Customer Reviews

Duck Egg Blue: A Novel

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Cameron Wright has completed his requirements for Eagle Scout. In an interview with the Scouting board, he says he doesn't know whether he believes in God. His badge is held until he "reconsiders." His ultrareligious father had more than something to do with it. John, his father, also says Cameron's model of the Grand Canyon for a high school science project is all wrong. (He used the color Duck Egg Blue for the river.) Meantime, Mark Edwards, Cameron's science teacher, who is also dating Cameron's divorced mother, is being pressured by the principal to give "creation science" equal time. This not only threatens his cherished position at the school, but also the separation of church and state. Cameron spends the year trying to decide if he should tell the Scout board what they want to hear, or stand up for what he believes. When writing about creationism in school, it's easy to take an attitude of I'm Right and You're Wrong. Neill doesn't. Some will like it, and some will hate it, but everyone should read DUCK EGG BLUE.

Sometimes the River looks brown and muddy, and at others it reflects the heavens to assume a hue of duck egg blue. So it is with God, to some he looks startlingly real, to others he appears as all of nature and a few can't find him at all. The novel is about a teenager who is pressured to define his own lack of belief. At stake is his Eagle Scout badge as the board insists he assert a belief in god.

The public library refers to the book as a "Bildungsroman," that is a novel of growing up, of the emotional development of the hero. It is also a didactic novel, which teaches us about the contemporary problems of religion, education, teaching evolution, and related issues. The author has them all there, and as far as I can see he has his facts correct. It is thus small wonder that the characters are a little more than life size. The hero is more perfect than any literary teenager should be allowed to be. The hero's mother is better and wiser than any teenager could recognize. His girl friend is sweeter and more understanding than any believable ninth grader, and she is more beautiful than expected in any real woman. And the fundamentalist male character is, of course, truly evil.

Let me hasten to add this is not some dreary morality tract. On the contrary I found it a very interesting and lively novel which held my attention without difficulty or hesitation. In fact, I only put it down to sleep. More, the novel provides scenes and situations which raise insistent questions which demand clear answers, and should be food for discussions.

A New Age character claims that music which makes her cry are the real equivalent of prayers. Perhaps the deaf and non-musical then, don't pray? Honest work is equally praised as devotion. Does the agnostic character have a truly honest position, or is it merely a practical out so he doesn't offend the everyday world? Does the atheist have a supportable position, or is he merely bitter? Are the myths in the Bible and in other religious scriptures really "metaphorical representations of the grand mystery of our world and of the spiritual potential of every human being" (p. 139) as the Unitarian pastor asserts, or are these mere fairy tales? Can our hero walk with his friend to accept both, god and science. Will they agree that evolution is simply god's way of creation?

At one point in the novel some students are excused from viewing an educational movie about sex and reproduction, because their parents will not give them permission to do so. Surely these students will be mercilessly teased and hounded by their class mates. Now, if it is OK to be excused from sex instruction and assigned other work, why is it not OK to be excused when the Christian majority insists on having public prayers?

Eventually, the hero is faced with answering the scout board what it wishes to hear, that he believes in some kind of God, or else to tell them the truth. In an epiphany of music the hero goes with the lead in "Les Misérables" who will be condemned if he tells the truth, but damned if he stays silent. The question for the unbeliever is, condemned by whom, damned to which non existent hell. To thine own self be true is no doubt a good adage, but confessing the truth to uncomprehending idiots is throwing pearls before swine. Sometimes there are good reasons to lie and to conceal what one thinks, believes, or is.

I wish anyone teetering on the edge of falling into faith or of drifting into unbelief could read this book. I'm sure it will be eye opening to many teens. By all means read it.

I thought that this book was a very good book. The reason for this may be that I could relate to it well since I too am a boy scout and am working on my Eagle rank. One of the reasons that I got this book was because the author was my 8th grade science teacher and had made a big impact on me with his teaching. Another reason for getting Mr. Niell's book was after reading his first book "Adventures in Spacetime" at least 4 times I thought that I should try his newest book. Although it was made for adults it was still easy for me to read and follow along with.

I'm a religious liberal, a humanist and a free thinker and it's about time a novel was written for and about my particular minority group. I thoroughly enjoyed Neill's "Duck Egg Blue." The book is full of philosophical musings and its assertions are based on reason rather than blind faith. And it's a great novel to share with your kids, especially if they're in the midst of grappling with the so-called 'ultimate questions.' "Duck Egg Blue" gives me hope--hope that humanity will become increasingly enlightened in the future. And after what happened in Kansas recently concerning the creationism vs. science debate, I was starting to think we were on the brink of another Dark Ages.

Reading the review by "Nicholas" I can't help but shake my head in disgust. It's obvious to anyone with a brain that someone who writes as bad as he does shouldn't be taken seriously. What's more, I doubt he even read "Duck Egg Blue." It's obvious he just didn't like the subject matter but was afraid to admit it. As for "Duck Egg Blue," the book is written on at least a high school level. I'm sure Derrick Neill, the author, wanted to get his important message out to as wide an audience as possible. The novel is thought provoking, funny and touching. It's also a very important work, reminding us that America was founded on the principle of freedom of thought--not on religious dogma. Bravo to Derrick Neill! But watch out religious conservatives. Like our friend Nicholas, you're not going to like this book.

This is a masterfully crafted story that everyone would enjoy. I enjoyed getting to know the characters, loved the southwest links, hiking, and the Boy Scout story, as well as the wonderful romance that unfolded between two of the main characters. But behind all that is a superb story about learning which battles are worth standing up and fighting for, which beliefs and values you consider worth a sacrifice of time and yourself.Anyone reading this book will find themselves relooking at their own beliefs and faith.. deciding again for themselves. Definitely worth a reading, and a re-reading.

"Duck Egg Blue" is a great book. Considering the real life battle the Unitarian Church is now having with the Boy Scouts over the Religion in Life award, and considering what the idiotic Kansas state school board did a couple of weeks ago, this novel is coming out just in time. The 21st Century is now upon us. Will reason, or superstition, prevail in the new millenium? Neill is obviously concerned with this question. And we should be too.

This is a novel for adults and young adults (but there is some sex in it, so not all parents would agree about what age it becomes appropriate for). It is about a teenage boy and his search to find what his spiritual beliefs are or whether he needs to define them. His parents are divorced and his father is a fundamentalist, his mother on the new age side. Other characters in the novel include an atheist, an agnostic, and a liberal Christian family. His quest is directed by the fact the board who was reviewing his qualifications for receiving his Eagle Scout badge want him to give an acceptable answer to their belief in God inquiry before he can get the badge he has otherwise completed the requirements for. It is all against the backdrop of a creationism versus evolution being taught in the classroom.

It was a very easy read, which I mean as both a compliment and a complaint. I enjoyed the story and it is definitely the kind of book that could lead to some thought provoking conversations. However the characters are not very complex and each one very conveniently has just the qualities needed to move the story exactly where it needs to go. The novel is definitely driven by the story not the characters, and there is an agenda, but it is all presented in a way that tries to be tolerant, and for the most part succeeds, although it has some trouble finding ways to show the ultraconservative father in a positive light. It balances this by not always painting the others in a particularly attractive light either.

I don't think this is a terrific book, or an exceptionally well-written book, but I still recommend it. There is very little fiction out there dealing with religious issues in such a liberal way, but even if there was more I still think this one is worth a look. The main character was designed to be appealing, and even though I was aware how contrived the characterizations felt, I still found him appealing.

In today's society, religion is, especially in schools, one of our greatest issues. Many of us are "up in the air" about what to believe since this world offers so many choices, whereas others think they stand firmly in the ground about what is right and what is wrong. I think that this book offers as many views as it can on a subject like this, which is wonderful for the reader to get a dose of such openness. I reccomend the book to everyone in hopes that someone like John Wright may realize that there are other answers, or someone like Cameron to realize that they are not alone, or someone like Justin to open up a little and take in what there is to breath. Being an atheist myself, I have been subjected to several situations where I feel incredibly alone in the world. This book helped me to realize that there are other people out there going through the same thing. Maybe someday, everyone will come to an equal understanding on this topic. This does not mean everyone will hold the same religious views, just an understanding for each other.

'Duck Egg Blue' portrays in personal, realistic fashion a dilemma facing young people concerning free thought vs. religion, particularly Boy Scouts. The topic is timely if you've been following the national debate over the discriminatory policies of the Boy Scouts. It doesn't deal specifically with the politics of the problem but rather with the personal turmoil and consequences. I happen to agree with the slant of the book, which favors free thought. I doubt that religious conservatives will enjoy it.