FICTION

Mobile Library

by David Whitehouse
Scribner. Jan. 2015. 272p. ISBN 9781476749433. $25; ebk. ISBN 9781476749464. F
COPY ISBN
Bobby Nusku is 12. His mum's been missing, his dad's got a short temper and a new girlfriend who is at best disinterested and at worst resentful. Bobby's best friend, Sunny, is also his bodyguard—until Sunny has a terrible accident in his quest to become a cyborg. Lost and lonely, Bobby befriends neighbor Rosa, who is disabled and the target of bullies. Rosa's mother, Val, cleans the town's mobile library (think bookmobile) and introduces Bobby to the magic of stories and the warmth of a loving family. When Val loses her job and Bobby's father beats him up, the motley trio take to the road, eventually meeting up with a homeless vet named Joe. Their adventure comes to an abrupt end when Det. Jimmy Samas tracks them down.
VERDICT Odd, occasionally off-putting and illogical but nonetheless readable, Whitehouse's second novel (after the award-winning Bed) is ultimately a tender tale of love, hope, and family. The author has a way with descriptive turns of phrase. His fondness for his protagonists is evident; readers will find themselves rooting for the unlikely heroes. [See "Writers To Watch," Prepub Alert, 7/14/14.]
Reviewed by Christine Perkins, Whatcom Cty. Lib. Syst., Bellingham, WA , Nov 15, 2014
Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.

RELATED 

MEDIA

The Phoenix Bride
by Siegel, Natasha
GRAPHIC NOVELS

Spiral and Other Stories
by Koch, Aidan
FICTION

Not in Love
by Hazelwood, Ali
FICTION

Heads Will Roll
by Winning, Josh
FICTION

The Year of What If
by Patrick, Phaedra
GRAPHIC NOVELS

Anna
by Oberländer, Mia
More
ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?