An Evaluation of David Haynes' Right By My Side #1

Audience: I am writing to high school teachers thinking about having their students read this book.

An Evaluation of David Haynes' Right by My Side

David Haynes' Right by My Side is an enjoyable and realistic novel that many different people are able to relate to. The characters in the book learn many lessons about family, friends, and life. Although the ending may be upsetting for some, the overall plot will keep your attention throughout the entire story.

Right by My Side is a story about a high-school sophomore named Marshall Finney. When he is fifteen years old, his mom, Rose, leaves him and his dad. She takes off to find a better life for herself. Marshall's life is turned upside down by this event. He is very upset with his mother and never really forgives her for leaving them. Marshall is left to take care of himself and his dad. Marshall must deal with his dad's new girlfriends coming and going all of the time. Finally, his dad meets a new woman, Gayle. Marshall and Gayle don't get along great to begin with, but after a while he feels he can tell her anything. Marshall is also helping his friends out during the book when they get in trouble. Marshall is finally getting his life back on track when his mom shows up one day out of nowhere and says she's come back home.

I really liked the characters in the novel and could relate to them well. Marshall has two really good friends, Artie and Todd. Like Marshall, I have two really good friends and know they would do anything for me. The books shows them as fighting with each other and calling each other names, but no matter what happens to them they will always be there for each other. It is the same with my friends. There is a special thing between them that is never mentioned in the book, but if one of them is in trouble they know another friend will be there for them.

I also enjoyed in the book how it showed how the relationship was between Sam, Marshall's dad, and him. In the beginning, Marshall and Sam did not have that great of a relationship but, as the book progresses, that all changes. The book does a good job of showing you how much anger they both had after Rose left. They are not honest with each other. They keep secrets (about Rose) from each other. As the book goes on they learn more about each other to form a better relationship.

I did not enjoy the ending of the book because I felt like it left me hanging. Marshall's mom came back and that was it. It never said if she stayed, or if they got along better, it just ended. David Haynes ended the book this way in order to make us think. He didn't want his readers to have the typical "fairy tale" ending where everything works out. He did this because that doesn't always happen in real life.

David Haynes writes about the truth. He does not sugarcoat anything and that is why I think this would be a great book for young adults to read. They are used to reading the typical story where everything works out in the end, and this book is different from that. Throughout the book the characters learn things about life. They learn things about abuse and parents separating. The book mentions a little bit about racial issues but this is not a major part of the story.

Overall, I think this is a great book that high school students can relate to. I think they will enjoy the honesty the book has in it. I don't think it is a book they will get bored with because it has many good characters and has an interesting story line in it.

(2.25 pages / Times New Roman 12 point font)