SPARK is a coming of age story. It is firmly in the tradition of YA novelist pioneer S.E. Hinton’s books, including Rumble Fish and The Outsiders, which focus on teenagers who are struggling to find their way into an adult world they are yet to fully understand. Jonah is a loner with an unconventional family comprising two mums. He’s also one of the few people of color in his neighborhood. Jonah has a particular aptitude for electronics and science and this is just one of a myriad of reasons that he is frequently bullied. At one point an apple is thrown at his head as he’s taunted by a shout of “Hey look! It’s Isaac Newtown.” That Jonah knows full well that the bully has the name wrong is no great solace. Jonah is bright and, though most of the time he keeps his thoughts inside, he is exceptionally quick witted. If only he was brave enough to stick up for himself more often.
Jonah lives in a coastal town that has no beach. It sits high on a cliff that acts as a tourist spot for visitors to take selfies standing close to the edge. Other than that it’s a nothing sort of town that prides itself on being full of hills. And though Jonah hasn’t traveled very far as yet, he is pretty sure most of the planet is not flat so can’t quite see what the fuss is about that. When Mack, a new neighbor, arrives hoping to find a quiet place to retire, Jonah is instantly drawn to him. He’s the father figure Jonah didn’t realize he was searching for. And Mack knows electronics. For his part, Mack identifies something in the boy and takes him under his wing. Through Mack’s tutelage Jonah will find new skills and depth of character. He’ll find his spark.
J.A Brooks’ protagonist is superbly drawn right from the opening line where he troublingly announces himself as “the world’s best failed abortion”. Jonah is also a mine of laugh-out-loud funny one liners and bittersweet takes on the world, especially the confusing behavior of adults. That Brooks manages to place his creation within a tightly plotted novel is testament to his skills as a writer. The fictitious home town is inch perfect, the dialogue sparkles, the tempo of the storytelling–where character arcs and plot beats are always in sync–is exemplary. In some respects SPARK is a moral tale but Brooks never preaches.
SPARK by J.A Brooks is an exceptionally well written story charting a young boy’s coming of age. Numerous laugh-out-loud moments and comic scenes background a serious literary work that investigates what it means to eventually have to choose how to grow up.
~Kent Lane for IndieReader