Grampa's Alkali

Dean Reeds is a freelance journalist in St Catharines.

Prairie farm life can be rough on a boy of 10. In a few years Jamie’s
inquisitive, steadfast, and caring qualities will be great assets in
running a farm, but for now they only get him into trouble. Too young to
be of much real help and too old to be satisfied with playing around the
farm house all summer, Jamie has earned his nickname, Alkali (the
farmer’s nuisance). But when his grandfather suddenly suffers an
attack during harvest, Alkali is the only one who can save him.

Grampa’s Alkali attempts to be a real slice of farm life as seen from
a 10-year-old’s eyes. From daily chores and farmers’ attitudes to
descriptions of machinery and the land, the language is concise and
vivid. However, occasional “vocab” words and stilted dialogue
interrupt the flow of the story. Sometimes explanations are overstated,
and the younger characters are spoken down to. Similarly, the author
occasionally hits the reader over the head to make a point or force home
a joke.

The subject matter and the frankness with which the book is presented
may well be of interest to 10- to 14-year-olds, but some readers may not
identify with the naive and straitlaced younger main character.

Still, the story builds well and addresses a number of difficult topics
such as death, illness, loss, and the like. More sophisticated readers
may find things a bit slow going and condescending at times, though
there is enough action to keep most readers interested. Younger readers
may have a difficult time dealing with the very frank portrayal of a
number of scenes. Recommended with reservations.