"When You Speak, Speak Truths"

Title: Lost in the Sun 

Author: Lisa Graff

Grade Level Recommendation: 7+ / 8

"He couldn't see the ball," she said.  "It must've been lost in the sun." (Graff, pg. 120)

Lost in the Sun by Lisa Graff has many lessons to be learned about adolescent life- starting with:

1. Kids get angry. Sometimes, they don't know how to control that anger.  Trent Zimmerman doesn't quite know how to get a grip on his internal emotions, and often, the reader can be frustrated with his quick responses, and childish retaliations.  

   Trent has reason to be angry, however.  With divorced parents, his dad is remarried with a new baby girl, and his mom is dating her boss from Kitch'NThingz.  Trent is in the middle- his older brother Aaron takes on responsibility as older siblings sometimes do, and his younger brother Doug is still a child.

  Trent is angry at his life, but in actuality, he is angry with himself for what happened last February to Jared- Jared died of a heart condition, but it unfortunately came about after Trent hit him directly in the chest with a hockey puck.  Unfortunately, Trent suffers emotionally from the horrific event, and his "Book of Thoughts" seems to be his form of therapy dealing with the situation.

  The story has a slow start- the main character is just angry, and the reader is not sure what or who can help him.  Turns out, a friendship is his only hope.

Next lesson:

2. Sometimes speaking truths can open the path to finding happiness.  

Trent doesn't want to talk to his teachers, his mom, his brothers- but after Ms. Emerson invites him to speak truths, it sticks with him- like, of course, this is all he has to do.

Parallel- This book reminds me a lot of Freak the Mighty.  

FTM- Maxwell Kane has deepset anger that stems from his inner guilt and hatred for his dad.

LITS-Trent Zimmerman's anger stems from inner guilt about Jared Richards.

Both characters are outcasts and picked on in school- but one friend is all it takes to change their lives- for the better.

FTM- "Freak" aka Kevin is physically handicapped, but is very smart and "weird" as some may say.  However, he intrigues Max and makes him think, reflect, and become a better person.

LITS- Fallon Little is also referred to sometimes as a "freak" because of a scar across her face.  Though the reader never fully knows how she got the scar, the reader can make assumptions from Fallon's parents' comments and her own words to Trent.

Both stories, they become dynamic duos that are better people.  Many open-ended questions can be asked about these two stories together, as well as separate.

Personal Reaction- I am very frustrated by the last chapter.  It reminds me of "Lady, Or the Tiger?" by Frank Stockton.  Readers like finality- readers like to know.  But, I guess how Fallon said, "I could just tell you, but then the mystery would be gone.  Because then, you just know, and that's it."  

While reading I kept thinking more was going to happen- he DID change for the better, but I guess I just was wanting more from the author.  

*Thanks for the recommendation @TSchaefer- I'm interested to see/read your take on this novel!