The Secret of Ferrell Savage by J. Duddy Gill
My rating: 5/5 cats
nature abhors a vacuum.
and when it becomes glaringly obvious that there aren’t any middle-grade books about cannibalism, here comes this book to plug itself into that slot.
and thank goodness for it, really.
and while all the cannibalism takes place in a historical context, and no one is getting noshed right on the page, it is still a delightfully bold topic for the 8-12 set.
ferrell savage is twelve years old. which means he is now eligible to compete in the big day-after-christmas sled race that is the tradition of his town. ferrell has been raised vegan, and doesn’t care at all about the sled race. i am pretty sure that being raised vegan removes the competitive spirit, because young ferrell doesn’t really let much bother him, and is just a chill fellow overall. his best friend mary, though, is a meat-eating, brilliant-minded girl with ambitions who is all about the sled race.
and since ferrell has been developing feeeelings for mary and her huge…vocabulary, he enters the race to prove that he is game, and totally on-board with all of her interests.
unfortunately, he not only wipes out and almost gets himself killed, but he attracts the attention of a new boy in town, one who knows a secret about mary’s family history, and ferrell’s own.
this is probably a spoiler, but since it is the coolest thing, and what drives the narrative, i can’t not mention it: View Spoiler »
AWKWARD!!
so the rest of the book involves blackmail and more sled races, and overcoming history, and deepening relationships and the consumption of about a million skittles.
it is a completely lovely story with two very likable characters (and one insufferable one) and i am so glad that i got a chance to read it. but why isn’t the cover up on this goodreads?? because this cover is just perfect and adorable and completely fitting.
if you are looking for a book about cannibals for your young ones (and you really should be), this is the perfect book for you.
and hopefully, this subject matter will become a new trend for YA and MG fiction. universe, answer my prayers!
