Broken families, new paths
Lee Spain by David Metzenthen Have you ever lost your way? How did you feel? Were you able to work out which way you should have been going or were you rescued? Lee Spain has left home. His dad, Baz, in one of his drunken fits, has thrown a bottle at him and told him to 'get lost'. Lee takes what money he can find and his dog, Luke, and starts hitchhiking to get away as fast as he can from the farm where he feels his life was under threat from his alcoholic father.
Baz fought in the Vietnam War and has trouble adjusting to life in the US. Drinking is his way of escape but under the influence of alcohol, Baz is a danger to his 16-year-old son, Lee.
Lee's mother has already left her family, so there is no one else at home for Lee.
Lee usually only talks to Luke, but in his story, we read what Lee is thinking. His descriptions are very amusing and there are times in this story when you just can't stop laughing! A woman, Prue, passes the grubby-looking teenager and his dog in her old truck and offers the pair a lift.
The story divides to give the different viewpoints of Prue and Lee. Prue has left her husband and baby daughter to move to the country where she can write stories in peace.
She likes living by herself, but she feels sorry for him when she hears why he's on the road.
Lee can't believe his luck in meeting Prue, who is happy to give him accommodation in exchange for doing odd jobs around the farm.
Excerpt Pg 23 Let me tell you that Prue Proudfoot isn't the only one around this place who is hot with words, no sir. Get a load of this - the lawns are now very order-Lee, the flower beds have been weeded very beautiful-Lee, the vernanda posts have been sanded back extreme-Lee skilful- Lee - get my drift? I've got the place looking great.
I've even cleaned out the black-and-white milk monster's trough, and she's moo-st impressed! So now I've got a few minutes to take you on a tour of the joint. Please follow the invisible arrows to the backyard.
Now, looking downhill away from the house, you will see the lawn turns into grass, the grass turns into paddocks, and the paddocks turn into bush. Man, check out those trees! They come right up to the fence like a bunch of giants about to set off on a fun- run, and throw shadows around that are as big as footy fields.
Prue doesn't realise how invaluable that help will be until Hannah comes to stay with her for Christmas.
Hannah wanders off with Luke, and Prue and Lee don't know where to begin looking for her. Being lost is hard enough, but losing a toddler is even more distressing! David Metzenthen writes with clear insight into the troubles experienced by broken families.
Metzenthen's descriptions of Lee's thoughts make the young teenager spring to life.
The book is available from Skywalker Books Ltd, 18/F, CNT Commercial Building, 302 Queen's Road Central, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong. Tel: 2521 5222.
Ms Wolstencroft is a teacher specially trained in children's literature and English as a second language. She conducts seminars for teachers and story-times for schoolchildren in Hong Kong and Macau
