North To Benjamin by Alan Cumyn - NO

North To Benjamin by Alan Cumyn, 291 pages. Atheneum (Simon), 2018. $18.

Language: PG (3 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG-13 (Description of sex, sounds and smells); Violence: PG-13 (implied violence, reference to a "bloody knife" and other physical abuse)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - NOT RECOMMENDED    

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW

Edgar and his mom move a lot. Sometimes he does not go to school because they are not in one place long enough and it is not convenient for his mom to sign him up for school and do all the required paperwork.  Edgar is abused and very frightened. He becomes so frightened of the new lives his mom will certainly ruin in their new city of Dawson, on the Yukon, that he loses the ability to talk. The only one he can communicate with is the dog, Benjamin, which he is looking after. When he starts school, his teacher is kind to him and really tries to help him. Caroline, his new friend, is still willing to be a friend and stands up for Edgar and tries to help him when he is severely bullied. Will Edgar be able to speak again in time to save him and his mother from the disaster that is coming?    

I had a hard time getting through this book - it goes on and on. However, the last part of the book finally sees something happening, other than Edgar being so frightened. Edgar meets some nice people, and his new teacher realizes something is wrong and she tries to help him. When help finally arrives, it is from an unexpected source. 

Ellen-Anita, Librarian