Rooster

Deborah Dowson is a Canadian children’s librarian living in Powell,
Ohio.

Roy’s dad gave him the nickname Rooster when he was very young, and
the name has stuck. Rooster has a reputation in his high school for bad
behaviour, poor performance, and a disrespectful attitude. There is some
question as to whether he will graduate this year, and the principal has
given him an ultimatum. He must lead a small group of mentally
challenged adults in their quest to join the Special Olympic Bowling
League, or he won’t graduate. In spite of Rooster’s best efforts to
get out of the task, he doesn’t want to be left behind when his
friends all graduate and move on with their lives. The project presents
him with many opportunities to evaluate his own life and prospects and
to realize that he does have the desire to make use of his talents and
to make something of himself.

Don Trembath’s characters are flawed, fallible, and very funny. Their
quirky personality traits make them both endearing and entertaining, but
there is also a psychological realism at the core of their characters
that teens will relate well to. Although the subject matter is quite
serious, the style is irreverent and comedic. For example, Rooster’s
deviant behaviours, such as smoking, drinking, and swearing, are
presented as amusing eccentricities and as a vehicle for comedy. The
situations are also designed to create confusion, misunderstanding, and
humour. This is an appealing story that champions free spirits who
resist conforming to conventional expectations. Recommended.