Let It Go

HOME SCHOOL BOOK REVIEW






Book: Let It Go



Author: Marilyn Halvorson



Jacket Illustrator: Joe Csatari



Publisher: Fitzhenry and Whiteside, reprinted 2004



ISBN-13:  978-0385294843 Hardcover



ISBN-10:  0385294840 Hardcover



ISBN-13:  978-1550051056 Paperback



ISBN-10:  1550051059 Paperback



Language level:  3



(1=nothing objectionable; 2=common euphemisms and/or childish slang terms; 3=some cursing and/or profanity; 4=a lot of cursing and/or profanity; 5=obscenity and/or vulgarity)



Recommended reading level: One says ages 13 and up and another says ages 15 – 18



Rating: ***** 5 stars



(5 stars=EXCELLENT; 4 stars=GOOD; 3 stars=FAIR; 2 stars=POOR; 1 star=VERY POOR; no stars=NOT RECOMMENDED)



Category: General youth fiction



Reviewed by Wayne S. Walker



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     Halvorson, Marilyn.  Let It Go (Published in 1985 by Irwin Publishing Inc., Toronto, ON  Canada; republished in 1986 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers, a division of Delacorte Press, 1 Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, New York City, NY  10017).  Fifteen-year-old Jared Cantrell, nicknamed Red because of his bright red hair, lives in rural Alderton, Alberta, Canada, with his father Ken, formerly an Inspector of Detectives in Calgary but now a policeman in the small Canadian community, and mother Kate, a dental assistant.  Red’s best friend, Lance Ducharme, also fifteen years old, is part Indian and lives with his father Mike who manages Silverwinds, the biggest ranch around Alderton. Their friendship is tested by the secrets that neither boy can bring himself to reveal to the other. Lance’s mother Ann-Marie Charbonneau walked out when Lance was five.  Now a famous singer, she shows up and wants custody. Red arranges a meeting between Lance and his mother, but Lance, who’d considered her dead, is devastated by her reappearance, becomes sullen, and turns to drugs.



     How does all this affect Red’s already troubled relationship with his father?  What will Lance decide to do?  And what is the family secret that Red is hiding from his friend?  In addition to a few common euphemisms (gee, heck), it is said that “Lance swore under his breath” and the “h” word is used once.  There are instances of smoking cigarettes, and references to drug use.  The latter is an important part of the plot and is presented in a very negative way.  There are several other things to like about the story.  In describing the boys’ private discussions, Red says, “We both believed in God.  Neither of us understood Him, but we still believed He was real.  When you’ve watched a Valley sunset, it’s pretty hard not to believe in someone….”    Red and Lance sound like real teenagers groping toward maturity with the theme of retaining the love of others by giving them the right to their own choices.