Onions
CY Young
File Size: 460 KB
Print Length: 100 pages
Publisher: Cy Young
Publication Date: August 21, 2013
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
Language: English
ASIN: B00EP6N04I
Synopsis
Waiting for more J.D. Salinger? 'Catch' this coming-of-age, can't put to down YA novel about 12-year old misfit Charles Wesley Onions who, under the tutelage of senior retired circus performer Sandrine Fuller, learns to love books, to have a life-goal, and how to play the trumpet. A tragic event propels Onions to rise above the chaos and reach a high point he never dreamed he could reach.
My Thoughts
Twelve-year-old Charles Wesley Onions has been through many foster homes. At school, he gets bullied and the kids make fun of him. It seems like he goes from one bad experience to another, never knowing how long he might stay in one place.
We see things start to change for him when he meets eighty-year-old Sandrine Galano Fuller. She is a former high-wire circus performer and hires him to help her out. In return, he tries to help her save the town from a pro-dome that could bankrupt the county.
Mrs. Fuller has a love of books. She admits that she has been collecting them since she was a little girl. Her walls are labeled and she tells him a little about the books. He soon starts reading a book a week. Mrs. Fuller likes that he is reading. She notices his mood swings have improved, too.
She also teaches Onions to play the trumpet, mentioning that Maynard Ferguson and Eric Miyashiro play the octaves. When Onions asks who they are. She responds, "Two of the best jazz musicians in the world.” He is so enthused, he plays until his lips are numb.
Later, she shows him, "The Silver Cross" and "The Medal of Honor ".The author tells us, "Suddenly he felt something strange. A chill knifed through his body. It was as if he was in the presence of something beautiful, something greater than he was, something honorable, something sacred."
Throughout this read, we see a young man growing up and taking a stand.The different perspectives and events switching back and forth follow along with the ups and downs of life's transitions. And the beautiful melody "Over the Rainbow", is a reminder that the paths we take in life are never easy but are frequently filled with a wistful affection for the past and hope for the future.
I received this beautiful story through the generosity of the author.
Here is the Book Trailer:
https://youtu.be/pFOzFIetrg8