Winter Loon

An emotionally powerful, deeply sad, and realistic coming-of-age story from a new writer. Difficult to read at times (especially if you have suffered your own childhood traumas) but with a protagonist who plants himself into your heart from the very first pages.

Wes is about 12 when the book begins, living with two dysfunctional parents, who are caught in a mutually dependent, love-hate relationship that is amplified by drugs and alcohol, physical abuse, and poverty. Brutal fights, passive aggressive behavior, intense reconciliations, and recurrent separations are all Wes knows of family. Later, after he witnesses a horrible family tragedy, Wes winds up living with his two grandparents, who have their own sad histories and are equally show more incapable of providing the love and support he needs.

But Wes is stronger than his circumstances might lead you to believe. Despite this shaky foundation and understandable difficulties with trust, Wes begins forming attachments with people outside his family. The daughter of a wealthy, small-town businessman, a few co-workers at his summer farm job, and, most importantly, with a Native American girl and her family. All the while, he is waiting passively for rescue. Eventually, Wes takes control and goes off on a solo quest to get answers and where he finally discovers what true family means.

This is a beautifully written debut novel. Most impressive to me was how successful this female author was at getting so deeply, so skillfully, and so believably inside the mind of this teenage boy — with that strange mixture of childlike hope, raging hormones, and budding adult strength.

From the beginning, I loved Wes, worried about him, and was nervously eager to get to the very satisfying conclusion of the book. I guarantee this one will get under your skin. show less

An emotionally powerful, deeply sad, and realistic coming-of-age story from a new writer. Difficult to read at times (especially if you have suffered your own childhood traumas) but with a protagonist who plants himself into your heart from the very first pages.

Wes is about 12 when the book begins, living with two dysfunctional parents, who are caught in a mutually dependent, love-hate relationship that is amplified by drugs and alcohol, physical abuse, and poverty. Brutal fights, passive aggressive behavior, intense reconciliations, and recurrent separations are all Wes knows of family. Later, after he witnesses a horrible family tragedy, Wes winds up living with his two grandparents, who have their own sad histories and are equally show more incapable of providing the love and support he needs.

But Wes is stronger than his circumstances might lead you to believe. Despite this shaky foundation and understandable difficulties with trust, Wes begins forming attachments with people outside his family. The daughter of a wealthy, small-town businessman, a few co-workers at his summer farm job, and, most importantly, with a Native American girl and her family. All the while, he is waiting passively for rescue. Eventually, Wes takes control and goes off on a solo quest to get answers and where he finally discovers what true family means.

This is a beautifully written debut novel. Most impressive to me was how successful this female author was at getting so deeply, so skillfully, and so believably inside the mind of this teenage boy — with that strange mixture of childlike hope, raging hormones, and budding adult strength.

From the beginning, I loved Wes, worried about him, and was nervously eager to get to the very satisfying conclusion of the book. I guarantee this one will get under your skin. show less

Winter Loon is a gorgeous, emotionally wrought, coming-of-age story about a young boy who watches his mother drown and then must endure the aftermath of her death--a father who abandons him, moving in with his abusive grandparents and falling in love with the beautiful Jolene. The novel is heart-wrenching, gritty, and at times troubling, but one thing that you cannot escape is how you will feel about young Wes Ballot as he tries to figure out his new place in the world. This is a brilliant debut and I can't wait to see where Bernhard will take her readers next.

While this may not be a book for everyone, I really enjoyed it. It isn't an action-packed thriller by any means but I love the way [a:Susan Bernhard|17848954|Susan Bernhard|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1528355327p2/17848954.jpg] writes, she is very descriptive and moving. I liked reading about Wes Ballot's life and just how his world was falling apart. This is a thoughtful book, and you really do feel for the kid.

"What was I, anyway? Their blood ran through me—loser, liar, thief, cheat, brute, drunk, creep. Was there good at all?"

Even half-way through this book I intended to stop reading and leave it unfinished - a beautiful cover might make you pick it up, but when the characters are as unlikable as this bunch, it's tough to keep going. But, I persevered because the main character - 15 year-old Wes Ballot - draws on your sympathies, and eventually it got better. His parents fight and argue all the time - at least when his dad sticks around, which isn't his usual habit. After his mother dies, Wes is left with his grandparents, who are just as bad (if not worse). But Wes sees something different in other families, something he wants - and show more that's what kept me reading. There's a lot of profanity and talk of sex, which is another reason I grew tired of it, but there is some beautiful writing, too. And it's an interesting look at those who don't have the kind of family life I probably took for granted growing up. In the end, it's a story that kind of lingers with you.

"Carefree memories like that one—tinged with gloss, lit by sunrays—they’re fragile. I don’t tamper with them much. show less

Some people are not prepared for parenthood because of their childhood traumas Reading this book at times was so difficult as my heart ached for Wes Ballott, the protagonist. Wes's father is a selfish, his Mother is an alcoholic who was sexual abused by her Father, and his Grandparents treated him like he is a dog. After his Mother's death, he is forced to live with his Grandparents in a small town in Minnesota. The only light in his life is his friendship with a family of Native Americans.

The writing in this novel was excellent and the only reason why I read it to the end. Extremely sad.

I would really like to give this 3.5 stars. This is a really beautifully written story and it's a really sad story. There is a lovely young man who pulls you through this story and all its sadness, that at times I found a bit hard to believe his rigor to endure without some kind of acting out or breakdown. But in the end, this is a beautiful story about love; real true love and those are the best stories to read. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing with an advanced copy to read in exchange for an honest opinion.