On Tuesday, I flew through the ending of probably one of the most down to earth and relevant books out for young adults. No vampires, no fairies, no incredibly moving teen romance, just family and the inner struggle all of us face between how family acts and what that same family has taught you to value. Eli the Good by Silas House is set in the bicentennial summer in Kentucky, where heat and freedom reign in Eli Book’s 10-year-old world. All he wants to do that summer is ride his bike in the early morning shade and play with his best friend and neighbor Edie in the local watering hole. However, life never listens to what we want, does it?
Eli’s father, Stanton Book, is a Vietnam veteran and that summer something happens inside of him and the war becomes real for him again. He has nightmares, becomes skiddish at noise, and at times he cannot distinguish reality from the war. Add on top of that Stanton’s sister Nell, a famous war protester, comes to stay with them that summer. And you can’t forget about Eli’s sister Josie, 16 and angry at the world, stirring up every situation possible. Silas House perfectly crafts each character; this is no one person’s story even though a naive Eli is our eyes in this brewing storm. Eli struggles to justify his father’s actions in the same way his mother does, by blaming the war, but at the same time, his father is the one physically acting out, hurting his family, not the war. Where do you put your allegiance when you know the man you admire is doing wrong?
Eli’s story may be set over thirty years ago, but the themes and family dynamics are just a relevant today as ever. The language is simple without being childish, and yet, I wish I could be as eloquent as Eli. Every family has their own battles, but how you deal with them defines who you are. This book has claimed a special place in my heart and lets me know that I’m not alone in my own family struggles. If you are in a family, you should read this book, kids from one to ninety-two.
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