Sketcher

by Roland Watson-Grant

Nine-year-old "Skid" Beaumont's family is stuck in the mud. Following his father's decision to relocate and build a new home, based on a drunken vision that New Orleans would rapidly expand eastwards into the wetlands as a result of the seventies' oil boom, Skid and his brothers grow up in a swampy area of Louisiana. But the constructions stop short, the dream fizzles out, and the Beaumonts find themselves sinking in a soggy corner of 1980s Cold War America. As things on the home front get more complicated, Skid learns of his mother's alleged magic powers and vaguely remembers some eerie stories surrounding his elder brother Frico.

These, as well as early events that Skid saw with his own eyes, convince him that Frico has a gift to fix things simply by sketching them. For the next few years, Skid's self-appointed mission to convince his brother to join him in his lofty plan to change their family's luck and the world they live in will lead to even more mystery and high drama in the swamp. Atmospheric, uplifting, and deeply moving, Sketcher --Roland Watson-Grant's stunning debut--is a novel about the beauty of life no matter how broken it is.

Genres: Young Adult

320 pages, Paperback

First published February 20, 2014

Reviews

[Libro Cafe y Manta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un libro muy recomendable. Diferente. Puedes leer mi reseña en librocafeymanta.wordpress.com

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grant writes with such a true and unique voice. Mystical and earthy, his characters and settings are brought to life in fresh, flawless, prose. I am so looking forward to following the Beaumont family, and reading all Grant has to offer.

I received a free advanced copy of this book for an honest review.

[Amarjeet Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Sketcher' is a meticulous novel which is figuratively vibrant and pulls all the right punches as far as narrative is concerned. It is the tale of a mixed-race family, particularly the youngest son Skid, attempting to chase their dreams in the swamps of New Orleans. With Voodoo and magic powers in the mix, we have the perfect setting for a profound familial tale which pulls at taut heartstrings.

[Leo · Rating 3 out of 5]

TW: death, some toxic masculinity

Reading this gave me serious "The Sandlot" film vibes. Humerus and sometimes silly incidents that often weaved into more heartfelt and sometimes emotionally stirring moments.

[Nilda · Rating 4 out of 5]

totalmente recomendable, hay que darle una oportunidad porque el comienzo en un poco lento.

[Azu Rikka · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5☆
A heartwarming, amusing and moving story of life in "the swamps", a landscape I have seldom encountered in literature, and therefore fascinating to me. I like the aspects of magic/ folklore.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book through Goodreads Giveaways.

I thought this was a fun read. It offered a unique perspective on life in New Orleans living in the swamp lands. I thought that Skid was a very fun narrator and enjoyed getting the story from his perspective. I liked the ambiguity of Frico's abilities, whether they were real or not or if they were real because Skid believed in them. I would definitely read more from the author.

[J. Harding · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read. I liked the author's use of the local dialect in both the dialogue and the 1st person narrator's narration. Touches of magic realism were pertinent to the plot and entertaining for the reader. Recommended.

[Gerald sliker jr · Rating 5 out of 5]

from what i review myself it looks like a great read. as i will be giving it to my wife as a christmas gift.

wish i had won from goodreads