Being Henry David (304 Pages)

Another debut of a YA author's book, and it is a delight. So many opportunities for discussion, and for reader response; this could also make a great book club selection.  Cal Armistead has written a coming of age book in which a 17year old boy has lost his memory following an automobile accident in which he was the driver and his little sister was the passenger. He remembers nothing: not his name, not his address, not his telephone number, not what he is good at, none of his talents. It's a bummer. He finds himself suddenly sitting on the floor of Penn Station in New York City. He has been robbed, and all he has is the clothes on his back, the book Walden, and $10 in his pocket. Quickly exposed to homeless life in The Big Apple, he meets a brother and sister(Jack and Nessa) who seem to know the ropes, but following their daily routine, leaves him absolutely sure this is not where he belongs. He gets some money from Jack and buys a train ticket to Concord, Massachusetts. This destination has been sparked by his reading of Walden and his belief in Henry David Thoreau's ideas. He takes the name of Hank Davidson and starts out "camping" at Walden Pond in Concord. The reader is then taken on the journey with Hank to recall his past. It's a fun read, and will strike a chord with those students who have ever struggled with being honest, resisting impulses, and facing the consequences of their own actions. "Hank" has a photographic memory and is able to quote passages of Walden, frequently throughout the book . This is a winner!