What do you think?
Rate this book
Steering Toward Normal
Eighth grade is set to be a good year for Diggy Lawson: He’s chosen a great calf to compete at the Minnesota State Fair, he’ll see a lot of July, the girl he secretly likes at 4-H, and he and his dad Pop have big plans for April Fool’s Day. But everything changes when classmate Wayne Graf’s mother dies, which brings to light the secret that Pop is Wayne’s father, too. Suddenly, Diggy has a half brother, who moves in and messes up his life. Wayne threatens Diggy’s chances at the State Fair, horns in on his girl, and rattles his easy relationship with Pop.
What started out great quickly turns into the worst year ever, filled with jealousy, fighting, and several incidents involving cow poop. But as the boys care for their steers, pull pranks, and watch too many B movies, they learn what it means to be brothers and change their concept of family as they slowly steer toward a new kind of normal.
What started out great quickly turns into the worst year ever, filled with jealousy, fighting, and several incidents involving cow poop. But as the boys care for their steers, pull pranks, and watch too many B movies, they learn what it means to be brothers and change their concept of family as they slowly steer toward a new kind of normal.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published May 13, 2014
About the author
Rebecca Petruck
2 books100 followersRebecca Petruck is the author of BOY BITES BUG and STEERING TOWARD NORMAL, both with ABRAMS/Amulet.
BUG received a starred review from ABA Booklist, who said it’s "...funny, perceptive, and topical in more ways than one." It was a Louisiana and Minnesota youth reading award nominee.
STEERING was an American Booksellers Association New Voices selection as well as a Kids Indie Next List title.
She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from UNC Wilmington. She has been a mentor for SCBWI Carolinas, Pitch Wars, and Writing in the Margins.
Visit Rebecca at http://rebeccapetruck.com.
BUG received a starred review from ABA Booklist, who said it’s "...funny, perceptive, and topical in more ways than one." It was a Louisiana and Minnesota youth reading award nominee.
STEERING was an American Booksellers Association New Voices selection as well as a Kids Indie Next List title.
She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from UNC Wilmington. She has been a mentor for SCBWI Carolinas, Pitch Wars, and Writing in the Margins.
Visit Rebecca at http://rebeccapetruck.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
April 30, 2014
Steering Toward Normal is the story of thirteen-year-old Diggy Lawson who competes in the annual 4-H cattle showing in Minnesota, which involves properly feeding and grooming of a baby steer for a year. But his plan gets thrown on it's head when Wayne, a schoolmate, gets dumped in front of his house by his drunken father, claiming that Diggy's dad is also Wayne's.
This story weaves contemporary family struggles with the culture of 4-H, really delving into the finer points of cattle raising, which might not be a topic that would appeal to everyone, but it was a topic written with such confidence and knowledge that I was immersed. It's a small town story, and in true fashion, everyone knows everyone else and all their lives intermingle on some level. I was impressed by how well the author was able to handle so many characters and give each their own unique voice and story.
Even though the book is being marketed as a humorous MG--which there were plenty of pranks and cow flops--it's true strength lies in the sincerity and depth of the relationship between Diggy, Pops (Diggy's dad), Wayne, and Graf (Wayne's dad). It was truly heartbreaking to see what Wayne had to endure--his mom is dead, his father abuses him emotionally, and Diggy is reluctant to accept him as a brother. But it was equally heartwarming to see Diggy eventually offer to teach Wayne how to raise a steer of his own, despite him being competition for the $13,000 top prize.
Despite the book's regional and country topics, it's universal themes of acceptance and family should appeal to a much larger audience outside the world of 4-H.
This story weaves contemporary family struggles with the culture of 4-H, really delving into the finer points of cattle raising, which might not be a topic that would appeal to everyone, but it was a topic written with such confidence and knowledge that I was immersed. It's a small town story, and in true fashion, everyone knows everyone else and all their lives intermingle on some level. I was impressed by how well the author was able to handle so many characters and give each their own unique voice and story.
Even though the book is being marketed as a humorous MG--which there were plenty of pranks and cow flops--it's true strength lies in the sincerity and depth of the relationship between Diggy, Pops (Diggy's dad), Wayne, and Graf (Wayne's dad). It was truly heartbreaking to see what Wayne had to endure--his mom is dead, his father abuses him emotionally, and Diggy is reluctant to accept him as a brother. But it was equally heartwarming to see Diggy eventually offer to teach Wayne how to raise a steer of his own, despite him being competition for the $13,000 top prize.
Despite the book's regional and country topics, it's universal themes of acceptance and family should appeal to a much larger audience outside the world of 4-H.
Read
October 21, 2014There are so many things I loved about this book that I can't possibly tell them in any coherent matter.
HENCE, a list:
1. HUMOR. Humor is used EFFECTIVELY! I actually laughed out loud while reading this novel. And two of those times were within the last fifteen pages! I can't tell you what made me laugh, because I can't spoil anything that close to the end! But I will tell you it was the last line of chapter 32 that did it.
2. CHARACTERS. I read WIPs and books where the main characters have severe mood whiplash. One minute they're angry, the next, they're sobbing. It's distracting. Except with Diggy and Wayne, it's completely believable and extremely well handled. I think it's because the boys don't turn immediately from one emotion to the other – you can actually see how they get from one to the other. And I actually love the way Wayne and Diggy go from hating each other to sort-of getting along to being full-on brothers. (And the rest of the characters were great, too!)
3. CLEAR CHARACTER MOTIVATION. No matter what happened in Diggy's life (and a LOT was happening), he was always concentrating on a single goal: Getting his calf, Joker, to the state fair and winning Grand Champion. Sometimes Diggy had to focus on other aspects of his life, but that thread remained strong and pulled me forward.
4. UNCLEAR CHARACTER MOTIVATION. The dads in this were incredibly nuanced. I asked myself why they did the things they did, why they acted the way they did. There wasn't always an answer, but that made them believable.
5. COOL DETAILS. I'm never looking at livestock at a fair the same way again. Or steers, for that matter.
6. THE YETI. Not going to say much about this one, you'll have to discover it for yourself. HA HA HA HA
HENCE, a list:
1. HUMOR. Humor is used EFFECTIVELY! I actually laughed out loud while reading this novel. And two of those times were within the last fifteen pages! I can't tell you what made me laugh, because I can't spoil anything that close to the end! But I will tell you it was the last line of chapter 32 that did it.
2. CHARACTERS. I read WIPs and books where the main characters have severe mood whiplash. One minute they're angry, the next, they're sobbing. It's distracting. Except with Diggy and Wayne, it's completely believable and extremely well handled. I think it's because the boys don't turn immediately from one emotion to the other – you can actually see how they get from one to the other. And I actually love the way Wayne and Diggy go from hating each other to sort-of getting along to being full-on brothers. (And the rest of the characters were great, too!)
3. CLEAR CHARACTER MOTIVATION. No matter what happened in Diggy's life (and a LOT was happening), he was always concentrating on a single goal: Getting his calf, Joker, to the state fair and winning Grand Champion. Sometimes Diggy had to focus on other aspects of his life, but that thread remained strong and pulled me forward.
4. UNCLEAR CHARACTER MOTIVATION. The dads in this were incredibly nuanced. I asked myself why they did the things they did, why they acted the way they did. There wasn't always an answer, but that made them believable.
5. COOL DETAILS. I'm never looking at livestock at a fair the same way again. Or steers, for that matter.
6. THE YETI. Not going to say much about this one, you'll have to discover it for yourself. HA HA HA HA
June 21, 2017
Review
I absolutely loved the storyline to this book and all the characters in it! I went into this book blind and loved every minute of it. The symbolism in this book was just amazing and some of the twists you would never see coming. The characters relationship with each other grows slowly throughout and it really was enjoyable.
I absolutely loved the storyline to this book and all the characters in it! I went into this book blind and loved every minute of it. The symbolism in this book was just amazing and some of the twists you would never see coming. The characters relationship with each other grows slowly throughout and it really was enjoyable.
January 17, 2014
I love books that take me into a world I don't know. Steering Toward Normal is set against a backdrop of 4H and steer raising for county and state fair competitions, but the title is actually a play on words because eighth grader Diggy's definition of normal is about to become drastically redefined. And it's not just the immediate issue of learning to deal with a nearly same aged half-brother who is dumped on Diggy's dad's doorstep because HE is also Pop Lawson's biological son. (So later in the book when the half-brother, Wayne, is concerned about the usually happy-to-stay-home Mr. Lawson going out for an adult night, it IS understandable. Women tended to get pregnant when Pop Lawson was around. At least in the old days.) Diggy also has to deal with renewed questions about his own mother dumping him at Pops when he was a baby and then driving away ON A TRACTOR, never to be seen or heard from again. The idea of his mom hating her life so much that she left town in a hurry on the only thing she could get to work haunts Diggy. She didn't leave Pop much choice, and now that someone's done it again, Diggy wonders if his dad really loves him or is just dutifully caring for an abandoned critter, like any good person would do. What's normal and how quickly we can become re-calibrated to a new normal are the major plot points highlighted by this question: If something is only temporary, is it still worth the effort? Lots to chew on.
January 20, 2016
Wayne and Diggy are surprised to find that they have the same father. This story gives readers a look at motherless boys and their Dad. Wayne does have a "Pop" (father who raised him), but he moves in with his biological dad when things get rough at home. The majority of the story is about raising steer for 4-H and state fair competition. Things get interesting with the new family dynamics, especially when girls that the boys have known for years are maturing and start "acting different." A fun book to read with cattle vocabulary and instructions for pranksters in the back!
Read
July 2, 2015I loved this book, the end.
(Also, I loved this book as a former 4-H'er; even though I leaned more towards the sewing/home crafts end of the spectrum, going to the fair and getting my ribbons and seeing all the animals was always a highlight. This book reminded me of what it was like being in that atmosphere.)
(Also, I loved this book as a former 4-H'er; even though I leaned more towards the sewing/home crafts end of the spectrum, going to the fair and getting my ribbons and seeing all the animals was always a highlight. This book reminded me of what it was like being in that atmosphere.)
November 19, 2014
I liked the focus family relationships. The 4-H info? Not so much. I feel that I can judge this since I was a member for five years. And yes--I can make pie crust from scratch. I just don't like to. ;-)
January 2, 2014
In Rebecca Petruck's debut middle grade novel, she has managed to write a book that both boy and girl readers will enjoy. Incorporating 8th-grade humor, Rebecca also deals with hard, emotional issues of death and abandonment. I could see why it was chosen as one of the top 10 children's debut books by the American Booksellers Association! I predict that librarians, teachers, parents--and most of all kids-- will eat this book up!
Kudos, Rebecca!
Here is more of a review using "Save the Cat" by Blake Snyder:
Opening Image: "The opening image is also an opportunity to give us the starting point of the hero." It is the "before" snapshot. (STC, p. 72)
Steering Toward Normal opens with Diggy Lawson preparing to welcome the calf he will raise this year. He is mentally preparing himself not to get attached to the steer by naming him. He knows that in just over a year the steer would become steak. "He was an experienced cattleman now. No names, no tears. An eighth-grader shouldn't cry." (p. 2) Despite his resolve, he names the steer "Joker."
2. Theme Stated: "Somewhere in the first five minutes of a well-structured screenplay, someone (usually not the main character) will pose a question or make a statement (usually to the main character) that is the theme of the movie....This statement is the movie's thematic premise." (STC, p. 72)
On p. 13 of Steering Toward Normal, a fellow eighth-grader, Wayne Graf, gets dumped on Diggy's driveway by his drunk father. Wayne's mother died three weeks ago; Diggy's mother abandoned him on Pop's doorstep when he was a baby. Diggy's dad (Pop) approaches Wayne as if he is a spooked animal,
"Wayne looked up at Pop, his face intent. 'Did you know my mom?'"
3. Set-up: "...the first ten minutes [of a movie] 'set up' the hero, the stakes, and the goal of the story..." (STC, p. 75)
In the first 10 pages of Steering Toward Normal, the reader meets Diggy and discovers his over-arching goal to win Grand Champion at the State Fair. His crush, July, won it the previous year and is expecting him to follow in her footsteps. He pledges to win it for her.
4. Catalyst: "It's the opposite of good news, and yet by the time the adventure is over, it's what leads the hero to happiness." (STC,p. 77)
When Diggy's father, Pop, tells Wayne to come inside the house, the boy demands more information about his mother. "Wayne jerked away. 'My dad's type A, and I'm B!" he shouted like an exclamation. Diggy barely heard Wayne add, 'He says you're my dad, and I have to live here now.'" (p.14) From this point on, Diggy wonders if and when his life will return to normal.
5. Debate: "The debate section is just that--a debate. It's the last chance for the hero to say, This is crazy. And we need him to realize that. (STC p. 77) ...The debate section must ask a question of some kind. (p. 78)
I think Diggy has two debates going on in this opening section. On one level his debate is about how to accept the fact that Wayne is his half-brother:
After a while Diggy couldn't stand it anymore. "You're letting him stay."
[Pop answers,] "We have to." (p.57)
But a deeper debate which continues throughout the book, is Diggy's question about Pop: "Did that mean he would have chosen Diggy too, if the choice hadn't been made for him?" (STC, p. 49)
6. Break into Two: (or, in other words, the character enters the new world.) The act break is the moment we leave the old world, the thesis statement, behind and proceed into a world that is upside down from that." (STC, p. 79)
On p. 76, after a heated discussion with Pop over Wayne staying, Diggy hoses himself down. He wants to cleanse himself from his father's touch; and escape from Wayne who has been thrust upon him as his half-brother. But he can't run away--he's in a new world now.
7. B Story: The B Story is often a love story and involves characters that are "the upside down version of those characters who inhabit Act One." (STC, p. 80)
Rebecca helped me figure out this one. I had thought the B-story was Diggy's crush on July. But she said it's the off and on relationship of Diggy's 4-H friends, Crystal and Jason. The fact that they finally choose one another as girlfriend/boyfriend reflects how Diggy and Wayne will end up choosing to be family.
8. Fun and Games: "It is the core and essence of the movie poster...the trailer moments...We take a break from the stakes of the story and see what the idea is about." (STC, p. 81-82)
In Steering Toward Normal, the fun and games include Diggy's obsession with rocket building, Diggy and Wayne playing pranks on each other and on Pop, and the boys staying up late and watching B-movies. Woven throughout is their grooming and training their calves in preparation for the county fair.
9. Midpoint: Half-way through your story, "is the point where fun and games are over and it's back to the story." (STC, p. 84). It's either an "'up'" where the hero seemingly peaks or a 'down' when the world collapses all around the hero (although it's a false down.)" (STC, p.82)
In Chapter 14 (pp. 126-136 out of 317 pages), Wayne raises the stakes by thumbing through old yearbooks in their school library. He finds pictures of Diggy's mom and begins to demand that Diggy try to find her.
10. Bad Guys Close In: "The forces that are aligned against the hero, internal and external, tighten their grip. Evil is not giving up, and there is nowhere for the hero to go for help. He is on his own and must endure. He is headed for a huge fall..." (STC, p. 86)
Wayne persists in trying to get Diggy to contact his mother's family. Diggy wants to be angry with him but empathy for Wayne is growing and Wayne is making him see things he has ignored.
"She could have left you with her parents," Wayne said.
Diggy squinted at him.
"She chose Pop for you. She can't be all bad." (p. 174)
11. All is Lost: "...even though all looks black, it's just temporary. But it seems like a total defeat. All aspects of the hero's life are in shambles. Wreckage abounds. No hope." (STC, p. 86)
Wayne's father comes to Diggy's house and is angry that Wayne won't come back to live with him. "But Wayne lived with them now. When had Diggy gotten so used to Wayne's being around that it was weird to think of him not being around?" (p. 209)
But then... Wayne admits that he's tried to contact Diggy's maternal grandparents and Diggy blows up. "Haven't you noticed, Wayne," Diggy sneered, "you only care about finding my mom when your dad screws up?"
12. Dark Night of the Soul: "It's the point...that is the darkness right before the dawn. It is the point just before the hero reaches way, deep down and pulls out that last, best idea that will save himself and everyone around him. (STC, p.88)
After Diggy tells Wayne to stay away from him and avoids him in the barn, Diggy's surprise rocket display at July's birthday party goes dangerously awry. Wayne's grandmother wants to take Wayne home and suddenly, "Something in Diggy's gut dropped. He had felt bad before, but now he felt almost sick. He had wanted Wayne to go home for a long time, but hearing Mrs. Vogl talk about Wayne's being without family...Diggy felt like she was wrong, even though she wasn't, really. Was she?" (p. 234)
13. Break into Three: "Both in the external story (the A story) and the internal story (the B story), which now meet and intertwine, the hero has prevailed, passed every test, and dug deep to find the solution. Now all he has to do is apply it. (STC, p.89)
At the county fair, Diggy is a pile of nerves but Joker wins Grand Champion. Afterwards Diggy reflects on the fact that everyone-including Wayne, Pop, and Graf helped him groom Joker--despite the fact that only immediate family was supposed to help him.
After a few weeks of more nervous preparation, he is ready for the State Fair. Although Wayne tried to invite Diggy's mother to the fair, when Diggy looks around the grandstand he realizes that his mother isn't there but, "He had found the ones that mattered." (p. 309)
14. Finale: "It's the turning over of the old world and a creation of a new world order-all thanks to the hero, who leads the way based on what he experienced in the upside-down, antithetical world of Act II." (STC, p. 90)
After the State competition, the boys discuss Wayne's pursuit of Diggy's mother. Diggy says, "Finding my mom won't bring your mom back."
Wayne breathed deeply. When he looked at Diggy, he had tears on his cheeks. "I wish it could."
Diggy sighed. "I know." (p. 312)
In this interchange, Diggy empathizes with Wayne and shows true compassion and acceptance of his half-brother.
15. Final Image: "...the final image... is the opposite of the opening image. It is your proof that change has occurred and that it's real." (STC, p. 90)
The book ends with the boys teary-eyed as they load the steers on the packer's truck. Wayne announces that Graf wants him to come back home and Diggy is surprised that he doesn't like the idea. But, Wayne will come back--he's going to keep next year's steer on Diggy's farm.
Kudos, Rebecca!
Here is more of a review using "Save the Cat" by Blake Snyder:
Opening Image: "The opening image is also an opportunity to give us the starting point of the hero." It is the "before" snapshot. (STC, p. 72)
Steering Toward Normal opens with Diggy Lawson preparing to welcome the calf he will raise this year. He is mentally preparing himself not to get attached to the steer by naming him. He knows that in just over a year the steer would become steak. "He was an experienced cattleman now. No names, no tears. An eighth-grader shouldn't cry." (p. 2) Despite his resolve, he names the steer "Joker."
2. Theme Stated: "Somewhere in the first five minutes of a well-structured screenplay, someone (usually not the main character) will pose a question or make a statement (usually to the main character) that is the theme of the movie....This statement is the movie's thematic premise." (STC, p. 72)
On p. 13 of Steering Toward Normal, a fellow eighth-grader, Wayne Graf, gets dumped on Diggy's driveway by his drunk father. Wayne's mother died three weeks ago; Diggy's mother abandoned him on Pop's doorstep when he was a baby. Diggy's dad (Pop) approaches Wayne as if he is a spooked animal,
"Wayne looked up at Pop, his face intent. 'Did you know my mom?'"
3. Set-up: "...the first ten minutes [of a movie] 'set up' the hero, the stakes, and the goal of the story..." (STC, p. 75)
In the first 10 pages of Steering Toward Normal, the reader meets Diggy and discovers his over-arching goal to win Grand Champion at the State Fair. His crush, July, won it the previous year and is expecting him to follow in her footsteps. He pledges to win it for her.
4. Catalyst: "It's the opposite of good news, and yet by the time the adventure is over, it's what leads the hero to happiness." (STC,p. 77)
When Diggy's father, Pop, tells Wayne to come inside the house, the boy demands more information about his mother. "Wayne jerked away. 'My dad's type A, and I'm B!" he shouted like an exclamation. Diggy barely heard Wayne add, 'He says you're my dad, and I have to live here now.'" (p.14) From this point on, Diggy wonders if and when his life will return to normal.
5. Debate: "The debate section is just that--a debate. It's the last chance for the hero to say, This is crazy. And we need him to realize that. (STC p. 77) ...The debate section must ask a question of some kind. (p. 78)
I think Diggy has two debates going on in this opening section. On one level his debate is about how to accept the fact that Wayne is his half-brother:
After a while Diggy couldn't stand it anymore. "You're letting him stay."
[Pop answers,] "We have to." (p.57)
But a deeper debate which continues throughout the book, is Diggy's question about Pop: "Did that mean he would have chosen Diggy too, if the choice hadn't been made for him?" (STC, p. 49)
6. Break into Two: (or, in other words, the character enters the new world.) The act break is the moment we leave the old world, the thesis statement, behind and proceed into a world that is upside down from that." (STC, p. 79)
On p. 76, after a heated discussion with Pop over Wayne staying, Diggy hoses himself down. He wants to cleanse himself from his father's touch; and escape from Wayne who has been thrust upon him as his half-brother. But he can't run away--he's in a new world now.
7. B Story: The B Story is often a love story and involves characters that are "the upside down version of those characters who inhabit Act One." (STC, p. 80)
Rebecca helped me figure out this one. I had thought the B-story was Diggy's crush on July. But she said it's the off and on relationship of Diggy's 4-H friends, Crystal and Jason. The fact that they finally choose one another as girlfriend/boyfriend reflects how Diggy and Wayne will end up choosing to be family.
8. Fun and Games: "It is the core and essence of the movie poster...the trailer moments...We take a break from the stakes of the story and see what the idea is about." (STC, p. 81-82)
In Steering Toward Normal, the fun and games include Diggy's obsession with rocket building, Diggy and Wayne playing pranks on each other and on Pop, and the boys staying up late and watching B-movies. Woven throughout is their grooming and training their calves in preparation for the county fair.
9. Midpoint: Half-way through your story, "is the point where fun and games are over and it's back to the story." (STC, p. 84). It's either an "'up'" where the hero seemingly peaks or a 'down' when the world collapses all around the hero (although it's a false down.)" (STC, p.82)
In Chapter 14 (pp. 126-136 out of 317 pages), Wayne raises the stakes by thumbing through old yearbooks in their school library. He finds pictures of Diggy's mom and begins to demand that Diggy try to find her.
10. Bad Guys Close In: "The forces that are aligned against the hero, internal and external, tighten their grip. Evil is not giving up, and there is nowhere for the hero to go for help. He is on his own and must endure. He is headed for a huge fall..." (STC, p. 86)
Wayne persists in trying to get Diggy to contact his mother's family. Diggy wants to be angry with him but empathy for Wayne is growing and Wayne is making him see things he has ignored.
"She could have left you with her parents," Wayne said.
Diggy squinted at him.
"She chose Pop for you. She can't be all bad." (p. 174)
11. All is Lost: "...even though all looks black, it's just temporary. But it seems like a total defeat. All aspects of the hero's life are in shambles. Wreckage abounds. No hope." (STC, p. 86)
Wayne's father comes to Diggy's house and is angry that Wayne won't come back to live with him. "But Wayne lived with them now. When had Diggy gotten so used to Wayne's being around that it was weird to think of him not being around?" (p. 209)
But then... Wayne admits that he's tried to contact Diggy's maternal grandparents and Diggy blows up. "Haven't you noticed, Wayne," Diggy sneered, "you only care about finding my mom when your dad screws up?"
12. Dark Night of the Soul: "It's the point...that is the darkness right before the dawn. It is the point just before the hero reaches way, deep down and pulls out that last, best idea that will save himself and everyone around him. (STC, p.88)
After Diggy tells Wayne to stay away from him and avoids him in the barn, Diggy's surprise rocket display at July's birthday party goes dangerously awry. Wayne's grandmother wants to take Wayne home and suddenly, "Something in Diggy's gut dropped. He had felt bad before, but now he felt almost sick. He had wanted Wayne to go home for a long time, but hearing Mrs. Vogl talk about Wayne's being without family...Diggy felt like she was wrong, even though she wasn't, really. Was she?" (p. 234)
13. Break into Three: "Both in the external story (the A story) and the internal story (the B story), which now meet and intertwine, the hero has prevailed, passed every test, and dug deep to find the solution. Now all he has to do is apply it. (STC, p.89)
At the county fair, Diggy is a pile of nerves but Joker wins Grand Champion. Afterwards Diggy reflects on the fact that everyone-including Wayne, Pop, and Graf helped him groom Joker--despite the fact that only immediate family was supposed to help him.
After a few weeks of more nervous preparation, he is ready for the State Fair. Although Wayne tried to invite Diggy's mother to the fair, when Diggy looks around the grandstand he realizes that his mother isn't there but, "He had found the ones that mattered." (p. 309)
14. Finale: "It's the turning over of the old world and a creation of a new world order-all thanks to the hero, who leads the way based on what he experienced in the upside-down, antithetical world of Act II." (STC, p. 90)
After the State competition, the boys discuss Wayne's pursuit of Diggy's mother. Diggy says, "Finding my mom won't bring your mom back."
Wayne breathed deeply. When he looked at Diggy, he had tears on his cheeks. "I wish it could."
Diggy sighed. "I know." (p. 312)
In this interchange, Diggy empathizes with Wayne and shows true compassion and acceptance of his half-brother.
15. Final Image: "...the final image... is the opposite of the opening image. It is your proof that change has occurred and that it's real." (STC, p. 90)
The book ends with the boys teary-eyed as they load the steers on the packer's truck. Wayne announces that Graf wants him to come back home and Diggy is surprised that he doesn't like the idea. But, Wayne will come back--he's going to keep next year's steer on Diggy's farm.
March 21, 2018
This book is about an 8th grader named Diggy who is apart of a programmed called 4H. 4H is a program that provides cattle and farm animals for kids to show at competitions. Diggy raises his cow Joker for his 8th-grade year. Diggy's goal is to win grand champ at the state fair. One day Diggy's classmate Wayne gets dropped off at Diggy's house Wayne explains that his grieving dad found out that he wasn't Wayne's dad, Diggy's dad was. So now Diggy has to get along with a kid in his grade as his brother. To make matters worse Wayne wants to raise a cow too and compete at the state fair.
I liked this book I thought it was relatable being the same age as the two main characters. I found it sort of hard to relate this book because I have never had any experience on a farm or with cows at all. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes animals or who would want to learn more about them.
I liked this book I thought it was relatable being the same age as the two main characters. I found it sort of hard to relate this book because I have never had any experience on a farm or with cows at all. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes animals or who would want to learn more about them.
March 6, 2014
Rebecca Petruck’s Steering Toward Normal is a fun coming of age middle-grade contemp with a lot of heart, humor, and cow poop! With two different, yet likable male leads, and a world I’ve never ventured into before (go 4-H Club!), Steering Toward Normal captured and amused me greatly!
13 year old Diggy has big plans for his eighth-grade year: he’s picked out a great calf to raise and compete with in the next State Fair, he gets to see his crush, July, at 4-H meetings, and he and his dad, Pop, have plenty of pranks to pull on one another. But then everything changes when Mrs. Graf dies and her son, Wayne, one of Diggy’s classmates, turns out to be Pop’s son too. A distraught and alcoholic Mr. Graf kicks Wayne out and sends him to live with Diggy and Pop. Wayne disrupts Diggy’s easy life and big plans, but with the help of some steers, bad movies, and epic pranks, the two slowly learn to be brothers.
I may live in NC, but I’m no country girl (just the thought of cow poop makes me grimace) and I’ve never set foot into a 4-H club or State Fair animal competition, but after reading Steering Toward Normal, I’d love to attend both! This heartfelt and honest story is full of lots of laughs, sincere characters, and a vast amount of info about a topic I never knew I’d actually enjoy and find interesting: raising steer for competition.
Told through an endearing and entertaining middle-grade voice, Steering Toward Normal captures adolescence and all its bumpy obstacles wonderfully! While still appropriate for its intended audience, this book doesn’t shy away from the hard stuff (alcoholism, heartbreaking crushes, grief, discovering your parents aren’t all-knowing perfect people, etc), and Petruck explores these things with the complexity, depth, and realism they deserve. But I like that, even though the characters experience some really tough stuff, the book’s tone never gets dark; there’s always a sense of liveliness and hope within the pages!
Diggy and Wayne are both endearing, genuine characters, and I really liked them as individuals and as a brotherly pair. Diggy, especially, was a lot of fun to get to know and I greatly enjoyed his funny, frank perspective. Petruck’s adult characters are also carefully crafted and feel refreshingly real and believably flawed.
The world of 4-H clubs and animal raising/competing was completely new to me, but luckily Petruck clearly knows her stuff! I learned a lot about this apparently popular world and was surprised by how fascinated by it all I actually was. Petruck does a beautiful job of showing how Diggy and Wayne’s emotional journey and journey to the State Fair are integral to and affect one another.
My Final Thoughts: I never imagined a book filled with silly pranks, cow poop, and TLCC (tender loving cow care) could entertain and move me so much, but Steering Toward Normal has done just that!
13 year old Diggy has big plans for his eighth-grade year: he’s picked out a great calf to raise and compete with in the next State Fair, he gets to see his crush, July, at 4-H meetings, and he and his dad, Pop, have plenty of pranks to pull on one another. But then everything changes when Mrs. Graf dies and her son, Wayne, one of Diggy’s classmates, turns out to be Pop’s son too. A distraught and alcoholic Mr. Graf kicks Wayne out and sends him to live with Diggy and Pop. Wayne disrupts Diggy’s easy life and big plans, but with the help of some steers, bad movies, and epic pranks, the two slowly learn to be brothers.
I may live in NC, but I’m no country girl (just the thought of cow poop makes me grimace) and I’ve never set foot into a 4-H club or State Fair animal competition, but after reading Steering Toward Normal, I’d love to attend both! This heartfelt and honest story is full of lots of laughs, sincere characters, and a vast amount of info about a topic I never knew I’d actually enjoy and find interesting: raising steer for competition.
Told through an endearing and entertaining middle-grade voice, Steering Toward Normal captures adolescence and all its bumpy obstacles wonderfully! While still appropriate for its intended audience, this book doesn’t shy away from the hard stuff (alcoholism, heartbreaking crushes, grief, discovering your parents aren’t all-knowing perfect people, etc), and Petruck explores these things with the complexity, depth, and realism they deserve. But I like that, even though the characters experience some really tough stuff, the book’s tone never gets dark; there’s always a sense of liveliness and hope within the pages!
Diggy and Wayne are both endearing, genuine characters, and I really liked them as individuals and as a brotherly pair. Diggy, especially, was a lot of fun to get to know and I greatly enjoyed his funny, frank perspective. Petruck’s adult characters are also carefully crafted and feel refreshingly real and believably flawed.
The world of 4-H clubs and animal raising/competing was completely new to me, but luckily Petruck clearly knows her stuff! I learned a lot about this apparently popular world and was surprised by how fascinated by it all I actually was. Petruck does a beautiful job of showing how Diggy and Wayne’s emotional journey and journey to the State Fair are integral to and affect one another.
My Final Thoughts: I never imagined a book filled with silly pranks, cow poop, and TLCC (tender loving cow care) could entertain and move me so much, but Steering Toward Normal has done just that!
March 22, 2014
Thirteen-year-old Diggy Lawson has already shown his steers in several competitions at the county and state fairs in Minnesota but this year is supposed to be an important year for him. His competitor, July Johnston, is older and will not be taking any animals to the fair this year so Diggy has made it his goal to raise a steer that will win grand champion at the state fair.
Diggy’s family members are just he and his Dad, Pop, since Diggy’s mother abandoned them when he was just a baby. They have a good relationship and all is well until one day Wayne Graf’s father literally “dumps” fourteen-year-old Wayne in their drive and leaves. Diggy thinks that Wayne will be with them only for a short time but soon weeks have passed and Wayne has not gone home. Wayne’s mother has died and Diggy soon learns that Wayne’s real father is Pop Lawson who is also Diggy’s father. Eventually, since Wayne is becoming like a member of the Lawson family he joins 4-H and gets a steer to raise and show at the fair. Because they are sharing a home and a father, trouble soon brews between Diggy and Wayne as they both search for a resolution to their feelings regarding their parentage and their friendship. Steering Toward Normal is an excellent title for this book since the 4-H steer projects help Diggy and Wayne resolve the emotional issues that they are facing as a result of the recent turn of events.
This book is a wonderful read for the middle grade boy especially for one who can relate to the 4-H fair experience. The novel provides a good description of the essential efforts involved in preparing an animal for a fair competition. The details allow the reader to understand the intensity of the process but don’t overwhelm the story line.
How people deal with losing a loved one through death or abandonment is another theme that runs through the plot. The author includes believable events in the telling of the story that reveal how the characters grow and how they learn to cope with their losses.
I have attended many county fairs but have never participated in a 4-H project. I certainly gained a better understanding of the experience by having read this book.
This review is from an ARC courtesy of NetGalley.
Diggy’s family members are just he and his Dad, Pop, since Diggy’s mother abandoned them when he was just a baby. They have a good relationship and all is well until one day Wayne Graf’s father literally “dumps” fourteen-year-old Wayne in their drive and leaves. Diggy thinks that Wayne will be with them only for a short time but soon weeks have passed and Wayne has not gone home. Wayne’s mother has died and Diggy soon learns that Wayne’s real father is Pop Lawson who is also Diggy’s father. Eventually, since Wayne is becoming like a member of the Lawson family he joins 4-H and gets a steer to raise and show at the fair. Because they are sharing a home and a father, trouble soon brews between Diggy and Wayne as they both search for a resolution to their feelings regarding their parentage and their friendship. Steering Toward Normal is an excellent title for this book since the 4-H steer projects help Diggy and Wayne resolve the emotional issues that they are facing as a result of the recent turn of events.
This book is a wonderful read for the middle grade boy especially for one who can relate to the 4-H fair experience. The novel provides a good description of the essential efforts involved in preparing an animal for a fair competition. The details allow the reader to understand the intensity of the process but don’t overwhelm the story line.
How people deal with losing a loved one through death or abandonment is another theme that runs through the plot. The author includes believable events in the telling of the story that reveal how the characters grow and how they learn to cope with their losses.
I have attended many county fairs but have never participated in a 4-H project. I certainly gained a better understanding of the experience by having read this book.
This review is from an ARC courtesy of NetGalley.
May 12, 2014
When Diggy was one month old his mom left him in a laundry basket on Pop's (everyone calls him Pop's) doorstep and went riding out of town on his tractor. Diggy really hasn't given her another thought, until Mr. Graf shows up one day and drops Wayne on Pop's doorstep telling him that he's Wayne's dad. Apparently the whole thing came to light when Mrs. Graf died recently. Just in that little piece, you really get a feel for the plot, but there is so much more to it then just that. Wayne and Diggy come at the story from two very different perspectives but they really have more in common then even they know. Wayne is the boy who losses his mom to Cancer and has a father so wrapped up in his grief that he takes to drinking and does and says really hurtful things to his son. Diggy is the boy who's mom may still be alive but she has never sought him out. You just want to reach out and hug these two boys. Petruck does a wonderful job of balancing the weightiness of the plot themes (alcoholism, death of a parent, abandonment) with humorous pranks that the boys and Pop play on each other leaving room for jealousy, fun sibling rivalry and good old fashion fighting. Reading Steering Toward Normal was like I was visiting the State Fair back in Maryland, with a behind the scenes tour. I enjoyed and grew a better appreciation for what it takes to raise a prize winning steer. A wonderful story about family, loss, letting go, and well the title says it all, "Steering Toward Normal". Included at the back of the book is information about 4-H, how ribbons are awarded at the fair, various terms and tools used with livestock and my favorite the "prank-steer guide." Favorite line, "A door that's shut too long gets hard to open. It's better to leave it cracked a couple of inches."
My review copy was from Abrams books as a part of a giveaway offered during March MG Madness at Word Spelunking Steering Toward Normal will be released on May 13th 2014 by Amulet Books
My review copy was from Abrams books as a part of a giveaway offered during March MG Madness at Word Spelunking Steering Toward Normal will be released on May 13th 2014 by Amulet Books
December 27, 2016
This review also appears on my blog, Read-at-Home Mom.
In his eighth grade year, Diggy Lawson raises a steer for a 4-H competition while coming to terms with the discovery that his father has another son.
This wonderful upper middle grade novel tells a touching family story, but without drowning its readers in sentimentality. Diggy’s love for his father, his steer, and later, for Wayne, the brother he never knew about, are the driving forces of the story, presented realistically and with a heavy dose of humor. The story is structured based on the growth of Diggy’s steer, which helps the plot unfold naturally and logically, and Diggy himself is such a well-rounded character, the reader sympathizes with him instantly and finds many reasons to root for him, both in the 4-H contest, and in life. The supporting characters in this book are a colorful bunch, the kind of characters who could make readers want to live inside this book. Chief among these is Pop, Diggy’s delightfully immature 30-something dad whose parenting style involves more practical jokes than true discipline.
Steering Toward Normal, while especially appealing to 4-H members, is by no means restricted to kids who raise their own animals. Diggy’s emotional journey as he makes peace with his dad’s past, his mother’s choices, and his new brother’s presence, is a story any reader can appreciate, and one well worth making available for readers ages 11-14.
Read-alikes for Steering Toward Normal include Project Mulberry by Linda Sue Park and Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock.
In his eighth grade year, Diggy Lawson raises a steer for a 4-H competition while coming to terms with the discovery that his father has another son.
This wonderful upper middle grade novel tells a touching family story, but without drowning its readers in sentimentality. Diggy’s love for his father, his steer, and later, for Wayne, the brother he never knew about, are the driving forces of the story, presented realistically and with a heavy dose of humor. The story is structured based on the growth of Diggy’s steer, which helps the plot unfold naturally and logically, and Diggy himself is such a well-rounded character, the reader sympathizes with him instantly and finds many reasons to root for him, both in the 4-H contest, and in life. The supporting characters in this book are a colorful bunch, the kind of characters who could make readers want to live inside this book. Chief among these is Pop, Diggy’s delightfully immature 30-something dad whose parenting style involves more practical jokes than true discipline.
Steering Toward Normal, while especially appealing to 4-H members, is by no means restricted to kids who raise their own animals. Diggy’s emotional journey as he makes peace with his dad’s past, his mother’s choices, and his new brother’s presence, is a story any reader can appreciate, and one well worth making available for readers ages 11-14.
Read-alikes for Steering Toward Normal include Project Mulberry by Linda Sue Park and Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock.
April 15, 2014
Diggy is looking forward to his year: he plans to raise the best steer in the county. No, check that, the state! His life, however, gets turned upside down when Wayne is dumped at his doorstep and he discovers this townie is actually his half brother. Life gets even worse when Wayne decides he, too, is going to raise an award-winning steer, though he's never worked with animals in his life. Diggy fluctuates between being sympathetic and outright angry with Wayne, all the while caring for his calf, who he named Joker. The year flies by, with a variety of adventures and mishaps, culminating in the showing of the calves.
Petruck has written a detailed look at what it's like to raise a steer to show at the fair, but she has made it interesting. The details of how Diggy preps Joker are expertly woven into the story, making the reader truly peek into 'a day in the life'. She also includes a glossary, extra notes and some photos at the end of the book, which I thought was a nice touch. Diggy's growth is realistic, as are his mood swings, dealings with his father, best friends changing and getting ready for the fair. I appreciated the open relationship he has with Pop and saw signs of Diggy starting to find his own independence, which is natural. And the secondary characters are by no means cardboard cutouts--readers will feel a variety of emotions for Pop, Wayne, Graf and even the calves! This book is great for anyone in 4H, from the midwest (this all takes place in Minnesota), those dealing with changing family dynamics or those looking for a good story to while away an afternoon.
Petruck has written a detailed look at what it's like to raise a steer to show at the fair, but she has made it interesting. The details of how Diggy preps Joker are expertly woven into the story, making the reader truly peek into 'a day in the life'. She also includes a glossary, extra notes and some photos at the end of the book, which I thought was a nice touch. Diggy's growth is realistic, as are his mood swings, dealings with his father, best friends changing and getting ready for the fair. I appreciated the open relationship he has with Pop and saw signs of Diggy starting to find his own independence, which is natural. And the secondary characters are by no means cardboard cutouts--readers will feel a variety of emotions for Pop, Wayne, Graf and even the calves! This book is great for anyone in 4H, from the midwest (this all takes place in Minnesota), those dealing with changing family dynamics or those looking for a good story to while away an afternoon.
June 27, 2014
Diggy Lawson is looking forward to his eighth-grade year. He has a great calf to raise to compete for a top prize at the Minnesota State Fair. He has great friends at school and in 4-H, where he gets to spend a lot of time with July, the girl he has a secret crush on. He and his dad, Pop, have a great time together, just the two of them. (Diggy's mom had left when he was a baby.) But the wheels start to come off when a guy from school, one Diggy hardly knows, Wayne Graf, is tossed out in their driveway by his father and told he should live there with his real father. This was news to Diggy and not very good news. Wayne's mother, who had been Diggy's third-grade teacher, had recently died. Now this! Sure Diggy felt sorry for Wayne, but that didn't mean Diggy wanted to share his life and his Pop with Wayne. To top things off, Wayne decides to get a calf of his own when he finds out the prize for Grand Champion is huge. AND July seems to pay a LOT of attention to Wayne now. So does Pop. Suddenly it seems to Diggy, he is on the outside looking in.
Rebecca Petruck
When you get around to reading this book, carve out some time. It doesn't have any lulls or good stopping places. It practically demands to be read straight through. It is fun, funny, poignant, sweet, imaginative, and very real.
Rebecca Petruck
When you get around to reading this book, carve out some time. It doesn't have any lulls or good stopping places. It practically demands to be read straight through. It is fun, funny, poignant, sweet, imaginative, and very real.
April 10, 2014
A story that is about the heart and depth of family set against the backdrop of a 4H kid and his steer. I kind of hate the whole boy book, girl book thing, but the story of Diggy, his news-to-him half-brother Wayne, and the man who fathered them, Pop, has lots of grit and gusto that I think will appeal to boy readers. Not that there isn't plenty for girls, too. But between the hilarious pranks, the raising of Joker and Fang, and Diggy's model rockets, there's a bunch of great boy interest stuff in this book.
It's an honest look at separated families, how to deal with grief, surprises, alcoholism in a parent, and abandonment, but despite all of the weightiness, Petruck keeps us laughing with saran wrap and kool-aid pranks, along with the most epic April Fool's prank ever (she totally fooled me!)
It's an honest look at separated families, how to deal with grief, surprises, alcoholism in a parent, and abandonment, but despite all of the weightiness, Petruck keeps us laughing with saran wrap and kool-aid pranks, along with the most epic April Fool's prank ever (she totally fooled me!)
August 4, 2014
If you had told me that I'd fall for a book with a bunch of steers in it--and all sorts of 4H stuff, too--I'd have said you were crazy. But Rebecca Petruck's novel, STEERING TOWARD NORMAL, is so much more than a book about raising steers, and I couldn't put it down!
Diggy Lawson is serious about winning the state fair, and that means he must devote all his time to getting his steer prize-ready. So when his half-brother Wayne shows up, he doesn't have time to fool with him--or all the issues he drags into Diggy's planned life. As Wayne learns about what it takes to raise a steer, Diggy learns about responsibility and love and loss. In Petruck's hands, this story develops so deftly, we don't realize how well she nails it until the bittersweet end. It's real and funny and yeah, I'm just gonna say it: m-o-o-oving.
Diggy Lawson is serious about winning the state fair, and that means he must devote all his time to getting his steer prize-ready. So when his half-brother Wayne shows up, he doesn't have time to fool with him--or all the issues he drags into Diggy's planned life. As Wayne learns about what it takes to raise a steer, Diggy learns about responsibility and love and loss. In Petruck's hands, this story develops so deftly, we don't realize how well she nails it until the bittersweet end. It's real and funny and yeah, I'm just gonna say it: m-o-o-oving.
September 29, 2015
Growing up in rural Minnesota, 4-H is a huge part of Diggy's life. He is especially excited for 8th grade, since he is sure that this will be the year his steer wins at the State Fair. But life throws a huge curve ball his way, in the form of his classmate Wayne, who Diggy learns is his half brother. As Wayne moves in with Diggy and their father, Diggy's world is twisted on its axis. Everything he thought he knew about himself, his relationship with his father, even his own absent mother, is turned on end. As Diggy seeks to sort out his life and relationship with his family, he learns that there are no easy answers. This is a exciting and sometime heart wrenching read as Diggy tries to put things back together. It is also a fascinating look at the 4H community and the world of steer raising. Recommended for grades 6 & up.
May 5, 2014
Rebecca Petruck's Steering Toward Normal is a well written debut (mature) middle grade book. This book deals with issues of resentment, anger, grief, alcoholism, abandonment and rejection while incorporating practical jokes, teenage crushes (the hair gel scene cracked me up) and 4H.
The more mature aspects of the story are handled very well by the author, and I appreciated the appropriate lack of details regarding the adult behavior that led to the family situation. A great read for the more mature middle/high schooler (and those of us adults who still appreciate a well written story no matter what the target audience).
This review references an Uncorrected Proof received compliments of Abrams Books through GoodRead's First Reads programs.
The more mature aspects of the story are handled very well by the author, and I appreciated the appropriate lack of details regarding the adult behavior that led to the family situation. A great read for the more mature middle/high schooler (and those of us adults who still appreciate a well written story no matter what the target audience).
This review references an Uncorrected Proof received compliments of Abrams Books through GoodRead's First Reads programs.
May 2, 2017
Eighth-grader Diggy Lawson has a plan for the year - raising a prizewinning 4-H steer for the county fair. But when a classmate's mom dies, Diggy learns that the classmate is actually his half brother, who comes to live with Diggy and his (their) father. Diggy isn't thrilled with this arrangement.
I loved so much about this book - the writing was excellent and I found myself rereading sentences to let them sink in. The relationships were well developed and so believable. The parts about grief and loss are heart rending and never heavy handed. There is also a ton of humor in this book which I loved! Th details about 4-H, raising steers, and rocketry were fascinating and enriching.
And a special mention to the BEST back matter I have ever read.
I loved so much about this book - the writing was excellent and I found myself rereading sentences to let them sink in. The relationships were well developed and so believable. The parts about grief and loss are heart rending and never heavy handed. There is also a ton of humor in this book which I loved! Th details about 4-H, raising steers, and rocketry were fascinating and enriching.
And a special mention to the BEST back matter I have ever read.
March 11, 2014
So…you need to go read this book. Because you need to know about things like "beef princesses" and styling products for cows and also because YETIS!!!! And if that alone didn't hook you (how could it not?!), this story has so much heart. I was in awe of how Petruck could tackle such serious adult themes without watering down the emotion, and yet have it be completely middle grade appropriate at the same time. It gives a really interesting look into competing with show cattle - such an interesting world, and I knew nothing about it! It's also a beautiful story about family. Plus, Diggy is such a fun and funny guy, and there are all kinds of hilarious shenanigans and pranks. LOVE IT!!
January 12, 2015
This book is different, and I liked it. A lot of kids in rural areas are into agriculture and other 4H-type activities, but you don't see many books focused on any of that. There are a lot of other dimensions to this book too, as Diggy has to deal with some pretty intense family issues that a lot of kids will be able to relate to. On the other hand, the writing is kind of choppy and the pacing felt a bit off to me--some chapters are really detailed, then suddenly it skips ahead weeks or even months. Still, I enjoyed it, and I think it's a great pick for middle graders, especially those who are into ag.
February 28, 2014
I love it when a book has a strong sense of place, and I definitely got that in STEERING TOWARD NORMAL. Set in a small Minnesota farming community, this book taught me more about cattle, 4-H, tractors, and plenty of other aspects of rural life than just about anything I've read before. Add in some great characters (both human and bovine!), humor, and a truly emotional storyline, and I was hooked. I also particularly appreciated the ending; it could have been very pat and tidy, but I like that the author made some tougher (but more realistic) choices for her characters.
A great read!
A great read!
August 25, 2014
I confess...I picked up this book in the library because I liked the cover. Who can resist a cow with its tongue sticking out? But early into the book it became very clear the story was about a lot more than livestock. Debut author Petruck addresses topics ranging from death, alcoholism and sibling rivalry, among others, with such skill and obvious talent while educating the reader about the ins and outs of 4H. What a clever concept. I will be anxiously awaiting future books from this author.
February 12, 2015
I picked up this book in a little bookstore in Colorado when I was on a road trip and absolutely fell in love. I've shown livestock (Sheep and cattle) my whole life and I am a part of my local FFA chapter. I have never found a book that explores the livestock showing world before and I found this story to be quite special. I love the relationship that formed between Wayne and Diggy throughout the book and also how this story shows the bond between exhibitors and their show stock. The characters were well developed and the plot line was top notch in my opinion.
May 5, 2014
I read an ARC of this sweet book with complicated family connections. Rebecca Petruck has woven Diggy's story with many threads that will touch young readers and adults alike. Diggy, the main character, has to deal with raising a prize-winning steer, coming to terms with shifting family dynamics, and the usual relationship changes brought on by puberty. We feel Diggy's frustration with things beyond his control, and admire him for learning to handle them. A great read.
December 7, 2016
I really did feel invested in Diggy's life, and his and Wayne's experiences. I would recommend this to upper middle grade readers. The story entails a lot of past family issues. I think some kids could really relate.
I learned a lot about showing steers at fairs. I'm still not sure I understand why a steer has to look so nice, and get sprayed with shiny stuff and have its hair styled! I think the part about kids taking such good care of the steers is great though. That is hard work!
I learned a lot about showing steers at fairs. I'm still not sure I understand why a steer has to look so nice, and get sprayed with shiny stuff and have its hair styled! I think the part about kids taking such good care of the steers is great though. That is hard work!
Read
March 18, 2014I read the ARC. It's a well-written story about the relationship of two boys, their fathers, and their steer. It has humor and heartbreak, and does an excellent job of describing upper-middle graders/young teens. Refreshingly, it's set in a rural setting without being off the grid. An impressive debut.
March 7, 2014
A moving novel about what it means to uncover long buried family secrets. With the well-drawn backdrop of steers and 4-H club, Diggy and Wayne learn what it means to be real brothers and find a new "normal."
March 29, 2014
This was a great book that I thought was awesome. I enjoyed the pranks pulled on one another and the off and on brotherly love. I think you should read this book because it is a heartfelt comedy you will love.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews