Cerrato, Angela. The
End of The Line.
Holiday House 2011 213p 17.95
978-
978-
Robbie befriends a new classmate but things go wrong as the school year progresses.
Ultimately Robbie is the cause of Ryan’s death and is sent to a reformatory.
Grades 6-9.
Robbie struggles in his friendship with Ryan who lives with his
grandparents in a run-
down house that most children consider haunted. The first
meal at Robbie’s house
appalls Robbie since Ryan eats only with his hands and
rarely speaks. As Ryan
becomes more comfortable around Robbie, another side to
Ryan comes out - that of
a dare devil even involving illegal activities. Robbie’s
favorite uncle goes to
Afghanistan and returns a paraplegic after an IED goes
off. His rehabilitation
and Ryan’s callous attitude toward Robbie’s uncle finally
lead to a fist fight
that turns ugly and leaves Ryan dead. Robbie is sent to a
harsh reformatory. The
inmates and counselors test Robbie’s limits but
eventually all turns out for the
better and Robbie is sent home to resume school. Told in
a series of flashbacks
with one chapter at the reformatory and one relating
events that led Robbie to
be incarcerated, the tension is palpable but the
releasing of secrets is slow
paced. Students who persevere to the end will be rewarded
with a tidy ending
that is at times implausible with everyone doing well.
Grades 6-9.
McNicol, Lois
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