Sebastian's Poet [Kindle Edition]

Kevin Craig (Author)

Book Description

Sebastian Nelson is a boy in search of a family. Abandoned by his mother, Sebastian is left with a broken father who doesn't even seem present when he does show up. Forced to be the main caregiver of his younger brother, Renee, and lost in a sea of indifference, Sebastian only wants to experience the love a real, stable family could afford him.

One morning he discovers the famous folksinger, Teal Landen, asleep on the sofa. Teal’s nurturing nature brings an immediate sense of security into Sebastian’s tumultuous life. But a dark secret looms between Teal and Sebastian’s father of a hidden past. Sebastian is driven to discover their secret, but also he's aware of how tenuous their hold on Teal really is. He doesn’t want to lose the feeling of home Teal’s presence has brought him.

If Sebastian pushes too hard, he could lose Teal forever. He could be destined to raise his younger brother alone, while witnessing the total decline of his emotionally devastated father. If Sebastian is abandoned by the only healthy influence in his otherwise shaky existence, he will also be forever in the dark about the secret that will reveal so much about his fractured family.

Product Details

• File Size: 283 KB
• Print Length: 142 pages
• Publisher: Musa Publishing (July 5, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B008HYWKWM
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #737,754 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Achingly beautiful July 7, 2012

By Margaret Lesh

Format:Kindle Edition

After reading the first paragraph of Sebastian's Poet, I knew this was a book I was going to not only enjoy but experience and savor. I was drawn to Sebastian, the young boy who's been abandoned by his mother and left with a broken, unable to function, emotionally unavailable father. A surrogate dad to his handful of a little brother, Sebastian keeps house and makes breakfasts, running off to the corner market for supplies, dealing with the disapproval of the shopkeeper, noticing everything about him. He's forced to take on adult responsibilities and growing up much too fast. Almost immediately, my heart ached for him; there is perhaps nothing more heartbreaking than the loss of innocence. And that was just the first chapter. The second chapter was even more haunting and beautiful as Sebastian describes a kind of surrogate mother (which I won't describe because I don't want to give away any of the story), but I was moved by the poignancy of his need to fill the void of the mother he remembers vividly, who meant so much to him, but who left him so suddenly.

Right off the bat, Sebastian meets Teal, a musician sacked out on the couch after another one of his musician father's parties (which happen on a routine basis). Teal, who shares some kind of bond with Sebastian's father, quickly becomes a longed-for replacement father. He shows interest in Sebastian and Sebastian's younger brother Renee. He pays attention to the boys and provides affection and love that they've missed so acutely. I loved the characters Teal and Sebastian. The affection they shared was so apparent, and I felt myself wishing that Teal could be their father just as Sebastian did.

Broken people, abandonment, longing, aching. This book drew me in with its beauty, and I shed a few tears. It was so well crafted -- a really well-written book -- and I was so glad to read it. I loved this book.
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4.0 out of 5 stars A big, deep, heartbreaking read March 25, 2013

By Lisa Pedersen

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

A beautifully told coming of age story filled with the hurt and conflict and love you only find in family. Well done.

5.0 out of 5 stars Poignant and Beautifully Written September 16, 2012

By Cheap and Lazy

Format:Kindle Edition

Wish I could give it more stars. I was immediately drawn in by the lush prose and the tragic reality of Sebastian's situation, told first-person by a too-old-for-his-age almost-nine year old boy through the next few years of his life. It felt so terribly real (even though it's firmly set in the late 70's). I kept wondering how many kids grew/grow up this way or worse. I might have found it too sad (I usually read pretty light stuff), if not for the (believably imperfect) hero and the positive impact he was able to make on Sebastian's life. This haunting story is extremely well told, with great characterization and compelling tension throughout. I enjoyed the period name-dropping, too.

More About the Author

Kevin Craig is a poet, playwright and novelist. His works have been published internationally. Kevin has had five plays produced. He is a four-time winner of the Muskoka Novel Marathon's BEST NOVEL AWARD. Kevin is a founding member on the Board of Directors of the Ontario Writers' Conference. He has two published novels; Summer on Fire and Sebastian's Poet. Sebastian's Poet was awarded the 2007 Muskoka Novel Marathon's Best Adult Novel Award.

Kevin's 3rd novel, THE REASONS (Musa Publishing), will be released in spring 2013.

Kevin's 6th play will be performed at the 7th Annual InspiraTO Festival in Toronto, Ontario. Festival to take place at the Alumnae Theatre, June 1st-10th, 2013.