The Unresolved and The Pull of the Ocean 9/23/07

The Unresolved by T.K. Welsh

Mallory Meer, a 15-year-old victim of the "General Slocum" steamship disaster, haunts those responsible for the tragedy, determined to see that justice is served.

A good suspence book. Short but well written. The courtroom scenes reminded me a lot of the scenes from To Kill a Mockingbird.

The Pull of the Ocean by Jean-Claude Mourlevat

On a stormy night, little Yann Doutreleau wakes up his six older brothers, all twins. He lets them know that they must flee their home--or risk being killed by their violent father. Without question, the siblings follow Yann into the wet darkness. And so begins their remarkable odyssey toward the ocean--as well as an unforgettable story of brotherhood. The social worker investigating the Doutreleau family, the truck driver who gives the boys a lift, the police officer who believes they've run away, the baker who gives them bread--each of the many people the seven boys encounter gives a stirring account of what he or she witnesses. The twins themselves add their voices, as do the Doutreleau parents; but not until the end of the journey does little Yann express his reasons for his galvanizing actions.

A quick read and translated from French to English, this is a wonderful book. Little Yann has the confidence of all six of his older brothers. They are all loyal to Yann and do anything for him, including carrying him halfway across France.