Departures

In Michigan, Malcolm VanderZees married his college sweetheart Esme when she became pregnant. Over the years, they raised four children as he became a professor while she stopped painting. Still this couple has lived the American dream of being the norm with no deviation from the mean as acceptable. Their oldest child seventeen years old Suzan is a throwback romanticist finding relevance with Thomas Hardy and the Bronte sisters while knowing dad is a mediocre nerd and mom is a loser getting kicks with a phone dude when she is home, which is rare. Fifteen years old Evan lives life through foreign movies until he meets New York transplant Soci. Nine years old Hallie is a recluse who debates philosophical issues with Cupcake her pet rat. Suzan eagerly waits the time she can fly; Evan considers running off to Chicago with Soci; Hallie wants to hide even further; and Malcolm considers escaping to Italy. However, it is five-year-old Aimee, hit by a minivan, who "flees" by reliving her near-death experience everyday. What makes this insightful look at the typical American family avoid being maudlin and bland (what would you expect from the average family) is the narration of the two teens who see the world through a slightly different lens. Suzan and Evan seem very genuine with their reflections on life, their parents, their siblings, and their town; they see everyone else as pathetic middling. Every member of the VanderZees seeks DEPARTURE from a boring run of the mill world, but none seem able to take the first step outside their security blanket except Aimee. Reminiscent of Supertramps' Logical Song the audience receives an interesting glimpse at mediocrity. Harriet Klausner

When I first picked this book up it was long, and I thought I'd hate it. After a while I started to enjoy it. The story is simple about family, and teenagers growing up, love, living together etc... I sometimes felt that Departures was a teenage book written for adults.

Departures tells a nice little story of teen angst that revolves around the Vanderzee family, in particular, their two oldest children--a boy and a girl currently in high school. Each struggles with his or her newly discovered [physical] identity. The story is warmly comic and the characters are interesting. There was nothing in this novel that really wowed me, I have to say, but it is an enjoyable read.

Lorna J. Cook has done a wonderful job giving us a peek into the VanderZee family and into the hearts and minds of its family members. Her writing reminds me a bit of Anne Tyler in that while nothing big happens, by the end of the novel you feel you know the main characters so thoroughly, you feel a part of the family. Cook takes a look at the different roles each member plays, what their hopes and dreams are and how differently they can perceive one another, often times completely misreading each other. This is a charming story about family life, a snapshot into one growing phase of the VanderZee family. Cook is an excellent writer. I look forward to reading her future novels~

This book is a small gem in understanding teenage angst in modern family times. I really enjoy Lorna J. Cook's creative flair and attention to detail. By the time I finished it I wanted to pick it up and re-read it. Buy it! It won't be sorry you did!