A Beautiful Place on Yonge Street

Dave Jenkinson is a professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Manitoba and the author of the “Portraits” section of Emergency Librarian.

The third instalment in the ongoing story of Harper Winslow finds him
discovering romantic love during the summer between Grades 11 and 12. In
June, Harper is sent to a week-long writing camp where he meets Sunny
Taylor, an aspiring artist. Sunny and her librarian father are
holidaying at the camp while her twin brother, Mickey, participates in
the workshops. For Harper, love is instantaneous; it continues when camp
is over and Sunny returns to Edmonton where they experience their first
kiss. But Harper’s happiness is threatened by the possibility that
Sunny may spend the next year at her Aunt Babs’s Toronto home—“a
beautiful place on Yonge Street”—while she attends art school. When
the death of another of Sunny’s aunts provides the necessary tuition
monies, the decision is made, and Harper must decide between letting
Sunny go (without “guilting” her) and being selfish.

While passing references are made to incidents in the previous two
Harper-centred titles, A Beautiful Place on Yonge Street stands as an
independent read. Although believable growth occurs in Harper’s
relationships with his parents and his older brother, the real power of
the book lies in Trembath’s wonderful evocation of the immense joys
and equally profound heartaches of first love. Although not as humorous
as A Fly Named Alfred, this book does have some funny scenes, notably
those involving Sunny and Harper “making out.” Middle/senior school
readers of both genders, especially those who have experienced
Harper’s earlier miseries, will delight in this bittersweet romance.
Highly recommended.