This is a book about Darren a boy struggling with
his feelings of understanding compassion and quenching the fire raging through
his body.  Confused about his
relationship with his father and life in general.  He struggles about the ‘thing’ with Mr. Tracy, which haunts
Darren and in the end causes tragic consequences. 

Darren was sixteen and one of the
best on his swim team.  However, the
coach tells him he could do better.  To
Darren that is saying he’s not good enough. 
Mr. Tracy was Darren’s English teacher. 
He was very elegant in his speech inside the class and as Darren found
out outside as well.  Darren being very
attractive, shy and popular attracts the girls plus the attention of Mr.
Tracy. 

One day when Darren was stranded
Mr. Tracy offered to give him a ride home. 
On the way home Mr. Tracy got very personal.  He leaned towards Darren and asked to address him by his first
name.  This made Darren feel very
uncomfortable.  Darren tells himself
that the incident means ‘nothing’.  His
uneasiness heightens when Mr. Tracy gives Darren a higher grade for the
semester than he deserves.  Some of the
other swim team members didn’t fare as well and devise a plot against Mr.
Tracy.  They fabricate lies about him
being gay and a child molester.   The
plot gets out of hand and Mr. Tracy is forced to take a medical leave of
absence.  Darren receives e-mails from
Mr. Tracy when an investigation begins. 
He asks Darren to speak on his behalf and just tell the truth.  Darren deletes the e-mails because he
doesn’t want his name associated with Mr. Tracy.  After several attempts Mr. Tracy tells Darren he won’t contact
him anymore.  Things escalate and the
swim team members are called into the police station for questioning.  Darren finds out that his name was on the
investigators list because a teammates mother saw Darren get into Mr. Tracy’s
car.  Darren makes the decision to say
nothing in Mr. Tracy’s defense.  Mr.
Tracy is in an accident, which happens very close to Darren’s house.  Darren later receives and envelope in the
mail which contains pictures of him at swim meets and practice.  He reads one of the last e-mails he deleted
and Mr. Tracy admitted that he was attracted to Darren but would never do what
he was accused of. 

Darren is a young man who is
struggling to understand his own sexual feelings which is uprooted with the
advancement of an adult male.  Darren’s
insecurity with his sexuality comes through when he has a hard time convincing
himself that nothing happened between him and Mr. Tracy.  His insecurities and pier pressure makes him
deny his true self and leads to serious consequences.  Darren competes with his brother for the understanding and
affection of his father.   This complex
book is devoid of any guidance for the reader and leaves the reader to draw his
or her own conclusions about the characters. 

© 2005 Patricia Ball

Patricia
Ball, B.A., applies the following descriptions to herself:

• Research Chemist for 23 years
• BA degree in Biology, Elms
  College
• Recent graduate of Institute
  of Children’s Literature
• Wife and Mother of two
• Published Poet/Writer
• Enjoy composing music, art,
  writing, reading
• Interested in Metaphysics,
  Psychology and Science
• Enjoy traveling:  USA,
  Canada and Europe

Categories: Fiction, Children