Brad Whittington
Welcome to Fred (2003)
Author: Brad Whittington
Genre: Gentle/Christian
Plot Summary:
Being a "preacher's kid" isn't the greatest thing in the world for young Mark Cloud, but he manages to find adventure in his Ohio town, from nail-hammering contests with his pal M to trying to befriend the crazy homeless lady known only as the Creature. However, the announcement of the family's move to tiny Fred, Texas, means Mark's social life must start over from square one. Now, in addition to being a PK, his "hippie" clothes, "Yankee" accent, and academic success set him apart from his class full of Bubbas, Thelmas, and Jimbos. Mark makes an effort to get along, and by junior high, he is wearing jeans and using the word "ain't" well enough to hang out with the boys. Despite this, Mark is sunable to shake the feeling that something separates him from his friends, whether it is the different standard he is held to as a PK or his growing restlessness about life beyond Fred. As he enters high school, this feeling of alienation is increased by his hopeless crush on Becky Tuttle, his growing fascination with the world of peace, love, and rock-n-roll, and questions about the nature of his faith. A summer road trip with the family brings with it the promise of a first-hand glimpse of the California scene, but between an uncooperative car, a heart-to-heart with his father, and a shocking discovery at a California church, the trip holds surprising results for Mark. SPOILER: Mark's dad assures him that a certain level of skepticism is healthy and indicates that Mark is serious about understanding his personal faith. The conversion of wife-beating alcoholic Parker Walker just before the trip, and a meeting with the Creature's estranged parents in California convince him that God is an active force in the world, even if questions about the details remain. Finally, an embarrassing encounter with a beautiful hippie makes him realize that his illusions about big-city life were just that, illusions.
Geographical Setting: East Texas, Ohio
Time Period: 1964-1972
Series: Fred series, book 1
Appeal Characteristics:
Nostalgia for the late 1960s is a central element. Grit magazine, bell bottoms, Nehru jackets, hippie dreamgirls, the Rolling Stones, and Ray Bradbury all put in an appearance. The joys of small-town childhood, like exploring vacant forests and joy-riding down dirt roads, are also displayed prominently. Even the writing style, first-person narration by an adult Mark as he relates the events of his adolescence, reinforces the feeling of nostalgia. Mark is enough of an outsider to make witty observations about his friends, family, and faith, but his desire to fit in and gain approval makes him very easy to relate to. The tone is light and full of dry humor, even during scenes of stress or danger. The inspirational elements are handled realistically, without lifesaving miracles or rapturous visions, but the redemptive power of faith is expressed in events throughout the novel. The supporting cast is two-dimensional but entertaining, with the exception of Mark's dad, who is well-developed. The father-son dynamic is one of the stronger sub-themes of the book. Whittington uses a slightly overblown vocabulary and lots of mixed metaphors as a humorous element, but some readers may find the wordplay distracting or obtuse. Mark's denomination is explicitly named as Southern Baptist, and this fact is referenced several times throughout the book. This may be an appeal element to Baptists, but might turn off readers of other denominations. Winner of the 2004 Christy Award for Best First Novel.
Read-alikes: Two other novels dealing with the struggles of PKs are Saint Ben (1993), by John Fischer and The Preacher's Son (2005), by Carl Weber. Fischer uses nostalgia, small-town humor, and a questioning protagonist in much the same way as Whittington. Weber's story is contemporary, and deals as much with the stress of being a PKP (preacher's kid's parent) as that of being a PK. The story revolves around Bishop T.K. Wilson, a prominent African-American minister in New York City, and his family. As Bishop Wilson begins a political campaign, the ideas and actions of his children conflict with his "family values" platform. The narration rotates to give the perspective of each family member. Another inspirational family saga set in the 60s is the Hearts of the Children series by Dean Hughes. This set of dramatic novels focuses on a generation of Mormon cousins and their myriad experiences in a turbulent decade. The Writing on the Wall (2001) is the first in the series. For gentle fiction readers who enjoy friendly small-town settings over individual characters, Jan Karon's Mitford series or the Harmony books by Philip Gulley are excellent choices. Both are narrated by the local pastors (Episcopal Father Tim Kavanagh in Karon's books, Quaker Minister Sam Gardner in Gulley's), but their main purpose is to introduce the reader to the members of their respective communities. Insight into the stories and struggles of the citizens of "a town you'd like to live in" is the main draw of these two series. Gulley's more liberal take on theological and social issues may be a red flag for more conservative audiences. Readers should begin Kanon's series with At Home in Mitford (1994), while Home to Harmony (2000) opens Gulley's series.
Red Flags: Offstage violent deaths, Young-earth creationism, Tobacco use by 12-year-olds, Humorous cross-dressing |top|
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