From Publishers Weekly
With the tension and pacing of a thriller, Antle's (Lost in the War) novel tackles difficult issues including alcoholism, grief and emotional abuse honestly and with a delicate touch. The author plants clues as to why 13-year-old Ellie has recently moved to Drasco, Okla., to live with her grandpa from the outset: "Nobody'll be feeling sorry for me 'cause my daddy was a mean drunk or 'cause Mama died of brain cancer." The protagonist finds comfort in the "neat little rows" of cards in her favorite game, solitaire, the loving bickering of Grandpa and his outspoken neighbor, her adopted dog and a new friend, but the impending possibility of her alcoholic father's reappearance threatens Ellie's sanctuary. The theme of solitaire works on several levels, as Ellie tries to go it alone, secretly plotting to kill her father when he arrives, and struggles to trust family, friends and her newfound feeling of belonging. Antle handles Ellie's longing for revenge responsibly and believably, gradually upping the emotional ante for readers until, in the penultimate scene, she reveals the past episode that triggers Ellie's all-consuming anger. In a subtle, spare style and with fully delineated characters, the author skillfully creates the community of this eccentric small town and portrays the ways loved ones both tiptoe around and champion those they care about in times of crisis and pain. Readers will be heartened by the hope and redemption dealt in the final hand of this complex psychological novel. Ages 12-up. (Apr.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Grade 6-9-Ellie will be starting ninth grade in the fall, in the small Oklahoma town where she now lives with her grandfather. Her mother has died of brain cancer, and her father has done something so despicable that she vows to kill him if she ever sees him again. To pass the time, and to console herself, the teen plays solitaire. Though there are numerous hints, it is not until almost the middle of the book that readers learn that in a drunken rage, her father cut off part of three of her fingers with his hunting knife. Ellie's hatred and fear of him consume her thoughts, but a blossoming friendship with a neighborhood boy, an adopted dog, and a caring grandfather help her to heal emotionally. The climactic scene in which she actually confronts her father at gunpoint is action-packed and holds a few surprises. Ellie's narration reveals her typical teen struggles with self-image and friendship, as well as her overwhelming fear that her fugitive father will appear. The novel is short (a typical chapter is six pages), and with its clean, clear writing, depth of character development, and fast-moving plot, it will be accessible to reluctant readers, yet still hold the attention of those just looking for a good story.
Angela J. Reynolds, Washington County Cooperative Library Services, Aloha, OR Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
