Reviewed in Canada on March 26, 2016
It was the ugliest thing she had ever seen. Obnoxiously ugly. Embarrassingly ugly. Epically ugly. And it was sitting in her familyâs driveway.
Actually, no. It was sitting in the Waldmansâ driveway â or, at least, what would shortly become the Waldmansâ driveway when escrow closed in a few days and the house Odette Zyskowski grew up in wouldnât be her home anymore. That thing would be her home. That run-down, beat-up brown and brown RV that Mom and Dad had just pulled up in, honking what was intended to be a cheerful beep, but instead sounded like the mournful death cry of a desperate whale.
If thereâs one thing that Odette Zyskowski knows for sure, itâs that life isnât fair. Forced to leave behind her school, her friends, and the only home she has ever known after her father unexpectedly quits his job, sells their house and moves the family into a brown, run-down RV nicknamed the âCoachâ, with no space, no privacy, and only one cell phone to share amongst the entire family, Odetteâs future seems more like a life sentence than the exciting adventure her parents promise her and her younger brother, Rex. The Zyskowski family leave their old life in California behind with the intention of stopping in Orcas Island, Washington to check in on Odetteâs ailing grandmother before continuing on to parts unknown. These plans are soon derailed, however, when it is revealed that Grandma Sissyâs health has been declining at a far more rapid and serious rate than initially believed. As the family come to terms with her terminal diagnosis and all that this entails, Odette will also have to contend with old friends, new crushes, and the uncertainty of the future, in a whirlwind of events that inspire her to question if what she wants is truly what she needs.
Dad promised it would be okay. He promised. As if he had that kind of authority. That kind of pull with the universe. Odette knew a lie when she heard one. How on earth could everything be okay? To Odette, it was clear as a glass of water that things were not okay. Not by a mile.
Far From Fair is the first novel Iâve read by author Elana K. Arnold but I can promise it will not be the last. A gentle but no less powerful meditation on the complexities of grief, the nature of friendship, the bonds of family, and the meaning of home, Arnoldâs latest publication is the sort of novel that nestles deep beneath a readerâs skin and takes up permanent residence in their heart. Mature, thoughtful and challenging, Far From Fair is a novel that could stand proudly amongst the very best of its peers and is a compelling reminder of why I continue to read middle grade literature well into adulthood.
And it was nice, in that moment, with the neighbours and Mieko, and Mom honking and Rex all excited across from her. But then they turned the corner at the end of the street, toward the highway, and of course Mieko couldnât follow, and the neighboursâ cheers faded away, and even Rex and the rat dog settled down, and then it was quiet except for the engine, and there was nothing but the impossibly long road still to come.
In Far From Fair, Elana K. Arnold makes a number of daring authorial choices, not the least of which can be found in the characterization of the novelâs protagonist, twelve-year-old Odette Zyskowski. A young girl struggling to find stability in the wake of immense physical and emotional upheaval, Odette is sullen, rancorous, frustrated, and angry, and she has every right to be. Powerless to escape or change her familyâs new nomadic existence and resentful of her younger brother, Rex, whose unpredictable âfuriesâ monopolize a great deal of her parentâs time and attention, Odette rebels against the many forces outside of her control and attempts to make herself as unlovable as she feels unloved. The authorâs accurate and accessible portrayal of Odetteâs maelstrom of emotion, as well as the characterâs own insight into her behaviour, create a vulnerable and thoroughly sympathetic character. Far From Fairâs exploration of this is fearless and unvarnished, delving deeply into the darker and less palatable aspects of human nature with which we are all familiar, but which are rarely illustrated in childrenâs literature with such unflinching honesty and eloquence.
âThis is the summit!â Mom sounded happy. Relieved, maybe, that the Coach had made it to the top of the Grapevine.
âItâs all downhill from here,â Dad said.
Quietly, to herself, Odette whispered, âThatâs what Iâm afraid of.â
Far From Fair is unafraid to touch upon difficult issues that will no doubt prove relevant to young readers, including (but not limited to) financial instability, marital and familial discord, mental illness, grief, and physician-assisted suicide. Seen through the eyes of the perceptive and vulnerable Odette, each are explored with care and sensitivity, and while there are a great many valuable lessons to be drawn from Odetteâs story, Far From Fair never appears sanctimonious or proselytizing. Much of the novelâs most universal messages are expressed through the kind and comforting voice of Grandma Sissy, whose homespun wisdom never fails to put a positive, hopeful spin on even the most dark and discouraging of situations. From surviving adversity (âThe best way out is always through.â) to the importance of taking chances and seizing the moment (âIn my experience, itâs better to feel foolish now than to feel sorry later.â), Arnold trusts young readers to deconstruct these issues and draw their own conclusions. Despite the weight, solemnity and importance of the subject matter being discussed, however, the issues raised within Far From Fair never feel oppressive or insurmountable. Ultimately, Arnoldâs narrative is hopeful and heartening, emphasizing the possibility and promise of tomorrow and the power of new beginnings.
âGrandma Sissy liked to say that fair didnât mean even. Fair means everyone getting what they need, not everyone getting the same thing.
Odette didnât have anything to say to this, so she shrugged.
Then Mom said, âWhat do you need, Detters?â
From phenomenally talented middle grade and young adult author Elana K. Arnold comes a new novel about the anxieties of adolescence and the unfair universal truths with which we must all contend. Whether sheâs exploring the loss of oneâs home or a beloved family member, Arnoldâs incisive eye and fearless storytelling are sure to resonate with readers who can draw comfort and hope from the bookâs underlying, optimistic conclusions. Authentic in voice and profound in message, Far From Fair is a novel I would not hesitate to press into the hands of readers of all ages.
Please note: All quotations included in this review have been taken from an advanced reader copy and therefore might be subject to change.
