The Most Important Thing
By Avi
Age Range: 10 - 13 years
Grade Level: 5 and up
Hardcover: 224 pages
Publisher: Candlewick (April 26, 2016)
ISBN-10: 0763681113
ISBN-13: 978-0763681111
Publisher’s Blurb:
One of the most beloved writers
of our time presents seven short stories exploring the vital ties between
fathers and sons.
Luke sees the ghost of his father but can’t figure out what Dad wants him to do. Paul takes a camping trip with the grandfather he’s just met and discovers what lies behind the man’s erratic behavior. Ryan has some surprising questions when he interviews his prospective stepfather for the job. In a compellingly honest collection of stories, multiple-award-winning author Avi introduces seven boys — boys with fathers at home and boys whose fathers have left, boys who spend most of their time with their grandfathers and boys who would rather spend time with anyone but the men in their lives. By turns heartbreaking, hopeful, and funny, the stories show us boys seeking acceptance, guidance, or just someone to look up to. Each one shines a different light on the question "What is the most important thing a father can do for his son?"
Luke sees the ghost of his father but can’t figure out what Dad wants him to do. Paul takes a camping trip with the grandfather he’s just met and discovers what lies behind the man’s erratic behavior. Ryan has some surprising questions when he interviews his prospective stepfather for the job. In a compellingly honest collection of stories, multiple-award-winning author Avi introduces seven boys — boys with fathers at home and boys whose fathers have left, boys who spend most of their time with their grandfathers and boys who would rather spend time with anyone but the men in their lives. By turns heartbreaking, hopeful, and funny, the stories show us boys seeking acceptance, guidance, or just someone to look up to. Each one shines a different light on the question "What is the most important thing a father can do for his son?"
My Thoughts:
Avi has been a beloved storyteller for…a long time now. This collection
of short stories revolves around the complicated relationships between fathers
and sons. I enjoyed how he presents a range of relationships of varying degrees
of closeness and understanding.
Being fairly short stories—I read the whole book in about 90 minutes,
they don’t have long or complex plot development. Some of them even have an
open-ended finish, leaving it up to the reader to interpret what might happen
to the characters.
None of the stories is particularly gripping or exciting, so this might
not be the book for reluctant readers, but it is a definite option for those
who like interesting, complex characters.
Possible Objectionable Material:
Broken families, theft, fighting, PTSD.
Who Might Like This Book:
Although it reads as being primarily for boys, there’s no real reason that
girls wouldn’t enjoy it, too. There are elements of parental relationships that
are universal, regardless of gender, and there are strong mothers in several of
the stories. The suggested age range seems appropriate.
Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC.
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