Book Review: A Parting Gift

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

A Parting Gift     Amazon US TPB Amazon Canada TPB
Ben Erickson
Class/Genre:   Fiction
Warner, July 2000, $13.95, 273 pp.

In Mobile Bay, high school senior Josh Bell and his mother struggle everyday just to survive. His father rarely sends money and just about never sees Josh. Since he cannot depend on his dad, to supplement their meager income, Josh delivers the meals his mother cooks to senior citizens as part of the meals on wheels program. Stuck in a dismal present, Josh makes no plans for what he sees is an even more desolate future.

When Josh delivers a meal to arthritic cripple William Davis, everything soon seems different to the teen. The elderly man hires Josh to help him record his memories of stories that always provide a moral ending. As the relationship between the lost student and the ailing octogenarian cements into more of a grandfather-son kinship, both gain as each finds a reason to live.

A PARTING GIFT is a powerful relationship drama that focuses on the theme intelligence without compassion and wisdom is stupidity. The story line is not loaded with action, but provides an uplifting realistic dialogue between the two key characters. Readers will enjoy that bond though Josh seems more like a responsible adult than a troubled teen. Fans of second chance at living message tales will want to read this inspirational book.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner