Come Fall. A. C. E. Bauer. New York, NY: Dell (Distributed in Canada by Random House of Canada), 2010. 231 pp., pbk., $7.95. ISBN 978-0-375-85826-0. Subject Headings: Friendship-Fiction. Foster home care-Fiction. Junior high school-Fiction. Schools-Fiction. Fairies-Fiction. Crows-Fiction. Grades 5-8 / Ages 10-13. Review by Tanya Boudreau. **** /4

excerpt:

Blos now put all of his energy into eating his row of food. He stuffed the peanut butter sandwich into his mouth, followed by the carrots, followed by a sliced apple, followed by several cookies. He was moving so fast, Salman saw it all as a blur. Lu gave a nervous laugh.

“You have cousins everywhere, Blos.

Lu was trying to smooth things over. She didn’t have to. Salman didn’t mind him. Everything about Blos was out in the open. He has asked a question that mattered to him, had received an answer that made sense, and now everything was okay. That was okay with Salman, too.

“I have to go,” Blos said, food still in his mouth. “I have to finish an essay for Ms. R.”

He swept the remains of his lunch – empty plastic bags and a few crumbs – into his sack and was gone.

Salman (don’t pronounce it like the fish) Page is new to Springfalls Junior High. Being that it’s his eleventh school is nine years, he’s used to being alone. Lu Zimmer becomes more than his designated buddy (a friend chosen by a teacher) though after she tries to stop a group of students from labeling him ‘bird boy’. Salman has a connection with crows, Bird in particular, that would mystify anyone watching them together. Salman is a foster child, but his connections with a jealous King and vengeful Queen from a Faery world interfere with the lives of those around him. One person ends up in the hospital while another’s life at school becomes near intolerable. Although the storyline set in the magical land doesn’t contain enough detail to satisfy, the developing friendship between Salman, Lu and Blos draws attention to the author’s ability to create characters readers respect and care about. The ending of the book deals with separation issues when Salman moves away, but the friends are able to remain close thanks to communication that involves the crow and the written word.

Highly Recommended.

Tanya Boudreau is a librarian at the Cold Lake Public Library in Cold Lake, AB.

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Published by The Manitoba Library Association ISSN 1201-9364

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