Wonderful YA. Wonderful. A fifteen-year old boy nearly loses his infant brother, who teeters on the brink of death by deciding to fly out a highrise window. In the nick of time, the protagonist grabs him. In thinking about what might have been, he becomes convinced FATE is out to get him. He decides to ellude fate as best he can. I love how the lines between reality, and what one person's reality is, can be blurred in this novel.
The older I get, the more precarious "sanity" seems to be. The more accepting I've become of what other people believe and feel, so I think this is a powerful book for a teen, a dash of fantasy, or a dose of reality, could be either one. He changes his name to Justin (his last name is Case) nearly dies in a plane crash inferno, finds himself the centre of a photographic exhibit, makes a delightful and unlikely cast of friends who give him a place to stay, continues communicating with his baby brother who is both wise and telepathic, and lives with a most delightful imaginary greyhound, sleek and doting.
Age is relative and even the youngest, can have the most profound thoughts in this novel. Justin is working through some terrible things, and while you question his reality, alternate chapters offer a glimpse into the terrible voice of FATE. This novel definitely transcends teen literature, read it even if you prefer adult material. Do, do, do.
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