Book Review: The Reappearance of Sam Webber

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

The Reappearance of Sam Webber     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Jonathon Scott Fuqua
Class/Genre:   Fiction   Young Adult
Bancroft, Apr 2000, $23.95, 237 pp.

For eleven-year old "Little" Sam Webber life falls apart when his father "Big" Sam disappeared with only his car left at Dulles. No longer receiving the steady income from Big Sam' Baltimore Electric and Gas Company check, Samuel (not Little Sam anymore) and his mother are forced to move into a nasty neighborhood. They quickly learn lessons living on the poor side of town.

Samuel's new school is an even ruder awakening as he constantly is confronted by an assortment of bullies, thugs, and extortionists. No one seems to notice or perhaps care that Samuel looks like a battle fatigue victim except the elderly Black janitor Greely. Unable to resist helping the lost soul, Greely befriends the troubled Samuel. Soon others follow as Sam begins to reappear from his shell.

THE REAPPEARANCE OF SAM WEBBER is a fabulous novel that focuses on preadolescent and teen depression. The metamorphosis of Little Sam into Samuel and back into Sam makes the inspiring story line work. Teenagers and parents will relish the illuminating plot that shows the light at the end of the dark tunnel is not an oncoming train, but that to attain it sometimes family is not enough. Often times, it takes the caring people of a neighborhood to raise a child.

Harriet Klausner

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