FICTION

Mobile Library

by David Whitehouse
Scribner. Jan. 2015. 272p. ISBN 9781476749433. $25; ebk. ISBN 9781476749464. F
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Bobby Nusku is 12. His mum's been missing, his dad's got a short temper and a new girlfriend who is at best disinterested and at worst resentful. Bobby's best friend, Sunny, is also his bodyguard—until Sunny has a terrible accident in his quest to become a cyborg. Lost and lonely, Bobby befriends neighbor Rosa, who is disabled and the target of bullies. Rosa's mother, Val, cleans the town's mobile library (think bookmobile) and introduces Bobby to the magic of stories and the warmth of a loving family. When Val loses her job and Bobby's father beats him up, the motley trio take to the road, eventually meeting up with a homeless vet named Joe. Their adventure comes to an abrupt end when Det. Jimmy Samas tracks them down.
VERDICT Odd, occasionally off-putting and illogical but nonetheless readable, Whitehouse's second novel (after the award-winning Bed) is ultimately a tender tale of love, hope, and family. The author has a way with descriptive turns of phrase. His fondness for his protagonists is evident; readers will find themselves rooting for the unlikely heroes. [See "Writers To Watch," Prepub Alert, 7/14/14.]
Reviewed by Christine Perkins, Whatcom Cty. Lib. Syst., Bellingham, WA , Nov 15, 2014
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