My Fathers Scar

It's novels like "My Father's Scar" that are the most moving to me. In reading from front to back in a single day, I found myself captivated by its masterful storytelling, its heightened yet subtle suspense, and the ways in which it works its reader with its sudden twists and turns, while never losing focus on the themes and lessons of life that it embodies in its main protagonist. Andy Logan is a freshman in college plagued by memories of his childhood and development into a man; some of these memories are painful, while others provide him a glimpse into happier times that shaped his life in a positive manner. There are memories of his father and grandmother, both tyrannical and unrelenting, his mother, who has no choice but to side with his father, his uncle, whose vast interest in books sparks an interest in young Andy's mind, and Evan, the sole homosexual to come out in the entire town, but not the sole homosexual to reside there. Evan becomes a pinnacle of fascination for Andy, which seques into feelings of love and wanting once Andy realizes what these feelings are. There experiences Evan goes through will shape his and Andy's life, and Andy will come to realize, right up to the novel's poignant ending, that there is a fine line between love and hate that sometimes goes unseen. I valued the many nuances of this novel not for its simplicity, but for its ability to tell a story in such an involving way. Author Michael Cart uses present participles to tell the present-day sections of the story, while the memories of Andy's childhood and teenage years are told using past participles, enhancing the fact that these are experiences that have already happened as opposed to going on at that moment. This brings us more into Andy's mind as he takes his own, sometimes unavoidable, trips down memory lane. And simple the novel is not, by no means. The writing may seem a step down from the throes of Hawthorne and Shakespeare, but it certainly does not take on a juvenile feel. The phrases and the syntactical elements used by Cart are marvelous in their underlining of the feelings Andy goes through during his childhood. Cart especially pays close attention to the feelings of the boy, as well as the relationships, be it friendship or boyhood love, with such devotion to the feelings and emotions that anyone, gay or straight, can relate to. Cart must also be praised for his ability to hide the identity of the ending, keeping us at bay as to whether or not it will end on a high or low note. There are small hints which lead us to believe that either avenue is possible, and these will continue until the very last pages, leading us to an ending that (without giving it away) remains true to the rest of the material and is completely satisfying. For me to be able to read this book as fast as I did is the mark of a truly interesting and satisfying read for me. I loved the characters of this novel and could relate to them on so many different levels. I wanted Andy to

This is an exceptional book. I felt bad when it ended, as I wanted to read more, and would love to talk to the author in person. I could totally relate to the author, as I had a VERY similar upbringing, and found my first love to be someone that I was working with in a church setting! Awesome book..a good read for mature YA readers!

My Father's Scar is a wonderful dive into the mind of Andy Logan. He reaccounts his past, which is a mix of subtle humor, fear, confusion, and love, and his present life, which has many of the same qualities. I feel that if I get into too much detail that it will give the book away, but this one is one that everybody needs to read.

Michael Cart has written a beautifully crafted novel about the trials and tribulations of growing up gay. We follow the main character Andy through his awkward childhood to his equally awkward first year at college. All the while Andy dreams of the one person that he can truly love. Written with a young adult audience in mind,(Click on the hardcover edition to see the really nice cover artwork for the school and library edition)that dosen't prevent any adult fom enjoying or relating to Andy's story. I wish I had this book when I was growing up!

I absolutely loved this book. I had to sneak into the school library and asked a friend to borrow it for me so I could read it. It was, and always will be amazing. I immediately identified with Andy on two parts, seeing as how we both have some of the same characteristics. Thanks to this book and the wonderful lesson it teaches, I was able to lift my heart up high and finally feel good about myself. Thank you, Michael Cart. And please, write a sequel!!