Customer Reviews

The Day My Mother Left

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James Prosek has written a deeply moving novel about a boy who is forced on a path of self-discovery when his mother abondons him and his family for almost four years. The young boy, named Jeremy, is left alone with a depressed father and an absent older sister while he struggles to understand how the person who loved him most could leave. The story is based on the author's life and is told with the honesty and simplicity of a nine-year old boy who must learn how to deal with loss. What is particularly inspiring is that the boy turns a tragic event into a positive experience and finds his purpose at a very young age. Jeremy accomplishes this by exploring his curiousity and love of nature, and he becomes a very powerful observer. The reader can only imagine how this carries on even after the mother has returned and the story has ended.

I was surprised and intrigued by the boy's lack of anger and blame towards his mother. Even though his mother is absent for most of the novel, she is still a force for his creative spirit and moves him to continue with his artwork and push himself. It is refreshing to read a novel about divorce which does not show us how we can fall, but rather how we can lift ourselves above the challenges we all face. Even though this book was written for young adults, it can clearly touch anyone who has dealt with loss or knows someone who has. As an adult, myself, I was completely touched by Jeremy's journey and would recommend this book to anyone, at any age.

I first became aware of James Prosek through his artistic and literary treatments of fly fishing and thought I would give The Day My Mother Left, his first fictional effort, a go. I am so glad I did--what a wonderful little book! Though it is intended for young adults, as a mature reader I found it very engaging.

This autobiographical novel is a very candid picture of a difficult time in Prosek's, and his protaganist's, life. Prosek tells his touching story beautifully and without remorse. I would liken this book to Angela's Ashes in its portrayal of an unbalanced family and their troubles in a voice that does not blame but instead finds grace in the struggle. In the case of Prosek, his gravitation to art and nature provides ballast and equanimity; he shows us an inner journey enabled by his exploration of the natural world. And it is a damn good story. . .

Yale-educated James Prosek is clearly an extremely gifted and multi-dimensional creative talent. I know of few other YA books that tell such a story of charm and tenderness from the male point of view. I highly recommend it!

James Prosek's newest book is truly inspiring. Beautifully written and thoroughly honest, the book explores the difficult journey of a boy as he grapples to come to terms with his mother's abandonment. In the process, Jeremy discovers his own strengths and talents, cultivating his love of nature and drawing. As a reader, I found myself instantly drawn into Jeremy's struggle to try to understand what has taken place, sympathizing with all of his reactions, and desperately wanting to pick up a pencil and try my own, much less gifted, hand at drawing. This is a poignant, brilliant book for readers of all ages!

James at an early innocent age found in the woods an intense spiritual experience that helped him to discover his life's purpose, and his passion. This he found in nature, where time stands still and where a day may seem like a week, a month, a year! He was blessed in the sense that he found a channel where he transformed his negative energies into a positive outlook. He transformed his world into a world that gave him purpose.
Birds and fish became more real than the family that he grew up with.
James is a wonderful example for other children who are faced with similar tragedies of separation and divorce.
I am a middle school teacher, and I am using James's book to read to my students, many of which come from broken homes. As James says in his book: "No hay mal, que por bien no venga." There is no bad, that good may come from it. It is up to us to choose whether we will become a great sucess or a failure! Congratulations James on your choice!

james has struck gold once agaIN. james proseK has written a wonderfullY insightful book into the life of a pre-teenage boy struggling with abandonment. i highly recommend this as well as the rest of mr. prosek's books!

Book arrived in morning mail and read it in one sitting. Such a talented young man. He hit every emotion. His mother was right: He is going to be very famous.

I started reading this book as soon as it arrived and could not put it down. It's very engaging and you want the young boy Jeremy to be happy again and eventually reconciled with his mother. James Prosek is a very gifted young writer and has a beautiful way of expressing himself. He treats the difficult and heart wrenching subject of divorce with openness and candor. He demonstrates how he as a young boy found solace and comfort in his art and in nature. Walking in the woods looking for unusual birds and fishing in the ponds and rivers of Fairfield county with his friends gave Jeremy the inner strength he needed to overcome the loss of his mother leaving - coupled with the never ending love and support of his father and sister. He never blames his parents or himself for the breakup.

This is a wonderful and moving book on a very difficult and emotional subject that can teach both young and adult readers a lot about coping under pressure and finding new ways to move on, when life throws us a curve ball.

Not enough can be said about this book. It sure hasn't been given the recognition it deserves. Books like this need to be recognized and awarded for bringing great writing and realistic storylines to youth as well as adults. This should be at the top of all required reading lists. It is well written, emotional, and realistic. If we weren't homeschoolers we probably would not have had the freedom to explore this book as part of our reading. My son couldn't put it down. I hope James Prosek goes on to grace us with more novels such as this.

Nine-year-old Jeremy has a close relationship with his mother. She goes to every one of his baseball games, cheering him on from the bleachers. Jeremy gets teased for her enthusiastic encouragement, but he doesn't care. The bond they share is special. In fact, she is the only one to whom he has ever shown his collection of bird drawings. But when she abandons the family, Jeremy's world shatters into a million painful pieces.

It starts with an argument about her excessive drinking, the fact that Jeremy's father isn't making enough money, her crazy behavior at the fancy dinner party, his lack of attention, and especially about her seeing another man --- the father of Jeremy's rival, Rick. The two of them met at one of Jeremy and Rick's baseball games. Somewhere in the middle of it all, Jeremy's mom decides to leave and be part of a different family, one that doesn't include Jeremy.

Jeremy's older sister responds by escaping in her car for work and friends, while their father becomes imprisoned in his own despair. Jeremy must decide for himself how to put the pieces back together. Recreating his collection of bird drawings is the first step, since his mom took the old one with her. Jeremy finds comfort in the birds, in mirroring their beauty, in tromping through their wooded habitat. He also takes an art class to improve his talents and meets a girl named Casey.

Over the next three years, Jeremy continues to struggle with the fact that his mother abandoned him and never even called him on the phone, much less paid him a visit. But life continues, with even more obstacles to overcome, such as his dad remarrying and his beloved uncle getting sick. Jeremy learns to wade through the tough times without overloading his heart of bitterness. He even manages to say a prayer for Rick when he needs an operation. But will he ever be able to forgive his mom for leaving him?

James Prosek has created a beautiful story that all ages, genders and races will enjoy. He has an obvious love of nature, which shines through in his vivid descriptions of feathers, fish and forests. His novel's voice is precise and rare, nailing perfectly Jeremy's preteen character enduring pain and grief. Jeremy's spirit will inspire us all to be better people.

--- Reviewed by Chris Shanley-Dillman

Jeremy's mother has often been disappearing for hours at a time, but on a Sunday afternoon all truths are told.

His mother has found a new love - the father of Jeremy's enemy at school and on the baseball field. A fight occurs between Jeremy's mother and father. His mother leaves, and she takes everything with her - including Jeremy's Book of Birds that he had been illustrating himself.

No one can believe that she left. Especially Jeremy. He feels abandoned and hurt. Through his father's sadness and his own mixed-up feelings, Jeremy recreates the Book of Birds and finds solace within himself through nature.

James Prosek's THE DAY MY MOTHER LEFT is very moving. Coming from a divorced family myself, it's easy to relate and understand Jeremy's feelings. Mr. Prosek uses outstanding details within the story and has also created lovely drawings. It is a great book and experience from beginning to end.

Reviewed by: Jeremey