Scorpio's Child [Hardcover]

Kezi Matthews (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 10, 2001

Fourteen-year-old Afton is alienated from her mother, who is the perfect wife when her sailor husband is home, but emotionally distant when he is away. When her mother’s brother, Bailey, turns up — an uncle Afton never knew existed — Afton begins to wonder who her mother really is. With quiet determination, Afton sets out to uncover Bailey’s secret, and along the way she learns the price that a family pays for letting the past fester unresolved. In a style richly evocative of small-town southern life in the 1940s, Scorpio’s Child shows Kezi Matthews at her best. The characters that populate this poignant coming-of-age novel are as unusual and complicated as the situations that bind them. Matthews’s straightforward handling of difficult themes creates a depth of feeling that will leave a lasting impression.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Set during the summer of 1947, Matthews's (John Riley's Daughter) stirring novel at once captures the period nuances of life in post-WWII South Carolina and limns a timeless portrait of family sorrows and secrets. Fourteen-year-old narrator Afton's brother, Francis, perished two years ago at age 18 on a battlefield in Europe. When her mother's silent, mysterious brother, whom Afton never knew existed, comes to visit, Afton suspects that her mother is harboring secrets from the past. Mama will say only that Bailey has been through "an ordeal" and needs time "to get on his feet," and asks Afton not to mention Bailey's arrival in her letters to her father, at sea with the merchant marines. Matthews deftly and subtly draws a parallel between Francis and Bailey: Afton notices that her mother's face lights up when she talks to Bailey, the same as it did when she spoke to Francis, and her mother even offers Bailey her brother's room. The heroine dreams at night about her brother "cold and hungry in his grave," and wonders if it is wartime experiences that haunt the man as he paces incessantly in Francis's room. The girl blames herself when Bailey is falsely suspected of murder, after which Mama discloses the cause of his unhappiness. In a poignant, pivotal moment, Afton's unfailingly candid, credible voice articulates both her guilt and the sense of loss that she and her mother share ("And then it hits me so hard I feel as though my heart might burst. Mama loves Bailey the way I love Francis. She probably thought he was dead. Then she looked up one day, and there he was again"). A hopeful ending caps this gracefully crafted fiction, starring a memorable heroine and a strong supporting cast. Ages 11-14.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Gr 6-8-Set in South Carolina during the summer of 1947, this novel explores family and small-town dynamics from the perspective of 14-year-old Afton. Her father works for a shipping company out of Charleston and her brother was killed in the war. The girl and her mother have a tempestuous relationship, and the arrival of an uncle whom her mother had never mentioned before strains things further. She is told to be understanding toward Bailey because he has suffered terribly, but she is fearful of this odd, mournful man. The nosy townspeople assume he was a prisoner of war, but Afton becomes consumed with finding out about his past and why her mother is so secretive about it. The murder of a local woman sets things in motion, and because of some of the things Afton has told her best friend, Bailey, who served time in prison, is accused of the crime. The real murderer is found, but Afton's mother is terrified of how people will react to the scandal. When Afton realizes what the years of keeping secrets have done to her mother, she decides to confess her own part in exposing Bailey's story. The mood of the book is like a storm brewing, blowing through town and then clearing the air, a metaphor that the author uses throughout. The resolution comes quickly, and not all questions are answered, but there is a sense of hope that the family will weather the storm and survive. A thoughtful read that should be appreciated by those who enjoyed Patricia Reilly Giff's Lily's Crossing (Delacorte, 1997) and Mary Downing Hahn's Stepping on the Cracks (Clarion, 1991).

Cheri Estes, Detroit Country Day Middle School, Beverly Hills, MI

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Cricket Books; 1st edition (October 10, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 081262890X
• ISBN-13: 978-0812628906
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,122,886 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Satisfying!, May 10, 2002

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Scorpio's Child (Hardcover)

I enjoyed this book, because it gave me an insite on what WWII was really like for the commoners, and how it reflected their lives. This book had enough suspense to keep me satisfied for the whole book, while being somewhat educational. I loved this book and I'm looking forward to reading more books by Kezi Matthews!

5.0 out of 5 stars Another great read by Kezi Matthews., July 16, 2002

By 

Claude Lysaght (Virginia Beach, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Scorpio's Child (Hardcover)

Scorpio's Child brings out the truth as only the south lives it. A story that will appeal to all ages. The main character, Afton, is buffeted from one pillow to the next as heartbreak, mystery, amd murder find their way into her young life. You must read Scorpio's Daughter to savor the true flavor of a young girl growing up in the south.

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding, July 15, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Scorpio's Child (Hardcover)

I read Kezi's first book, "John Riley's Daughter." I loved it! Her style of writing is so unique and keeps the reader very interested. Now comes, "Scorpio Child," which is written in that same unique manner. You just have to keep reading until you finish the book. There's no putting it down. I recommend it highly for readers of all ages. "Thanks Kezi, can't wait til your next book comes out!"