It Won An Award, But It's Missing Heart

Author's Rating:

Pros: moral lessons, easy reading

Cons: poor character and plot developing.

Author's Review
December Stillness follows the story of Kelly McAllister, a teenager rebelling against society. Assigned by a teacher to write a report on a controversial topic she chooses to prove that "God is dead." The idea is shot down by her teacher and she advanced to the public library in search of ideas. Eventually she chooses her topic, the homeless.

For her report, Kelly decides to interview her towns only homeless man, a Vietnam veteran named Bob Weems. She soon discovers the tragedy that became of many of Vietnams veterans. She becomes an activist for Mr. Weems and defends him even though most of the time is against him and he refuses all public service.

The book had good intentions but it fails to deliver. The characters are not properly developed and the author tries too hard to identify the characters with the reader. The plot is also underly developed. Kelly goes from taunting the homeless in one chapter to suddenly advocated for them in the next. Enough time isn't spent evolving her and opening her eyes.

Other characters are also poorly developed. Kelly's father Greg is also underdeveloped and appears to evolve for a cold hearted individual to a hurting Vietnam veteran instantly.

Basically the book is meant to identify with teenagers, set in the late 1980's it's a little outdated but it's message is poorly received. The author never properly explained much of what was written about and the character were not given enough time to develop. December Stillness is an award winning book that is read through out many English classes in America. It's nearly impossible to see why. Don't waste your time on this book, it's nothing that you don't already know.