Kalyna's Song

Kristin Butcher writes novels for young adults. Her most recent works
are The Trouble with Liberty, Zee’s Way, and Chat Room.

Published in 2003, Kalyna’s Song was originally intended for an adult
audience and was nominated for the Books in Canada First Novel Award, as
well as the newly established Kobzar Award for literary recognition of
Ukrainian-Canadian culture. The book has since been reformatted for
teens.

Kalyna’s Song is an introspective account of Colleen Lutzak’s teen
years. Colleen is intelligent and musically gifted. Unfortunately she is
also very self-possessed, and no one appreciates her talents more than
she does. As a result of this superior view of herself, she struggles to
find acceptance among her peers and lives her teen years more or less as
a loner. Although not a bad person, Colleen is wilful and stubborn, and
everything she does is calculated. She sees things only as they relate
to her, and whenever she is unsuccessful, she finds a way to blame her
failure on circumstances or other people. By the end of the novel,
nothing has changed. As she writes a song to commemorate her dead
cousin, Kalyna, Colleen is focused on the brilliance of her efforts,
rather than the cousin who inspired them. Throughout the story Colleen
attempts to come to terms with her Ukrainian heritage as well, and much
is made of Ukrainian culture and customs, though the reader wonders why,
since this aspect of the story is never resolved either.

The novel is easy to read, and some passages are beautifully written.
However, it lacks the sort of focus that will attract teen readers.
Recommended with reservations.