The Crazy Man

Took a verse novel workshop with Pamela Porter who won a Governor General award for this book. Such a gentle, unassuming person. I didn't know much about writing a novel in verse. But it doesn't rhyme. I had negative associations with poetry, but this book reads so cleanly, with no wasted words, so vivid. I was so caught up in the story, not distracted by the words. Strong emotions. I was relieved it ends with hope. Otherwise, what's the point.

It is 1965, and twelve-year-old Emaline lives on a wheat farm in southern Saskatchewan. Her family has fallen apart. When her beloved dog, Prince, chased a hare into the path of the tractor, she chased after him, and her dad accidentally ran over her leg with the discer, leaving her with a long convalescence and a permanent disability. But perhaps the worst thing from Emaline's point of view is that in his grief and guilt, her father shot Prince and then left Emaline and her mother on their own.

I like how the author veers from the structure of the traditional chapter book and chooses to write in free verse. This book could teach children a great deal about prejudice, stereotypes, and tolerance of others. Will reread again and again!

Written in free verse, a fictional story is told of a 12-year old girl in 1965 Saskatchewan who is injured in a tractor accident. Porter grabs the reader’s attention at the beginning of the story with the family dog’s body being placed in a burn pile. On top of the accidents, Emaline begins the journey of mourning her father’s and her dog’s deaths. The story teaches about mental illness, acceptance, perseverance, everyday heroes and the danger of making assumptions.
The book would make a good book club novel for intermediate students or as a read aloud with class discussions around anti-bullying.

Recommended for ages 10 and up.

This novel, written in free verse, describes 12 year old Saskatchewan farm girl Emaline Bitterman's physical and emotional healing after an accident leaves her disabled and her father's guilt drives him away. The title,
A Crazy Man refers to the psychiatric patient released from hospital that comes towork on the farm when the father leaves, is mentally ill and the townspeople want to get rid of him.