Overview

Is the grass greener on the other side of the train window? Even a brief brush with a stranger can change our lives. It’s 1970, and Perry feels adrift in turbulent times: his father is missing in action in Vietnam, his mother is studying to become a nurse in the city, his older sister has become a peacenik in college. Traveling between his hometown, where he lives with his grandmother, and his mother’s house in Cincinnati, Perry notices Steve, whose farm lies on the B&O railroad line. Steve likes to race the train as it blows by his fields; Steve skillfully sends his collie after an escaped cow; Steve watches the Cincinnatian, longing for its speed, longing for adventure. In alternating voices, Michael J. Rosen’s poems weave a tale of two boys—one wishing for the stability of home, the other yearning to travel—and the unexpected impact of their fleeting encounter.

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9781590788639

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Reviews

Rosen's poetry, mostly blank verse, circles contemplatively around themes of powerlessness, longing, and growing up. The novel travels at a satisfying hum. -- Publishers Weekly A thoughtful, beautifully image-laden tale of learning how to appreciate what one has. --Kirkus Reviews Rosen's poetry, mostly blank verse, circles contemplatively around themes of powerlessness, longing, and growing up. The novel travels at a satisfying hum. --Publishers Weekly (A)n introspective, quiet portrait of two boys on the brink of young adulthood. Rosen delivers well-crafted verse and plays with a few different poetic forms to paint a vivid portrait of the Ohio landscape, but as the plot ultimately goes little further than that described, the book will likely struggle to find an audience. --School Library Journal

"""Rosen's poetry, mostly blank verse, circles contemplatively around themes of powerlessness, longing, and growing up. The novel travels at a satisfying hum."" --""Publishers Weekly"" ""A thoughtful, beautifully image-laden tale of learning how to appreciate what one has."" --Kirkus Reviews ""Rosen's poetry, mostly blank verse, circles contemplatively around themes of powerlessness, longing, and growing up. The novel travels at a satisfying hum."" --Publishers Weekly ""(A)n introspective, quiet portrait of two boys on the brink of young adulthood. Rosen delivers well-crafted verse and plays with a few different poetic forms to paint a vivid portrait of the Ohio landscape, but as the plot ultimately goes little further than that described, the book will likely struggle to find an audience."" --School Library Journal"

A thoughtful, beautifully image-laden tale of learning how to appreciate what one has. -- Kirkus Reviews

Rosen's poetry, mostly blank verse, circles contemplatively around themes of powerlessness, longing, and growing up. The novel travels at a satisfying hum. -- Publishers Weekly A thoughtful, beautifully image-laden tale of learning how to appreciate what one has. --Kirkus Reviews Rosen's poetry, mostly blank verse, circles contemplatively around themes of powerlessness, longing, and growing up. The novel travels at a satisfying hum. --Publishers Weekly (A)n introspective, quiet portrait of two boys on the brink of young adulthood. Rosen delivers well-crafted verse and plays with a few different poetic forms to paint a vivid portrait of the Ohio landscape, but as the plot ultimately goes little further than that described, the book will likely struggle to find an audience. --School Library Journal

Author Information

Michael J. Rosen earned an MFA in poetry from Columbia University. His many books for children include The Cuckoo’s Haiku, which was a Kirkus Best Book, a VOYA Poetry Pick of 2009, and was named to the NCTE’s list of 20 Notable Poetry Books of 2009. He lives in Glenford, Ohio.

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