5.0 out of 5 stars
A well written work, highly readable, November 17, 2008
This review is from: CTR's Ring (Paperback)
Beginning on Saturday and continuing for a week, CTR's Ring follows Cameron Richards as he treks across the county to California at his mother's insistence. Setting out from his home in North Dakota supposedly to help his aging paternal grandmother he leaves his widowed and remarried mother and little sister to find work and make a new life for himself. He liked being on his own in Fargo, he never really got along with his step father in Kentucky. And then Mom insisted that he trek out to California to help his Father's mother. Not that his Father had kept in touch with any of that part of the family when HE left to be on his own.
The work opens with Cameron, jeep up on a jack, hammering at the underside of the vehicle. The U joint is fractured.
Sitting on the side of Interstate 80 near Roseville, California he was tired, hungry and more than a little frustrated. Tramping toward an offramp Cameron decided food first and then find an auto parts store. Entering the cafe he is more than a little surprised to realize that California restaurants do no have a smoking section.
Within moments Cameron is shocked to learn the ring he has been wearing since he found it at the gas station where he worked in Fargo is actually one that newly baptized Mormon's receive. Cameron liked the CTR inscribed and wore it for Cameron Thomas Richards, it fit and he liked the way it looked on his hand. Lauren, his server, explained that it actually stands for Choose The Right, and that as a member of the Church of Latter Day Saints she too was baptized and wore a similar ring. From that beginning we are carried along with Wrangler driving Cameron as he meets his father's family,
large and Mormon. We learn that Cameron has attended a good many churches in the past, and that his view of Mormons is that they are a cult to be wary of. Cameron meets his grandmother, learns that he resembles his grandfather, and that his grandmother has many pictures of himself and his sister festooning her walls.
Sunday Cameron decided he would get a diamond ring so that no one would confuse him with a Mormon. After his grandmother returned from Church she and Cameron set out for an afternoon meeting relatives. And, learning that they are Mormon, as was his father.
Monday Cameron awoke before the alarm, talked to his sister on the telephone and set out to look for work. Monday through Friday, weekends off, not bad to start, mechanic at the Rocklin Rollers 4X4. A visit to a local community church was not as satisfying as Cameron hoped it would be and he returned home just in time for Family Home Night.
Tuesday Cameron settled into work, got a speeding ticket, worked on a truck for one of the kids from stake, and receives a Book of Mormon from Lauren, the girl he met at the diner when he first arrived in town. He spent much of the night reading from the book.
Wednesday Cameron awoke planning to read more from the Book during his lunch hour. A confrontation with a co worker relating to Mormonism, Lauren and his cousin Stacy come for supper, and a happy birthday completed his day.
Thursday Cameron had to find things to do at work; the welder was broken. Another confrontation with his coworker turned into a brawl, Cameron ends up with an almost broken nose and an understanding that there are those who deliberately pick a fight, and Lauren tells him her parents have forbidden her to have anything to do with Cameron.
Friday Cameron awoke early, in pain, with his mother nearby, learns that Lauren's parents are sending her to an aunt in Utah, that he has a college fund, and Cameron and his cousin Uncle Mike go to talk with Lauren's parents.
CTR's Ring provides the reader opportunity to go along with Cameron on his voyage to find himself. Writer Aylstock surveys many of the same issues that most teenagers face. CTR's Ring is a narrative centered on camaraderie, prevailing over adversity, and finding love when and where it is least expected.
Writer Aylstock presents an entertaining, compelling, and poignant tale filled with plausible players who are authentic, with whom the reader can identify and acting the recognizable situations. Cameron is a young man adults will recognize from their own family, Lauren is a girl parents will like.
CTR's Ring is a book young adults will enjoy reading. Filled with adventure just enough religious overtones and romance to hold reader interest of both and detailed settings, this well written work is highly readable.
Happy to recommend.
Molly Martin
Reviewer
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