to do it again. Then, it’s for a purpose. His friendship with Jonah has a slow start, but soon enough Will convinces Jonah to help him find the missing boy, who is fascinating to Will. For such a young boy he takes on responsibility incredibly quickly, but this is mostly due to his curiosity. He has never been Outside, so he does not yet know that there are dangers that come along with the joys. Where his mother worries too much, he may not worry enough.
Will is headstrong and independent, largely due to his mother’s state of constant fear. The chapters are mostly from Will’s perspective, experiencing Outside for the first time and becoming both enamoured and repelled by it and the people who populate Thunder Bay. Sometimes, though, the chapters are of Diane’s memories of her life before panic and fear took over.
This book is largely about Will’s search for the missing boy and the mystery and adventure that it entails, but it’s also about facing the unknown and facing fears. It’s pretty interesting for the most part, both looking through Jonah’s eyes as he experiences the world for the first time, and reflecting on Diane’s sheltered past living in a small town. I was curious to follow the adventure and see where Will would end up. Will’s age is never divulged, which is a little confusing, but I put him at about twelve years old. This is his coming of age tale, but it involves a little more danger than is average for a boy at his life stage.
Reading updates
- Started reading
- 2 January, 2015: Finished reading
- 2 January, 2015: Reviewed