Past Tense

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.

Middle-schoolers familiar with Roberts’s previous four light, humorous
reads may anticipate Past Tense’s providing them with the same
experience. Instead, Roberts successfully takes readers in a new
emotional direction via a story that sensitively explores dying and how
to behave when someone is dying. Narrated by 13-year-old Max Derbin, the
plot’s events occur within a single day, though flashbacks provide
antecedent information and an epiloguelike final chapter, set some three
months later, supplies appropriate closure.

When Max was an infant, his father died, and Max, mother Marta, and
older brother Denny moved in with Uncle Chuck and Aunt Lois. Child Max
enjoyed his somewhat bizarre uncle, but maturing-teen Max is critical of
Uncle Chuck’s behavior. On this particular day, Uncle Chuck learns
that Mr. Cluff, a beloved neighbor since Max’s childhood, has terminal
cancer. Wishing to lift the dying man’s spirits and recognizing that
“life is not life unless there are new stories to tell,” Uncle Chuck
decides to visit Mr. Cluff anonymously as Elspeth, the female clown
magician persona he has formerly adopted only on Halloween evening.
Max’s understanding of social norms causes him to try, albeit
unsuccessfully, to dissuade his uncle from behaving so outrageously.
Remaining family members are equally shocked when they discover what
Uncle Chuck has done, but, during their formal “farewell” visit to
the Cluffs’ home, they realize the positive impact of Uncle Chuck’s
action. The book’s title derives from an observation of Uncle Chuck:
“Everybody uses the past tense when somebody’s dying.” To prevent
the book’s tone from possibly becoming too heavy, Roberts interjects
moments of humor throughout the story. Highly recommended.