This book is on fire
I like to think that I'm getting better at recognizing which books will be good reads, great reads, or absolutely unworthy of my time. Books like this one help me to know that I'm on the right track.
Heller has just turned 16 during the summer of 2001, which he spends working at Soft Tidings ("news with a personal touch"). The recipients of his messages vary widely, even if the subject matter of those messages is truly tragic. But Heller has a knack for giving very bad news, and many of his past clients make an effort to remember him for it. One man in particular stands out, an illegal lovesick Arab named Salim who reaches out to Heller when he needs it the most. He's got multiple tormentors - an annoying, arrogant co-worker named Rich and a badge-abusing cop known as Bruno the Bruiser - and he lives with his grandparents while his parents are half a world away. And he also has his own love problems in the form of Silvia, the exceptionally pretty waitress at Buns N' Things. As Heller gets closer to Salim and tries to forget about his own problems, new ones arrive one after the other. At least Heller knows he's the fastest "bike boy" that Manhattan has ever known.
This is definitely a one-of-a-kind book. Boasting a colorful, fascinating cast of characters and a plot that twists and turns almost deceptively, this is a book that demands your attention - and earns it effortlessly. Heller makes his mark on the reader, a soft-spoken confused boy with a dream dangerously close to his heart. I was most moved by his budding relationship with Silvia and disappointed with its inevitable conclusion. No, I take that back: what moved me most was the genuine warmth the character of Salim spread throughout the entire story. His own story is full of tragedy, but it didn't prepare me for what came next. There were so many characters that it felt more like an ensemble piece than a coming-of-age story. But Heller's character is strangely charismatic - there is a mix of old soul and teen angst in him that makes him just plain fun to read about. The only thing I remain unsure of is the bittersweet ending, which is quite heavy on the bitter; the overall tone of the book is so energetic and joyful and life-affirming. Some of Heller's problems remain unresolved, but he is so changed (and it comes so subtly, so quietly) that it leaves the reader with the impression that those resolutions are within reach for him, as long as he remembers what he has learned. And really, there's nothing more to ask for in a story like this.
Considering the events to come after the story ends, the bittersweetness rings all the more true. Rating: 4.5 4x8 green index cards out of 5.