Fitzmaurice, Kathryn. The Year the Swallows Came Early (3 1/2 stars out of 4).
What makes a good book good? This is a question I frequently receive from my students, and it is not always an easy question, not because I do not know the answer, but because I know it with my background and sensibilities. Sometimes, I cop out and say, “Read it, and you can tell me whether it is good or not—we can even have a debate.” When I do try to explain, however, I rely on a few standard concepts: use of imagery, movement of the plot, depth of characterization, lyrical prose style, unique voice, etc. The Year the Swallows Came Early by first-time novelist Kathryn Fitzmaurice is a good book mainly due to use of concrete imagery, lyrical style, and cleverly-crafted plot development (with one exception near the end of the novel, but I‘ll forgive a new novelist for not trusting her characters enough to finish their tale without outside drama). Featuring a common theme of highly functional kids with dysfunctional parents, but adding a couple of twists that make it unique, Ms. Fitzmaurice has woven a memorable coming-of-age tale.
Eleanor “Groovy” Robinson is shocked the day her father is arrested in their small hometown, San Juan Capistrano, CA, and her eleven-year-old mind cannot understand how he could be in so much trouble that he must go to jail: “It was true Daddy seemed to get the kind of bosses who ended up firing him . . . But people hardly ever went to jail for getting fired, and he always found a new job sooner or later” (8). The real shocker is that it is Groovy’s mama who has called the police, and when Groovy cannot get answers from her mama about what is going on, she unsuccessfully resorts to playing one parent against the other: “‘Daddy would never do this,’ I announced. ‘He would tell me what’s going on’” (23). Dad has taken something valuable from Groovy and he has acted very irresponsibly. Simultaneously, Groovy’s best friend Frankie is having his own parental problems, as his mother and stepfather left two years ago, saying they would be back in a week. Frankie chooses to pop antacids rather than deal with his anger and frustration: “Frankie held anything that had to do with his mother so tight inside that it made him sick—nothing serious, but still, sick” (47). After Groovy learns about her great-grandmother and namesake Eleanor Robinson, Groovy drops her nickname and insists on being called by her original name (Groovy is Dad’s nickname for her). As Eleanor, she must find a path that leads to both fairness and love for herself and her mama (and Daddy), and she must also help Frankie as he works through his anger and attempts to proceed with his life. Their lives are intertwined, and they will succeed or fail together.
One of my sons saw me reading this book the other day and asked if I liked it. “Yes,” I replied, “the author’s prose is very lyrical.” My son asked what lyrical meant, because he said he only knew that word from song “lyrics.” I knew I was in trouble. “It means the language is pretty and the beauty of it adds to the story,” I said, knowing that definition was woefully inadequate. Fortunately, my son let me off of the hook and moved on, but I was left thinking about the lyrical nature of The Year the Swallows Came Early by Kathryn Fitzmaurice. Ms. Fitzmaurice weaves concrete images very gracefully through the plot, and simple objects like strawberries, dandelions, cucumbers, and antacids assume added significance. The “foodie” element is also fun for aspiring young chefs. The chapter titles effectively evoke the images to the point where I was eagerly anticipating how each title image would be utilized in the chapter. The author’s planning and sketching is obvious and welcome for a first novel, and although readers never quite learn some details, like exactly why Dad is in jail, they do not require the information to appreciate the characterization and seemingly effortless style. This is a moving and gentle novel featuring a small town with a special significance, but introducing problems and potential solutions that could occur anywhere.