The Situation: Cash Pruitt has spent his summer in the small town of Sawyer, Tennessee mowing lawns, hanging out with his best friend, Delaney, and taking care of his Papaw. His life has not been easy, but he loves the people in it, and there is enough hiking and canoeing in Sawyer that he has not sought out much more beyond the small town. But the same cannot be said for Delaney, whose has discovered a bacteria-killing mold inside of a nearby cave, earning her a full scholarship to one of the top boarding schools in the country. And she insists she will not be going alone. Another full scholarship has been secured for Cash, all the way in Connecticut, away from everything he has ever known.
The Problem: The opportunity to attend high school at Middleford Academy is no small thing, but Cash cannot imagine being away from his Papaw, whose breathing gets a little more ragged everyday. Of course, Cash cannot imagine being away from Delaney either, and she feels the same. Though it takes some convincing, the two friends are Middleford bound, and both are incredibly anxious about the people they will meet. Kids who attend the expensive boarding school are children of politicians and of men who own large businesses. Their Instagram's are full of pictures from vacation homes and international trips. Plus, Cash cannot shake the thought that his Papaw does not have many days left. The decision to attend Middleford could change Cash's life, but will it be worth it?
Genre, Themes, History: This is a young adult fiction book set partly in Sawyer, Tennessee, and partly in New Canaan, Connecticut where the Middleford Academy is located. At the center of the story is Cash, and at the center of his world are his relationship with his grandfather, and also his best friend, Delaney. After losing his mother to an opioid addiction when he was young, Cash's grandparents raised him. After meeting Delaney due to them both being children of addicts, the two have become inseparable, literally. She refuses to go to Middleford without him, and he cannot imagine Sawyer without her. But even with his best friend just a dorm building away, Middleford is a challenging place to be, and not just academically. Though he discovers poetry, and rows on the crew team, being far from home is hard. Cash acknowledges that Sawyer does not have much for him, except his grandparents are there, and his Papaw does not have much time left. It is the classic struggle between taking a chance and trying something new, or staying behind in the familiar with those you love.
My Verdict: Maybe it is the times we are in, and everything happening around us, but I do not think I have ever been as emotional while reading a book as I was reading this one. Most of it came from the relationship between Cash and Papaw. I am not even sure how to describe the relationship between the grandfather and grandson, but Zentner has put down on the page something special, and warm, and lovely, yet also genuine and sincere. And Cash's opportunity to leave Sawyer for Middleford feels like both a gift and a punishment. For Cash, it means he loses something either way, and that struggle is both uncomfortable and familiar. Something extra about Zentner's novels are his callbacks to previous ones, which are always delightful reminders that they all take place in the same universe, and gives the feeling of checking in on old friends. I have my own questions about the timeline, but unraveling that mystery adds to the fun. No need to read them in order, but I do recommend them all.
Favorite Moment: Basically any time Papaw speaks.
Favorite Character: Papaw is a wonder. All wisdom and strength (despite his delicate health), love and humor.
Recommended Reading: Zentner's first book, The Serpent King, is as good a placer to start as any. I also recommend Sadie by Courtney Summers.
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