One Day at a Time

Alison Mews is co-ordinator of the Centre for Instructional Services at
Memorial University of Newfoundland.

In a reversal of the usual outward migration story, Andy’s family
decides to leave Toronto and look for work in Newfoundland. They move
back in stages, with Andy and his father moving first and his sister and
mother coming later when the job situation is secure. Andy stays in Goat
Cove with his grandparents while his father looks for work in St.
John’s. Andy’s sense of abandonment is realistically portrayed as he
copes with his changed situation—his grandparents are virtual
strangers and he misses his family, his friends, and his busy city life.
Andy slowly warms to his brusque Gramp and his passive Gran, as he
compares his new life in the outports with his former life in Toronto.

As Andy is quickly accepted by the local boys, the novel’s emphasis
on thoughtful introspection gives way to pure adventure. Two of the boys
are kidnapped by drug smugglers. The others (our Andy included) manage
to free their friends and facilitate the capture of the bad guys. A
novel with a promising beginning, which comes to a disappointing finish.
Recommended with reservations.