Where the Sky Begins

Lynn Manuel writes mystery novels for young adults and is the author of
Return to Cranberry Farm.

Twelve-year-old Jenkins finds his world turned upside down when his
younger brother Perry scalds himself by upsetting a pot of boiling soup.
With his mother off to the hospital with Perry and his father away
fishing, Jenkins, his sister Rose, and his little brother Mike find
themselves left in the care of their Uncle Donny, a gruff man who smells
of whisky. With their Uncle Donny in hot pursuit, they run away to find
their father. In the final confrontation with his uncle, Jenkins must
face his biggest challenge. With his brother and sister in his care,
Jenkins the dreamer learns about responsibility. Just as important, he
learns that there are some things in life for which one is not
responsible. Thus, he could not save his brother from the accident, just
as his father could not save Uncle Donny from drinking.

This novel’s strength lies in its realistic portrayal of the adults
as neither heroes nor villains, but rather as flawed human beings.
Strong characterization, lively action, a well-developed theme, and a
prose style that is smooth and uncontrived make this book a useful
vehicle for provoking classroom discussion. Highly recommended.