Monday, April 18, 2011

Teaser Tuesday: Wrecker by Summer Wood


"This one? He was barely a child. They’d said he was three, but Len hadn’t . . . were three-year-olds that tiny? Len had expected something along the lines of a good-sized calf, seventy pounds or so, take a little muscle to roll— but this kid would have a tough time toe- to- toe with the goose that patrolled the ragged edges of Len’s yard. Did geese hurt children?"
~~~Page 1,  Wrecker by Summer Wood

Title: Wrecker
Author: Summer Wood
ISBN: 9781608192809
Publisher: Bloomsbury/2011
Pages: 287

The title makes one think of destruction, disharmony and chaos. But it is not true. Wrecker is about a boy, and about Melody, Ruth, Willow, Johnny Appleseed, Len and Meg. And also about Lisa Fey, Wrecker's mother. When three year old Wrecker enters Len's life, he (Len) does not know what to do with this small boy. Wrecker's mother has been sent to jail for 15 years and Len is related to her by being married to Meg, Lisa Fey's sister. Meg is not quite okay in the head due to an infection.

After only a day, Len decides to send that boy away from him. He goes to Bow Farm asking them to look after the little boy while he sets the ball rolling. Ruth is only too happy to look after the boy and Melody, Willow and Johnny Appleseed accept her decision. However, for one reason or the other Wrecker lives with them for 6 months before Len takes him away to send him back.

The little boy, the troublesome little boy, has already made inroads into everyone's heart, especially Melody. All of them want him back, including Len, who decides to adopt Wrecker. However, Wrecker is brought by everyone at Bow Farm...Ruth, Melody, Willow and Johnny. None of them are related, not a family unit but they have love and affection for each other and the boy. 

Melody becomes his "mother" and other love him just the same. Wrecker comes to love all of them. He is an unconventional boy, a high-spirited one, who misses his real mother Lisa Fey but with time he accepts these people as his own. Including Len and Meg. He comes to love each one of them. Meanwhile Lisa Fey waits for her release to be united with her son. She never had a good life but Wrecker is the best think that happened to her. 

With wild California as its backdrop, Wrecker is a novel which makes an impact, the boy makes our heart ache for him, his mother makes us cry, and Melody is so full of love that one can't believe that she is not his mother. Ruth , Willow, Johnny are equally important part in Wrecker's life. 

Summer Wood has written a novel, which stays long after we finish it. We keep thinking of Wrecker, Lisa Fey, Melody and Len, along with the others. It is about an extraordinary boy, and other people who are not a family unit as we know but nevertheless a family, and most important, they are Wrecker's family. He gets them all when he needs them most. Love has no boundaries. Especially a mother's love. And it does not have to be tied by blood.....the ending touches us deeply....

This is going to be one of my best books of 2011....

35 comments:

Gigi Ann said...

I liked your review. I will have to see if my Library has it.

Yvonne said...

Excellent review. I'll have to check this book out.

Playing Librarian said...

A teaser and a review at the same time! Love it.

Thanks for commenting on mine.

Unknown said...

I never heard of this book, but I'm really curious so I'm going to look for it on amazon haha. Great teaser! And thanks for stopping by my blog

Shelley Munro said...

I liked the sound of this book. Great teaser and excellent review.

Here’s My Teaser

Jules said...

I haven't heard of this one. But it does sound interesting, I love teaser Tuesdays! There are always such a great selection of books :)

Happy reading,
Jules

http://thegreatthegoodandthebad.blogspot.com/

Unknown said...

Very funny ... but kids these days seems a lot smaller than I remember :-)

Harvee said...

Will look out for this book. Great tease and review!

Book Dilettante

Amber at The Musings of ALMYBNENR said...

I haven't heard of this one!

Amy @ bookgoonie said...

Reminds me of the time that my brother was attacked my turkeys he was trying to feed. Thanks for stopping by mine.

Anonymous said...

Love the teaser and review all in one! Thanks for stopping by my blog. Here's my Tuesday Teaser from 13 Little Blue Envelopes. Happy Reading! Jen

Dorte H said...

This one sounds very intriguing. And many three-year-olds would definitely be scared by geese! :)

Jenny Q said...

Interesting teaser--and thanks for posting your thoughts! I want to read this one!

satins booki said...

i love your blog....great teaser as well. iv become a follower as well.


http://satinsbookishcorner.blogspot.com/

Jessica ( frellathon ) said...

Thanks for visiting and commenting on my teaser. I like yours and the review is great. Poor kid sounds like he has it rough.

Heather said...

That's quite a strong beginning. Will have to write this title down! WordTrix

Sally said...

Wow it sounds pretty amazing. I'll have to check it out.
Sally.
http://theelifylop.blogspot.com/2011/04/teaser-tuesday-15.html

Cindy Swanson said...

Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting...and yes, my TBR list is getting more and more enormous by the day! :)

Cindy at Cindy's Book Club

Priya said...

Great review and an excellent teaser! I definitely want to read this book...

Here's mine: http://peskypiksipesternomi.blogspot.com/2011/04/tt-4-witching-hour.html

Lindsay said...

This sounds very interesting! Adding it to my TBR list =)

My Teaser post is from Wings, by Aprilynne Pike.

Pam (@iwriteinbooks) said...

I love love LOVED this book!!!! Great review!!!

Kyanara_BJD said...

What an interesting teaser!
Thnx for hopping by my blog today!

Kyanara

Kristen - Seeing Night said...

Thanks for visitng my bog im following here now. I havent heard of this book, it sounds interesting but is a bit out of my genre lol. Great teaser line though.

fredamans said...

Have to keep watch for this one.

http://fredasvoice.blogspot.com/2011/04/teaser-tuesday_19.html

Unknown said...

Terrific teaser! This is the first I've heard of this book but it sounds wonderful.

~ Amy
Amy's teaser

Good Company said...

Oh, tough life. And never trust geese! Thanks for stopping by!

Deepali said...

Awww, poor kid!Hope Len gets back his good sense, and the mother-son reconciliation is beautiful.
My teaser is at e-Volving Books

Darlene said...

Great teaser and review! I've heard a lot of good things about this book.

Brooks @ Victorious Cafe said...

Great teaser. Love the review. Thanks for the review

Novroz said...

Sounds like a tough life. Great review as well

Beth said...

Interesting teaser. Thanks for stopping by.

Julie said...

I've been wanting to read this book! Wonderful review. Now I want to read it even more. I'm a new follower :)

GraceKrispy said...

Very interesting book! Nice review :)

Thanks for stopping by my blog!

GraceKrispy@MotherLode blog

Geosi said...

This is a great review. I really did enjoy your thoughts here.

Anonymous said...

If you already know this will be a favorite book then I better add it to my list. I want to meet little Wrecker :)