From Publishers Weekly
The title and recurring theme of Bauer's (Sleep, Little One, Sleep, reviewed above) novel refers to the grim effects of Alzheimer's disease. Ten-year-old Tim idolizes his grandfather, a former veterinarian and outdoorsman who raised him after Tim's father mysteriously disappeared. As his mother, stepfather and grandmother make plans to care for his failing grandfather, Tim angrily denies signs of the man's memory loss and disorientation, and plots to take his grandfather on a nostalgic fishing trip to prove that the man can still function normally. Bauer builds clues regarding the seriousness of the disease to a dramatic crescendo, when Tim must deliver them both to safety. In the process, Tim discovers some unpleasant truths surrounding his father's departure andAa bit too neatlyAconfronts his fears and grief, and comes to accept his grandfather as a person instead of a hero. While there are moments of painful honesty (for example, in the closing bedside scene when Tim asks his grandfather if he knows him, the man replies, "I'm afraid I've forgotten... I know you are someone I love"), in other instances Tim's thoughts do not seem plausible. Still, the book offers a realistic depiction of the effects of this incapacitating disease and will likely be helpful to children who are struggling with aging relatives. Ages 9-up. (Aug.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From School Library Journal
Grade 4-7-Eleven-year-old Tim and his family feel an early winter coming on. Doubting his mother and grandmother's whispers about Alzheimer's, Tim sets out to enable Granddad to prove everyone wrong. Tim encourages his grandfather, the only father he has ever known, to sneak out on a fishing expedition. What results is a different tale of adventure, fraught with physical perils, an emotional twist, and the unfolding of a troubling family secret. This audio version of the novel by Marion Dane Bauer (Clarion, 1999) is a commendable, empathetic telling of Tim's story. The narrator, Jeff Woodman, exhibits his sterling style as a teller of tales. His vocal quality is unpretentious and sensitive to all characters. The story evokes accurate pictures of time and place, and the confusing journey of young Tim to discover as much about himself as his Granddad. There is no happy ending, but listeners will find that Tim's heart grows warmer as winter inevitably closes in. For group or individual listening.
Lisa Denton, J.S. Russell Junior High School, Lawrenceville, VA Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
