Stitches

Anne Hutchings, a former elementary-school teacher-librarian with the
Durham Board of Education, is an educational consultant.

Travis is different. He lives in a double-decker trailer with his Aunt
Kitaleen (who spends more time doing crafts than housework), her redneck
husband (Miserable Mike), and numerous, assorted cousins. Gentry, his
country-and-western-singer single mother, breezes in from time to time.
Travis enjoys sewing and puppets—he wants to be a puppeteer. His
closest friend is a girl, multi-handicapped Chantelle. It is easy to
see, then, why Travis is a prime target for taunts and schoolyard
bullying.

The story follows Travis and Chantelle through elementary school and
junior high school. Thanks to the encouragement of teachers like Mr.
Cambert and Miss Riccio, the youngsters’ talents are nurtured and
refined. At the end of Grade 9, their efforts and creations for the
puppet play production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream win them the
admiration and respect of their peers. But as Travis and Chantelle gain
acceptance, the villains become jealous and the bullying escalates into
violence.

Perhaps predictably, but nonetheless satisfyingly, the bullies
eventually get their comeuppance, Travis moves to the city to attend a
fine-arts high school where “no one seems to mind how different you
are,” and where, it is hinted, he may soon be joined by Chantelle.

Stitches addresses a variety of issues: being different, physical
disabilities, bullying, jealousy, spousal abuse. The plot develops
smoothly and naturally. But the novel’s real strength is in its
characters, from the arty, sensitive Travis and Chantelle, an “old
soul” who is wise beyond her years, to the good-hearted, flighty
Gentry and big, dumb Shon (and his equally stupid cohorts). Stitches
will be a welcome and popular addition to school and public libraries.
Highly recommended.