Volume 1 Number 17
October 6, 1995

image Spud in Winter.

Brian Doyle.
Toronto: Groundwood, 1995. 140pp, paper, $8.95.
ISBN 0-88899-224-6.

Grades 6 - 9 / Ages 10 - 13.
Review by Elaine Seepish.

Spud Sweetgrass reappears in this new adventure in all Brian Doyle's rollicking, good-times style.

The story sets the reader up by beggining with a deliciously described murder witnessed by our hero Spud. It rolls along playfully, including plenty of well-rounded, textured characters and vivid portrayals of Ottawa in winter, and culminating with lots of action.

Doyle is a master of the language and made this reader laugh out loud. At one point, he breaks all the rules in an extended account by the father of a friend of Spud's of his childhood memories, which include every gross-out that middle-years kids love to read about -- all condensed into one paragraph!

Highly recommended for middle-years readers.

Elaine Seepish is Information Specialist at Instructional Resources Unit, Manitoba Education and Training.

Copyright © 1995 the Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission.

Published by
The Manitoba Library Association
ISSN 1201-9364

Go back to CM Welcome page Go back to Table of Contents for this Issue